#Chapter 56: A Change in Him

“No,” Nicholas said. Julian, still bowing, shot him a glare. “I wasn’t asking you, brother. In case that wasn’t obvious.” “She will not dance with you, because she is about to dance with me,” Nicholas said. Julian straightened upright. “Is that what was happening here? Because, to me, it appeared as if you two were awkwardly standing near each other and only barely talking.” That description didn’t sound so different from some of the royal dances I knew, but I decided not to point that out. “Even if we were only talking, you must admit how exceedingly rude it is to interrupt,” Nicholas said. “Rude, maybe,” Julian said. “But necessary, if I’m to save Piper from an evening of boredom.” “Perhaps we should ask the lady to choose for herself,” Nicholas said. He looked at me. Julian did too. “Well, Piper? Which of us will it be?” My heart leaned for Nicholas and the comfort of his presence. I’d given him quite the shock tonight, I was sure, with revelation after revelation. I wanted