Chapter 16 - Sixteen
Eric swirled the deep red wine in his glass, the firelight at the fireplace catching in the liquid and making it glow like a ruby. A slow, appreciative smile played on his lips as he looked at Delia, a new sense of respect in his eyes.
"Are you sure this is your first time proposing a deal?" he asked, his voice a low, amused rumble. "Because you do it better than my own aide. He could learn a thing or two from your directness."
Delia felt a genuine smile touch her lips, the first truly relaxed one she’d had all night. The tension of the past few hours began to melt away under the warmth of the wine and his compliment. She took a small, confident sip from her own glass.
"So," she replied, her voice smooth, "what do you think about making me your new business partner?"
Eric raised his glass, the smirk on his face softening into something more genuine. "I’ll be honest, Lady Delia," he said, his gaze meeting hers over the rims of their glasses. "You’re quite interesting." He tilted his glass forward. "To our partnership."
Delia raised hers to meet it, the glass making a clear, ringing sound as they clicked together. The sound echoed in the quiet room, sealing their strange and sudden pact.
Moments later... or perhaps it was an hour...
"I once asked my father... for a prince," Delia announced to a particularly fascinating leather-bound book on a low shelf. She was now sitting on the thick, soft rug in front of the fireplace, her sense of grace and poise having been left somewhere in the bottom of her wine glass. She let out a small hiccup. "And of course, he said he would get me one." She dissolved into a fit of soft giggles, the memory seeming incredibly funny to her now.
She reached for the wine bottle on the center table, her movements clumsy. Her fingers found the neck, but when she lifted it, it felt far too light. She peered at it with one eye closed. The bottle was empty.