Lord Hugo's ball was fun. Except for when Amber was dancing, she pulled me with her as we talked to different groups of people. I had briefly met a few of her friends before, but was never allowed to spend time with them. Now I was, and though I was shy, they did not ask me to leave, and even Vivian took my arm when they went to get more wine.

I danced with Hugo, and again with Ian, who asked fewer questions about Amber, but still made me laugh. I was asked to dance by a man who could have been my grandfather, but he said that he was an old friend of the duke. Duke Roland danced with me three times throughout the evening. His reasoning was that he would not be attending all the balls, so he had to dance with me when possible.

"Are you enjoying yourself, my dear?" he asked as he spun me around.

"Yes, your Grace."

He frowned a little. "When we are alone like this, I want you to call me Roland."

I felt my eyes get big. "But we are not alone, this ballroom is full."

"But no one can hear us right now," Roland pulled me closer, smiling.

"Alright. Roland." I felt like calling him by his given name was going too far, but when I said his name, his smile met his eyes. I could not help but smile back.

"Thank you, Sofia." The song ended and he walked me back over to a couple of Amber's friends who were not dancing. He bowed, I curtsied.

"He's still dreamy," said one of Amber's friends. "I don't care how old he is."

I looked at her, then back at the duke, Roland, and looked at him. "I guess so."

"Of course you wouldn't see it," the girl giggled. "You see him every day." The other girls laughed too.

Roland was handsome, I knew that, but Cedric was the one to whom I felt drawn. But I could not tell these girls that.

Amber, Ian, Hugo and Vivian joined us then. "I'm dying of thirst," Amber said. Ian waived a server to us, and then a second because everyone wanted a new glass of wine. Remembering Cedric's warning, I merely sipped at mine. What if the sorcerer here has not made potions for the morning after? It had been three days since I had last seen Cedric, and would be a couple more before I saw him again. I could not wait.

"Why are you smiling, Sofia?" Amber asked.

"She just finished dancing with Duke Dreamy."

Amber frowned at her friend. "You know I hate when you call him that."

"I was just wondering if I'm drinking too much." I tried to interject. I did not want them to know I was thinking of a sorcerer and his kisses, nor did I want them to believe I was thinking about Duke Roland.

"Don't worry, Sofia," laughed Ian, "Hugo can carry you up to your room if you are getting a little drunk."

I blushed and Hugo shook his head. "I have not had that much."

Ian waved another server over. "Then we must remedy that."

"Lord Ian," Amber exclaimed.

Ian took one glass from the server, downed it himself, smiled at Amber and then winked at me. I shook my head, trying to not laugh, and looked away.

The night ended too soon and as Amber and I climbed into bed in our shared room, we could not help but giggle and talk like friends. She told me how Hugo had been caught courting two different girls the year before, and though she did not mind dancing with him, or leading him on a bit, he was not on her list of eligible bachelors anymore.

"I can't wait to go to the royal palace," she whined, fatigue in her voice. "I haven't been since I was a child, and even then, it was not for a royal ball."

"What was it like? The royal palace?"

"Huge! The decorations were so beautiful. The architecture so grand. You know the king is my uncle?"

"Yes. I am just surprised you have not been more often."

I could almost hear Amber frown. "That's because the king does not like Father."

"But why not invite you?" And why not invite James when he was alive?

"It's complicated, Sofia. It's late. We should sleep."

"Good night, Amber."

"Good night."

Roland arrived at our room to escort us to breakfast. With each of us on an arm, we were announced as we entered the dining room. He sat me between himself and another man that I barely remembered seeing the night before. Sir Gral was his name, a younger son and old friend of the duke's. They talked over me a bit before including me in their conversation. Amber was closer to the people that were our age, and I felt a bit like I was being cut off from them on purpose.

"Sofia is a godsend," I heard Roland say to Gral. "She nursed my son for years. I truly think he would have been gone sooner if not for her."

"I believe you," Gral replied after drinking strong tea. "I would not want to leave a pretty face like that either."

Roland and Gral bellowed with laughter while I blushed furiously. What could I say? What should I say?

"Truly though, Roland. I am sorry for your loss. Your wife and son in such a short time."

"We cannot change fate." There was his nonchalance again.

Gral agreed. They began to talk about finances and agriculture and I drowned them out again. I was embarrassed by what Gral had said, but a little angry that Roland had laughed with him. And about James! His son. My appetite was lost, but I forced a piece of hard-boiled egg into my mouth. My want of returning home grew as I looked around the table and felt that I did not belong among these people. I was born a peasant, I had lived as a servant for so long, and now I was expected to act like I truly belonged in the duke's family.

But where would I go? I had no skills, no money, not even a full education. And there was no family or friends waiting for me outside the castle walls. A depression began to settle in me though I tried to fight it. I was alone and dependent on others and that frightened me more than anything.