"Good morning, Chancellor dy Cazaril." He felt a grin spread unbidden across his face. Not that he needed much inducement to grin when she smiled at him like that.

"Lady Betriz." He took each of her hands in his and kissed them in the customary greeting. Her slightly indrawn breath made him raise his head to look her in the eye. Her cheeks were flushed a shade or two darker than her usual skin tone, and she was smiling a bit dazedly. It thrilled him more than he would ever admit to know that he could have such an effect on her through such a small action.

"I'm glad I caught up with you."

"Why is that?"

She took a step closer, and he wished that they were someplace private rather than a corridor leading to the dining hall. "Well, one, I didn't see you yesterday. And, two, I have something to tell you."

"What is that?"

"Iselle and I made a little wager, and if I'm to win, I need your help." The curve of her lips turned impish.

"Ah. What boon will I receive for helping you?"

"My eternal gratitude."

"I may need more of an incentive than that. I don't even know what the bet involves."

"It's nothing really; it will only cost you a few minutes of discomfort."

"I don't like the sound of that. What happens if I don't agree?" He didn't fear that she would ask him to do something too onerous, but he did love teasing her.

"Oh, you will. I can be very persuasive."

Her deliberate omission of facts worried him, but her closeness, still so new, reduced the effects considerably. She reached up and brushed some hair out of his face. "I'll see you tonight."

-----

Betriz was reading in a moment of idleness in her room when she heard a knock at the door. She opened it to see that it was Cazaril.

"Caz." She hadn't expected to see him for some hours yet.

"May I come in?" She opened the door wider to grant him entrance.

"Of course. This is a pleasant surprise. I thought you were going hunting."

He grimaced. "I managed to talk to the lords that I needed to see before they left." His expression brightened. "And that's fortunate because I'm very curious as to what you expect me to do tonight."

She laughed inwardly at the mental image of his face when she told him. "I suppose it's only fair that you should know. Iselle contended that I would never be able to convince you to dance."

"I think she was correct in that statement." His face did match her imagination, but she held out hope that he could be persuaded otherwise.

"Oh, really? That's a shame."

"Well, perhaps I could dance a few steps. My reward would be your eternal gratitude after all." His smile transformed into a grin that could have been called a smirk.

She shook her head. "It has to be an entire song."

"But I'm afraid we're at an impasse. An entire song is out of the question." He leaned casually against the door. She couldn't make out whether he was serious or teasing her.

"Maybe I should bring out one of my methods of persuasion." She stepped closer and kissed him. After only a few days of formal courtship and betrothal, she still felt bold being so forward, but Caz never seemed to take offense.

"If you continue with that much longer, I won't be able to deny you anything." Apparently, he wasn't too worried about that because he cradled her face in his hands and pulled her in for another lengthy kiss.

"That's the general idea," she whispered in his ear during a break between kisses.

As Caz was leaving awhile later, he smiled. "We'll see."

----------

If simply looking at Betriz was a marvel, kissing her was a gift from the gods. Her soft lips melded perfectly to his. He loved to feel the fabric of her dress under his hands. He still almost didn't believe that he was allowed to be with her like this, especially after living so long without intimate contact of any kind.

It had only been a matter of hours since their last kiss, but he was greedy for the sensations. He was grateful that she had come to his office to fetch him to the banquet rather than meeting him at the Royina's table. He almost didn't hear her sigh, "Caz…"

"Mmm…yes?"

"We're expected in the hall in a few minutes." But she let him kiss her again. He dragged his mouth from hers reluctantly. They were both flushed and panting. "And I know you're still just trying to convince me to let you out of the wager."

"Is it working?"

She adopted a mock lofty air. "You must not understand women very well. You're supposed to say that you never thought of such a scheme and that you only want to kiss me for its own sake."

"You have my deepest apologies, my lady." He swept her an exaggerated courtly bow. "But your affections have clouded my wits." He just caught sight of her smile and emerging dimples before she leaned in to kiss him again.

Eventually, they convinced themselves of the need to join the rest of the court at dinner, but they walked very close together, arm in arm, until the last section of corridor before the ballroom.

------------------------

Betriz was resting for a moment between dances. She listened as the musicians started a slower song than the previous one. It was the third feast in so many days. Recently, the days had been spent in various tense negotiations as Iselle and Bergon consolidated support of their rule among the nobles. The nights were spent in celebration of the new royina. However, the festivities were kept relatively subdued because the court was still officially in mourning for Roya Orico.

Just then the dancers shifted and she saw Cazaril in conversation with a young man. He was dy Rinal's younger brother, who had been pursuing the new chancellor for a post since he arrived at the Zangre. Caz was obviously edging away and trying to escape him tactfully, but with little effect. She inwardly crowed in triumph; he would be begging her to dance soon.

Caz looked over his supplicant's shoulder and his gaze found hers. He looked at her imploringly. She couldn't resist his silent appeal, or the thought of winning her bet.

As she moved toward the corner of the room where they stood, she formulated her request. "My lord dy Rinal, I was wondering if I might borrow the chancellor for a minute."

Dy Rinal bowed politely. "Of course, Lady Betriz." He turned to Caz again. "May I attend upon you tomorrow, Chancellor?"

She felt that he was holding back a sigh. "Yes; come to my office in the morning." He went away looking triumphant.

"Are you finally going to give him a post?"

"I suppose; I think he would make a competent clerk. He is, at least, persistent."

They stood at the edge of the dance floor, and she saw her opportunity. "I would ask you to dance, Cazaril, but you've made it very clear that you do not wish to, ever."

"I might make an exception." She beamed before he added pointedly, "Once."

A new song was just beginning, and Cazaril swept her into the crowd. Neither of them knew all the carefully measured steps, but they managed to keep in time to the music. "Thank you for rescuing me, Betriz. I think I would have gone mad if I had to listen to one more moment of his prattling."

"You're doing me a favor as well."

"I suppose I am, but it's no great hardship."

Hardship or not, Cazaril proved lucky because the song was a short one. The partners bowed to each other, and the musicians struck up a much livelier piece. She looked over to where Iselle and Bergon were still ensconced among various nobles and mouthed, "I win." Iselle restrained herself because of the company, but Betriz had no doubt that she would be poking her tongue out if she were surrounded only by friends.

Meanwhile, Cazaril had kept hold of her arm and she realized that they were drifting toward a courtyard adjacent to the main hall. Once outside, they sat on a bench that was partially hidden by shrubbery. They had hardly been alone since they'd become betrothed, except today. She could accustom herself to the new state of affairs, though.

"Why did you bring me out here?"

"I'm afraid I had rather devious intentions." He leant in and pressed his lips to hers. She was quite sure that she would never tire of the feeling. Several minutes later they decided it would be best to rejoin the other dancers.

The day was over, and Betriz knew that there would be much work and separation in the days ahead. However, she was content in the knowledge that she and Caz would be able to make time for many more such interludes.