4

Kate walked upstairs to her rooms with mixed feelings. Looking around her mildly eccentrically decorated parlor, she wondered if it had been completely unethical to make friends with the young girl in the shop. It had nothing to do with who the girl's father was; she would have talked to her anyway. The sight of a lady struggling with a corset warmed Kate's heart and reminded her strongly of herself.

Alexis Castle had been sweet, intelligent, and politely curious. She was also interesting. For the first time in a long time, Kate realised that she missed knowing these kinds of people. When she was at court, she largely remained with the king, and when she did venture to speak to other people she almost always regretted it. They were most often self absorbed and patronising, believing their inherited wealth somehow made them clever and respectable, even if their behaviour and conversation told a different story.

She sighed. Lanie was a true friend. But Lanie could not come with her to balls and dinner parties. Even if it had been socially acceptable, Kate didn't think Lanie would have come. Lanie was grieving and would be for years to come.

Alexis was more than ten years her junior, but this was not of great consequence. She looked younger than her true age; Alexis looked older. Kate found herself getting quite excited about the ball on Friday. The king's ball... Kate was fond of Stephen. He was childish and could be very foolish, but he had a good heart, which could not be said for many of his predecessors. He had three children, a boy followed by two girls, but his wife had died and he had no desire to remarry, contenting himself with affairs with various 'ladies' that he introduced at court.

Sara Katayev was actually one of those ladies. It hadn't been difficult to make enough connections for her cover story to be believable and backed up, but she had not expected the king to take such an interest in her. She had wanted to be able to investigate things at court without arousing suspicion; instead, she was summoned there when there was nothing to investigate. Her rank was very useful when she needed to obtain information, and her relationship with the king meant that if she ever needed a favour, he would probably help her.

It wasn't certain, though. Kate would have to do just one thing to be guaranteed his support – but it was not something she was prepared to do. It wasn't about marriage, or even about sleeping with someone that she did not love. It was about sleeping with someone that she didn't want to sleep with, and that was something she wasn't prepared to do. She wasn't attracted to the king; she would not sell her body. In her eyes this would make her worse than a whore from a brothel, because it would be more dishonest. She knew and respected several 'ladies of the night', but an affair with the king would be one huge lie. He would pretend he cared about her for more than her body and she would be forced to do the same.

She also had a feeling that the 'magic' would be gone if he ever managed to woo her. King Stephen seemed to enjoy the chase more than anything else. He liked having Kate around as a decoration, someone to talk to, and someone to play his affection games with. Sometimes he would send her flowers or gifts; Montgomery found this very amusing.

Even this kind old man, whom she considered to be a dear old friend, did not know her true identity. Lanie was the only soul in the world who knew Kate Beckett, and Kate hoped it would stay that way.

Lanie watched her as she prepared for the night. She removed her dress and changed into a black shirt and long, tight black trousers. She put on black riding boots and a black thing that looked like a corset and went over her shirt, but was really body armour. She put on a belt and attached her weapons, tied her hair up into a tight bun, and finally, put on a black mask that covered the top half of her face.

"I wish you wouldn't go," Lanie said sadly, knowing there was no way to change her mistress' mind. Kate smiled gently.

"I'll be fine. I shouldn't be back too late; by four, I think. I know who I'm after. He should be caught by midnight. And then I'll just watch the high risk places for a while."

"But that watching shouldn't fall to you. The police should do it!"

"What should happen and what happens in the real world are two very different things. And you know that already."

"You take too much on yourself," Lanie said, taking her friend's hand.

"I do what has to be done," Kate replied quietly. She looked outside. It was almost dark. The window of the bathroom opened onto the roof of a neighbouring house; she slipped away into the dusk.

Friday came both too slowly and too quickly for Alexis. Too slowly because she was impatient to see the king, her new friend, and everything else. Too quickly because she was suddenly afraid that she wasn't a good enough dancer, and didn't know enough interesting things to talk about.

She spent hours getting ready. To her amusement, her father took a long time as well, and finally appeared from his room looking very dapper. Alexis wore the pale blue dress and a sliver necklace. Her hair was styled in elegant ringlets around her face; she was even wearing powder and lipstick. She went to straighten her father's cravat.

"You look beautiful," he told her.

"Thank you. You look good too," she said. "Who are you trying to impress?"

Martha appeared, in a gown that practically shone. It was an eye catching pink, certain to attract attention.

"Anyone. Poor Richard needs a lady friend," she said with a laugh. Richard picked up his daughter and spun her around in the air.

"No I don't. I have you."

Alexis made a face. "That's just strange, Daddy."

Martha grinned at them.

"I've missed having you two around. But we should go. We'll be late."

Richard pretended to gasp. "We'd better hurry, Lex. If my mother is telling us we'll be late it must be very bad!"

A maid handed Alexis her fur lined cape; though it was just September, the evening was cool and she was grateful of the cape's warmth. Richard put on his top hat with a cheeky smile, leaving it at a quirky angle. Martha tutted and pushed it straight. He held out his arms for his two 'best girls' and they walked out to the carriage. Johnson smiled down at them and Jeffreys, his assistant, jumped down to pull out the step and open the carriage door.

Kate looked at her dresses. Lanie looked at them with her.

"The red one," Lanie said firmly. Kate examined the dress. It was daring for her – it sat very low, which was the fashion, and accentuated her striking collar bone. It was a deep, blood red silk, and it had a very unusual black lace trim; she wore it with a large ruby pendant and long black gloves. It would be perfect for tonight. She didn't know why, but she had a feeling... something was going to happen. Something important.

Lanie did her hair, putting most of it up but letting some fall down almost to her shoulders in gentle curls. She put on the right amount of powder, rouged her lips, and used a black pencil to accentuate her eyes and lashes.

She strongly believed that the fashion of dresses was absurd, but the contraption which kept her skirt ballooning out from her waist at least meant she had ample space to hide a dagger. Lanie laughed when she tucked it into the holster she had sewn into her underwear.

"Are you ever not thinking about fighting?"

Kate considered this while raising one eyebrow. "Sometimes I think about other things at the same time," she said, her teasing betrayed by a twitch at the corner of her mouth.

"Have a wonderful time," Lanie said.

"I doubt that I will. But I'll try. Don't wait up," she instructed. Lanie made a face.

"I'll try to sleep. But you'll need me to help you undress."

"I could bring home a young man to help me," Kate joked. Lanie tutted.

"That would be funnier if you hadn't done it before. Will we be seeing Joshua again, by the way?"

"It's possible," Kate said with a small smile. Josh Davidson was a handsome young doctor who had been invited to some of the summer events. She had liked him. He had liked her. They had both needed someone; it seemed to make sense. She knew it wasn't going anywhere though. Not that she wanted a relationship that was going anywhere. She just... She wasn't sure if she should be with Josh. Was she just using him? She let that thought disappear. If she was using him, he was using her just as much. He wasn't often around, anyway. He was always busy saving lives and discovering wonderful new treatments – the moments they spent together were now few and far between.

Lanie looked out of the window. "Your carriage is here," she said, turning to hand Kate her black cape.

Kate walked downstairs, gave Lanie a kiss on the cheek, and walked out of the door, stepping into her carriage. For once, she was looking forward to the evening. She hoped she would see Alexis.

"Sir Richard, Lady Martha, and Lady Alexis Castle," the doorman announced as they stepped into the ballroom. The king beckoned Richard over immediately. He kept Alexis' arm firmly linked with his; she watched the ballroom whirl past her in a blur of colour and light.

When they reached the king's chair Richard let go of his daughter's arm and bowed low. Alexis dropped into a low curtsey, but the king stood up and took her hand, kissing it as he pulled her gently back to a standing position.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Alexis," he said smoothly.

"Thank you, your Majesty."

The king smiled. "Call me Stephen. Your father does. Or Steve. Ricky, you didn't tell me your daughter was so beautiful!"

"Do you blame me?" Richard asked with a chuckle.

"Do not worry. My intentions towards her are pure. My lady, would you do me the honour of a dance?"

Alexis looked at her father; he nodded. Stephen lead her to the head of a set that was assembling for a dance which thankfully, Alexis knew. Richard watched her with a smile on his face. He spotted his mother by the punch bowl, then looked back at his daughter.

"She does look lovely," said a voice behind him. "I'm sorry," Kate continued. "We haven't been introduced. I met your daughter in Montgomery's. I'm Sara Katayev." She curtseyed and he bowed back.

"Richard Castle." He took her gloved hand and kissed it. She felt a flutter in her stomach but put it down to not having eaten anything that evening. He was very handsome.

Richard found that his eyes were quite easily drawn from his daughter now that this... whatever she was, was in front of him. She was... His breath caught in his throat as he tried to introduce himself politely. He didn't think she noticed.

She wore read. It contrasted perfectly with her creamy white skin. Her lips were red too, and once he had looked at them he found it hard to look anywhere else for what seemed like an eternity. And when his eyes moved from her lips they were only trapped by something else – her eyes, her neck, her shoulders, that tantalising collar bone that was like no other.

Say something. Say something!

"So you met Alexis at Montgomery's; I take it you like to read?"

"Very much. And the crime genre in particular."

Kate concentrated on the pinching of her corset, trying to force herself back to reality. He was so... Those eyes, piercing blue, like sapphires boring into her soul. If she wasn't careful she'd be confessing to being a huge fan in a minute.

"A competitive genre indeed," Richard said. "Do you have a favourite detective?"

"I know it's predictable, but Sherlock Holmes. Though I don't know that I'd like to meet him for real."

"He is a little insane. Do you read anything else?"

"I read almost everything else. I live above a bookshop; I have plenty of opportunity."

"Ah, you're one of those modern women."

"If modern means independent. I could live somewhere else. The king has offered more than once. But I like where I live."

"I should think you would. I'd like to live at Montgomery's too."

Kate laughed. "There might not be room for both of us."

Richard tried not to blush and hurriedly changed the subject.

"Would you like to dance?"

Kate paused. If it had been anyone else she would have said no in an instant. But she wanted to dance. Couples were beginning to line up for another set and on impulse, she took Richard's offered hand, partly down to her desire to feel the electric tingle his touch gave her.

They moved exquisitely together; both graceful and neat. They didn't try to talk; their eye contact was enough to attract some attention from the surrounding couples already. Richard suddenly smiled; his winning, genuine grin rather than a nervous arrangement of his mouth.

"What is it?" Kate couldn't help but ask.

"I am dancing with the most beautiful woman in this room."

Kate laughed. "Thank you, you flatter me."

"I don't mean to flatter. I'm smiling because it's true. There's..."

He stopped himself. Again, she raised her eyebrows in a question.

"There's something about you, Sara," he said, thinking it sounded rather limp now. Kate wondered what to say in return. That he made her feel alive when she had been so sure that she was dead inside? That just the thought of his mouth made her heart quicken, let alone the thought of his mouth on hers? That his eyes made her forget to breathe?

The dance continued and their conversation ended, since Kate had been unable to think of a reply. Alexis watched them; she was now standing at the king's side, talking to him about sword fighting.

"I think your father has found a new friend," Stephen said when he followed her eyes. "He always did like to steal my women."

Alexis laughed. "If she is yours, he will not try to steal her – and even if her were such a man, she would not allow it."

"How do you know? Have you met her?"

"She is Lady Sara Katayev. We're friends."

"Then we have another thing in common. And you are right, my lady, she is not really mine. She looks good with your father, I think."

Alexis narrowed her eyes. She had never been keen on her father's rare relationships with other women. These new 'friends' never seemed to like her or really be interested in her. But Sara was different. She didn't think she would mind that much if Sara were to become part of her father's life. She would still prefer it not to happen, though. It would inevitably be complicated, and have a complicated end.

"They dance well together," she replied eventually. Stephen laughed.

"You're more protective of your father than he is of you. Don't look so glum. If Sara is your friend you must like her. Do you want her all to yourself?"

Alexis smiled and shook her head. "I suppose not. I just..."

"The way they are looking at each other does make every other person in the room feel slightly obsolete."

Alexis couldn't help but laugh.

The dance ended and Kate happily walked with Richard back to the king's seat. Alexis smiled widely when her new friend made eye contact with her; Kate reluctantly tore herself away from Richard to pay attention to the younger Castle. She liked Alexis, she had been looking forward to talking with her. Stephen, helpful for once, took Richard away to go and meet some businessman or other, and Kate was left with less to distract her.

"So you met my father," Alexis commented.

"I did. He seems very nice."

"I think so. You looked so beautiful, when you were dancing."

Kate laughed. "Smoke and mirrors. The dress hides all my mistakes. So – you've met the king now. What do you think of him?"

"He's funny. He's not at all how I thought a king would be. I like him. He's a bit like my father."

Kate winked. "But not as clever, as handsome, as sensible, as hard-working, or as witty," she teased.

"I have to think my father is the best."

"That is the role of a good daughter. Would you like me to introduce you to some more young ladies?"

Alexis made a face. Kate laughed. "I know how you feel. But the acquaintances will be useful in the days to come. And some of them are actually fairly good company."

Alexis sighed, but offered her arm to Kate and walked with her to meet the other women. Kate caught sight of Richard in a corner with Stephen; his back was to her and she admired the way his- She tugged herself back to Alexis and the introductions. She couldn't decide if the evening was going very well or very badly – because she couldn't decide if meeting Sir Richard Castle had been a very good thing, or a very bad thing.


A/N: I hope you liked it, please review!