Jacaera had had too much wine, mayhaps. Her head was spinning, though she had only had one cup and then drank from her husband’s cup. It was not as if she was not used to dancing, plain featured or not, she was still a Princess. She would be asked by anyone who wanted to catch her Grandfather's eye or her Mother’s favour.
But tonight, at the fourth event held to celebrate her marriage, she had danced every dance but one with her lord husband. Baelon scared off any lickspittles who might look her way and had outright refused her uncle Aegon again when he asked for a dance. She hadn’t successfully avoided her uncle’s attention so much in years. Yet another reason to be pleased with this marriage though it was only four days in.
Baelon noticed when she was unsteady on her feet and led her from the dance floor, all solicitation. Jacaera has sometimes thought she should be less enamoured of his attentions. She was more than fond of her oh-so-beautiful husband already but understand him she does not. She assumed once they were established at court his interest would wain.
Baelon found them a seat in a quiet corner of the ballroom - a chair pushed out of the way by someone else and at first, she thought he’d offer it to her because while Baelon’s manners have been found wanting by some he has always been well mannered with her. But instead, he sat in the seat and dragged her down into his lap.
“You don’t mind sharing?” he asked, his violet eyes lit with amusement. It was not proper but he was not wrong. She didn’t mind and they were out of the way. There would probably be talk but for now, Jacaera would pretend this was as private as it felt. She perched on his lap, his arm around her waist, caught up entirely in him.
“No,” she said. “I don’t mind.” He’d snagged another cup of wine along the way and when he proffered it to her she drank deeply despite her whirling thoughts.
She could feel Baelon’s eyes on her the whole time and when she offered him the wine, he only smiled in a way that made her stomach flip. That recalled the way he looked at her in bed. He reached to touch her face, and his thumb brushed her lip. The cut from the wedding mostly healed now - it didn’t hurt anymore and it tingled when he touched her, or when he kissed her. He hadn’t kissed her now though he’d not held back in ballrooms at the other events to celebrate their marriage. Instead, he watched her, his gaze expectant. He was waiting for her. Jacaera felt her cheeks heat at the thought even though of course, she wanted to kiss him. She leaned in and brushed her lips over the smooth skin of his cheek. The warmth of his skin made her head swim more. His hand slid up her back.
“I think it’s time to retire, sweetling,” he said and encouraged her to her feet. Jacaera could not agree more.
