Chapter 2 #2
“You may not see the man I do, but he is there.” He took a measured pause. “I don’t want to hurt him like this. I do not want you here.”
“Do not,” I whispered.
“I’m trying,” he said.
“No,” I replied, reaching to touch his chest. “No, you said you do not want me here, not don’t.”
“What?” he asked.
“Miss Josie says liars say do not.”
He narrowed a single eye, then tapped my temple. “I’m sure that makes sense somewhere in here.”
“You want to see me,” I said.
“Yes, but I don’t want to hurt Sam,” he said. “And I’ll confess, I worry you do.”
“Do what? Want to hurt Sam? That isn’t what this is about?” I said.
“Isn’t it?” Cyrus glanced at the fingers at his heart.
“It’s not,” I said. “It’s not. I swear.”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Would you like me to tell you how little I think of him? Would that convince you? Would that clarify what’s happening here?”
“I’d like you to-”
“You, and Sam, and Lady Agatha, and my seamstress for some reason, all just played rather happily with one another just now. Didn’t you?
Yet here I am with you. Not Sam. Not the girls.
I’ve dodged my knight; I’ve risked invoking his fury by being discovered here with you.
I’m standing in front of you. Not Sam. I very well could’ve inserted myself into his conversation, embarrassed him, told his Aggy to go sniff another man’s trousers, but I followed you beneath these seats, did I not? I chose—” I stopped. “Cyrus.”
He swallowed.
“Cyrus, I don’t care where or what Sameer is doing or who he’s doing it with, and I don’t care enough about his misdeeds to seek harm to him. I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just want to see you.”
“You want to see me?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said. “Alone. Not out there with everyone, where I cannot be free to say things like that. And certainly not where fabric harlots blatantly flirt with you!”
He tensed again. “I would ask you not to speak of Lydia that way.”
“Lydia?” I asked. “Lydia is…? As in…Swift?”
“Aye,” Cyrus said.
“Lydia Swift? Your fiancé? You’re engaged to my seamstress? To-”
“We’re not engaged. We were. We have since parted,” he said.
“Are you…?” I tried to form the question, unable to move or even think to save him from the insecurity the truth brought out of me. “Are you in love with her?” I asked.
“How can you ask me that?” He frowned.
“How can I not?” I returned. “She was so handsy with you for someone who’s no longer in love!”
Cyrus rolled his eyes. “I don’t control how she feels,” he said. “And as lovely as fighting with you is, this is a bad place. We can’t be here like this.”
“Then where should we go?” I asked. “You’re the navigator. I’ll follow your lead.”
He shook his head. “We should go nowhere, Your Highness. You should go back to your derby.”
“What? No, I don’t want to do that.”
“Then stay here,” he said. “Do what you want, per usual.”
Mr. Evergreen muttered an apology next. My hand fell from his frame as he stepped back, and when I didn’t move, he did, walking around me and my shock to leave.
I flipped. “Don’t walk away from me!” I said. He didn’t stop.
Enlarged, I charged past his shape, and though we traveled in the same direction, a sea grew between us. I walked quickly and arrived at Sam before the swordsman could.
He stopped, cocking his head to gawk at me, as frustrated with the offense as I had hoped he’d be, and in response, I coiled my hand around Sameer’s arm.
Both Agatha and Miss Swift raised a brow, but I only sought to fester Mr. Evergreen’s dismay by clinging tightly to the Prince’s arm the moment he became aware.
Then I leaned into my betrothed’s shoulder, and I batted my eyes for him, deciding then and there that Mr. Evergreen would pay for my displeasure.
I said, “You know, I’ve given it some thought, my Sam. I really would love to see our chapel soon.”
“You would?” he asked. He went to follow where I looked, but I turned his cheek.
“Please?” I asked. “I think seeing it would help me decide on the flowers we should use.”
Sam swallowed. He glanced at Agatha but hurried back. “Of course, my love. I’ll, uh, I’ll clear my calendar, and we’ll make a day of it. Does tomorrow work?”
“Tomorrow?” Aggy asked.
“Every day works for me,” I said.
She cleared her throat. “Same—er, Your Highness, I do not wish to interfere with your wedding plans, but tomorrow is the day you promised to take Attie and me to town. For the chocolate, remember?”
“Oh.” He took a quick breath. “Uh. No. This is important. I shall reschedule for you, love,” he said.
“You have plans?” I feigned disappointment and coyly met Miss Agatha’s eyes.
“Drat. What luck. Oh, or…you could, I don’t know…
? I mean, much as you originally designed the tour, you could just have Mr. Evergreen escort me in your stead.
That’s a thought. He is a decent guide, and it’s not as though it’s our actual wedding day.
Right? You don’t have to be there if you prefer other company. ”
We watched each other. She did not remark, but it did pique her curiosity.
I arched my brow and added, “Then you and your friends could enjoy the city, and I would have time for my own inspiration.”
“Inspiration?” Sam asked.
“Yes. For the wedding,” I explained.
Aggy butt in. “Yes, I get your meaning, Your Highness. Seeing the altar will help her envision how it should look.”
“Yes,” I said. “Things like the flowers along the back, Your Highness. Then I could return and share all my whimsical ideas with you, whenever you make time.”
She glanced at Miss Swift, then me, and said, “I, for one, think that I would support such a lovely idea, Princess. Though I would be profoundly in your debt for changing your plans so abruptly.”
“Nonsense,” I told her. “The decision benefits us both.”
“Then it settled. And, after the sweets, Attie and I shall visit Miss Swift at her shop and browse all her new pretty things. You’re open again tomorrow, aren’t you, dear Lydi?” She touched the woman’s hand.
Lydia nodded, but she did not seem as certain as Agatha was proud.
“Delightful,” she replied. “A shame you can’t come with us, though, Your Highness.”
“Another time,” I said.
“I look forward to it,” she said.
“I must say, smashing collaboration, ladies,” Sameer cheered. “It all sounds as perfect as the women behind it.” He placed his hand over mine and beamed as he turned. “Doesn’t that sound perfect, Cy?”
But Cyrus’ smile was half-assed at best. Upon Sameer’s insistence, he joined our group in full. Miss Lydia dropped her gaze, and Aggy greeted him, thanking him brightly for taking her Prince’s place.
“Aye,” Evergreen said, in a tone that was even less convincing than his grin. “What a perfect plan.” But he wasn’t happy like I had hoped. He was distant.
I took a deep breath, suddenly aware that I still clung to the Prince. I felt bad about the demonstration. When I let go, there was no change to the swordsman’s face.
“Thank you for seeing to this,” Sam said to him. “You’re a good friend.” He clapped his hand to his back. “I’ll compensate you somehow, of course.”
“Of course,” Evergreen said.