Chapter 5
We didn’t venture into the city, and I didn’t speak directly to either man the whole way back to the Palace.
I did not know if it was because there was a lack of opportunity or if I was modified for my behavior, suggesting I kiss them, or then speaking of Hell, but in any instance, I was jarred from the affair.
As soon as we arrived, Miss Jocelyn came to collect me with the promise of a gift from the Prince inside my chamber.
He’d brought gourmet truffles back from town, she explained.
He was waiting for me in the parlor, for dinner, too.
The idea clearly upset my Sword, but while my knightly keeper would have made the moment impossible to address, he saw Miss Jocelyn.
Then his attention went to her, and seemingly, everything she did or had to say.
He asked her how he day was. He asked her if her blouse was new, and about her hair—the braid’s intricacy, and when he’d asked a fourth and fifth question, I took the chance to try and corner my friend before he left.
“Mr. Evergreen,” I hurried, barely catching him by the door.
“Good evening, Your Highness,” he returned. He offered me a bow.
“If you have a moment, perhaps we could discuss moving forward with Isaac,” I tried hinting. “I think I-”
“Another time,” he said.
“Another time?” I asked. “What better time than now?”
“The hour is late. I’d hate for you to be.”
“Be what? Late?” I asked. “To where?”
“To dinner with Sameer,” he said. He shelved his hand toward my maid. “Miss Josie can see you back to your suite, I trust?”
“But I…”
“I have a list of chores from Henry,” he said.
“You do?” I wilted.
“Yes, and about ten other excuses, should you press,” he replied.
Miss Josie giggled. Ser Willoughby had made her laugh. They tried to stifle it as Cyrus, and I noticed, demurely quieting the topic.
“Can we not speak?” I asked.
Mr. Evergreen groaned, then he stepped to the side, careful to keep our companions in his view, although their spectacle made our conversation hard to begin. He was perfectly vague.
He said, “What happened today cannot happen again, Your Highness. I must resign from this arrangement, you understand?”
“What? Why?” I asked.
He hushed me. “You know why.”
“No. How can you suggest that?” I asked. “That you should resign?”
“It’s the only option.”
“Was it…?” I spoke lower. “Was our kiss not to your liking? I’m new, but I learn quickly. I’m certain I can-”
“What?” Cyrus frowned. He rolled his eyes, but I was serious. “No. It was very much to my liking. That’s the problem.”
“That’s the opposite of a problem,” I said. “I don’t understand. If you enjoyed it, then...”
“The—” He clicked his tongue. Then paused.
“Even if I entertained the idea of riding with you again, which I am not doing, you seem to have acquired a guardian.” He bent his head toward Ser Willoughby just as the man erupted into a fit of joy.
Josie touched his arm as he laughed. “One who made damn sure I knew his special talents from the War, and no offense, but upsetting him or the Blade he reports to, is not exactly something I’m missing from my life. ”
I held my head a little higher. “Is that your only grievance? Elías?”
“My only grievance?” he asked. “Are you not listening or are you completely daft? Your cousin is a grievance, too.”
“What? Willoughby? Why?”
He blinked. “Because he… Hold on. Do you not know what his position was?”
“What position?”
“Do you know what a Rusted Blade is?” he asked.
“Cyrus,” I said. “I don’t care about my cousin’s sword right now. I care about you. I care about this. I want to keep riding with you. Do you… Do you wish to ride with me?”
“I…” He hesitated. “Sam is my friend.”
“Sam,” I repeated. “Sam encouraged our riding so that he could remain preoccupied elsewhere.”
“Riding. Actual riding. He’s my friend, Svana,” he said.
“As you said, and as his friend, you know he’s not interested in me,” I told him.
“Magical, nonsensical churchly curses or not, that is the truth.
When I asked him to abandon his tryst, he made it perfectly clear he had no intention of doing that.
Do you think some wives' tales will alter what it is he wants? Who he wants?”
“It’s not the blessing that’s the interference. You’re engaged to him,” he said.
“He’s engaged to me!” I hissed. “Do you scold His Highness for his devotion to Miss Agatha?”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” he said.
“Oh.”
“Aye. I’ve always disapproved of their entanglement. I’ve always known that it would hurt you. Does that hoof feel nice in your mouth now, Princess?”
I paused. “Well, the point is, your friend doesn’t want me. I know that and so do you. And I know that, this, whatever it is between us, is new and perhaps fleeting, but… It’s not all bad, is it? Must you hate me for wanting but a moment longer with a man who does actually want me?”
Cyrus exhaled.
“You do don’t you? Want me?” I asked. When he didn’t answer, I sighed. “It… It doesn’t have to mean anything,” I tried, drawing from his words. “We're just two people.”
At his silence, I turned, but he caught my sleeve.
“Svana,” he said, quietly. “I do. I do want you.”
Josie eased from her daze, vocally interrupting mine. Evergreen let go. She hummed, smoothing her dress, then called, “Your mercy, Princess,” in a way that nearly buzzed her voice. “Sorry. Are you ready then?”
I felt my pulse at every point. I could not break from Mr. Evergreen’s sullen eyes. “I’m in no hurry, Jo.”
She smiled at the name. I met my gaze on Ser Willoughby, then back to her.
“Doesn’t Miss Jocelyn look beautiful today, cousin?” I asked.
“Oh, I…” He vocally stumbled, resorting to an almost too-easy nod. “Yes. She does,” he said. “Although Miss Jocelyn looks beautiful every day.”
She blushed.
“Pray, Ser…” Something deviant sprouted in my mind. “Do you think Ser Elías would mind if we brought her with us tomorrow?” I asked. “I think it would be so splendid to add another woman, don’t you?”
“Yes,” he said. He stopped to consider it. “No. I meant, yes, it would be splendid. Of course, Ser Elías wouldn’t mind. The more the merrier, he’d say.”
“Oh,” Josie began. “Oh, that’s really not necessary.”
I smiled regardless. “No, I think it is quite necessary and quite delightful. Oo! We could have a picnic!” I declared. “Like the one Mr. Evergreen and I had that you two covered for.” I looked for the mentioned’s approval; it was semi-defiant but waiting, too.
“A picnic?” Willoughby asked.
“Yes. You might as well experience the fun you lied about, Ser, right? What say you, Mr. Evergreen?” I asked. “Fancy conjuring us more cheese?”
He tried to hide the mischief brewed at the corners of his grin, but I saw it. I felt it there.
“Aye. A picnic would be splendid, Your Highness. Dangerously splendid but sure, I can find you more cheese.”
Josie laughed uncomfortably. “Miss Svana, please! Oh, no. No, it’s all quite fine,” she said. “I’m perfectly alright without the fuss.”
I glared at her.
“Aren’t I?” she asked.
“No.” I pursed my lips. “No, I think you want the fuss.”
She craned into a shared secrecy with me, stole a glance at Ser Willoughby, then sighed as I tapped my foot at her.
She whispered, “It’s really fine.”
“It’s not fine,” I told her. “You’ll understand my complete and downright bafflement as to why you did not leap upon that opportunity.”
“I know,” she said. “I know, but… I’ve never ridden a horse before. And Daniel, he’s quite qualified.”
“You’ve never ridden a horse before?” I asked. “What? How is that possible?”
“I know it’s shocking,” she said. “But they are large, and I am not.”
“You’re fearful of horses? Why did you not say anything?” I asked.
“And suffer the instant judgement of my lady? The way Sameer did? They’re so important to you,” she said. “I’m new to my position, and I didn’t wish to disappoint you.”
“Josie.”
“I’m sorry!” she said. “I just… I didn’t think it’d ever come up.”
“No. No, this is perfect. Perfectly perfect, I’m afraid.”
“It is?” she asked.
“Oh, yes,” I said, nodding menacingly. “Yes. And I know the perfect knight that would practically fall upon his sword to be the one to correct this injustice.”
“What injustice? You mean… No! No, I couldn’t possibly impose upon him in such a way. He has so much to do and-”
“Nonsense. Ser Willoughby is burdened already, watching me. It’s decided.
You shall arrive here with me tomorrow and join us for the ride.
” The two of us glanced back at the boys in sync, then back.
“And if you say no, and I am forced to spend another day weathering Ser Willoughby’s excessive puns alone, I shall share every last one with you as punishment. ”
“That’s hardly a punishment, Svana; I find his jokes incredibly charming,” she said.
“Of course you do.” I rolled my eyes. “And you thought not riding was your issue.”
“What?”
“Come with me,” I said. “It’ll be fun.”
“Are you certain?” she asked. “I really don’t want to intrude upon your and Mr. Evergreen’s privacy.”
“Josie,” I urged. “That’s exactly why I need you to come with us.”
Finally, she understood.
“Oh!”
“‘Oh’ is right!” I said. “So please. I promise, you shall be in the hands of two properly skilled horse handlers and a knight. You’ll learn to ride somehow. No one should get hurt, and we’ll all be fine.”
“When you say ‘should?’”
“Oh, don’t be scared,” I said.
“…To be clear, you want me to accompany you to distract Ser Willoughby?” she checked.
“Yes!”
That drew attention, though neither man seemed to piece together what I was affirming. Josie and I smiled, innocently, before frowning at one another.
“You must be coy, Princess,” she teased.
“I need you,” I told her. “I’m up against the Lord Commander here. I cannot win without an ally. He has one already; it isn’t fair.”
Josie nodded. She pressed her palm flat to her stomach and turned. “I've decided I should like to come along after all.”
Willoughby was brighter than I’d ever seen, even as a boisterous, happy man. He smiled boldly and cried, “Fantastic!”
Cyrus crossed his arms and quirked a brow, admitting his defeat.
“Although,” Josie noted. “I can’t ride a horse. Ser Willoughby, Miss Svana suggested you might help me learn?”
He sort of paused, but then he was smiling again. “I will not fail you,” he said.
“Perfect,” I replied. “What chivalry.”
Willoughby was proud, and Josie told him exactly how inexperienced she was with horses. He vowed to break down the basics for her as I hovered near my own Sword, positively beaming with delight.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Mr. Evergreen,” I promised him.
He smirked. “Has he ever taught someone to ride before?”
I shrugged. “How should I know that?”
“I’ll see to it.” He nodded, then raised two fingers toward the knight. “Ser?”
Willoughby turned.
“Take a walk with me. Let’s plan the day.”
My chest felt light as my cousin accepted his invitation. He bowed farewell to Miss Jocelyn, and once the goodbye found me, they left.
Josie sat as soon as she could, resting her hand across her chest.
“Are you alright?” I asked.
“He makes my knees weak,” she confessed. “I just need a moment here, if that’s okay?”
I sat beside her.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s been a long time since I felt such a way. Thank you for inviting me, even if it was just for a plan.”
“Not just,” I said. “Though I did mean the ally thing.”
She hummed. “He’s got such pretty brown eyes. I think I might drown in them.”