He shifted uncomfortably as the strains of the next song began. Glancing around at their position in the middle of the dance floor, he said quickly, “Dance with me.”
“I—” She looked over his shoulder, still searching for Rose. But he was the crown prince, and the dance was already beginning. Who knew what rumors she’d start if she conspicuously rejected him in the middle of the dance floor? “Very well.” She put her hand in his and let him sweep her into the dance.
He danced well, leading with confidence. But Natalie felt none of the fire she had felt when she circled the room in Luca’s arms. From the first moment, she had responded differently to Luca than to his cousin.
She shook her head at her own past foolishness. How could she have thought the heart was so easily bidden?
She tried to look for Rose as they circled, but they were twirling too quickly. Instead of Rose, her eyes locked on Luca. Her stomach twisted at the hurt on his face. Surely he didn’t think she was still chasing after his cousin?
Leo cleared his throat, and Natalie remembered she should be speaking. Did he find their silence odd? But he wasn’t making an effort to speak either. The entire dance was growing more awkward by the minute.
Their movements took them near the edge of the dance floor, beside one of the long windows that gave access to the gardens. Leo didn’t turn them back toward the other dancers, instead spinning her all the way to the edge of the room. He paused there, his hand dropping from her waist.
“Would you mind walking with me a moment, Your Highness?”
Natalie’s eyebrows rose. Your Highness? He was back to the formality.
She looked over her shoulder, still searching for Rose, but she couldn’t think of a reason to refuse to speak to Leo.
“If you like…Your Highness,” she quickly added, remembering to match his tone.
He led her outside, his stern expression discouraging anyone from approaching them. They were soon alone, close enough to the ball that they remained within the light of the decorative lanterns, but with no one in earshot.
“I realize I should have spoken to you sooner,” Leo said, still in the same stilted, formal tones.
Panic clawed at Natalie. Had Luca already spoken to him? What had he said about her?
“I’m aware that our parents had certain hopes for this visit,” Leo continued, “and that you may have come here with certain expectations yourself. I shouldn’t have waited so long to clarify my position, and I hope I haven’t caused any pain on your end. While I value Lanover’s alliance with Arcadia, I have no intentions of pursuing a marriage alliance with you now or ever.”
Natalie blinked. That’s what he wanted to talk to her about? She could have laughed.
Nothing in his behavior since her arrival had led her to mistake his intentions in that regard. She opened her mouth to assure him of that only to remember she wasn’t Rose. It wasn’t her place to give him assurances. He’d never been considering a marriage alliance with her.
Natalie looked awkwardly away from him and realized there was one person close enough to overhear them, after all. Rose herself.
Relief swept over her, and she waited for Rose to step in and say something. But Rose seemed frozen in place, her eyes on Leo.
Leo cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the lengthening silence.
“I mean no slight on your personal charm, of course. I know my cousin—” He cut himself off, looking guilty. “What I mean to say, is that it’s not about you personally at all. I know that as crown prince, my duty is to my kingdom, and I intend to dedicate my life to Lanover. But I cannot love where I am instructed to do so. I refuse to even attempt it. Love shouldn’t be about cold-blooded gain.”
His words hit a little too close to home, and Natalie winced. She couldn’t let him keep talking, telling her his private thoughts on the matter because he believed her to be someone else—someone of his own rank who understood the burdens of royal life.
She threw Rose an apologetic look. She had wanted to talk to her first, but at least they were both there.
“Please stop, Prince Leo.” She stepped away from him, holding up her hand between them.
He stepped after her, looking worried. “I truly mean no offense.”
“None is taken,” she said swiftly. “At least by me. However, you might feel some offense when you hear the truth. So please bear in mind that I also meant no offense. Neither of us did.”
“Us?” He looked strangely relieved. “Are you talking of Luca?”
“Luca?” Natalie was momentarily distracted. “No. Why would I be—?” She shook her head. She needed to focus. It was time that everyone knew the truth.
“I’m talking about Princess Rose and me.”
He frowned. “I don’t understand. You are Princess Rose.”
