A strange tightness balls in my chest. Perhaps I’m unused to seeing people embrace with such familiarity. I may not have much experience in society, but I know public signs of affection are taboo, especially between opposite sexes. Maybe I’m also just taken aback at seeing Thorne treating someone so kindly. This tight feeling couldn’t be jealousy. That would be absurd.
The two separate, and the girl beams up at him. “I’ve missed you so much, Thorne!”
“And I you. I trust school is going well?”
“It is! I’ve gotten high marks in every subject.” She steps back, and her eyes find me. Her expression brightens further. “You must be Princess Rosaline!”
Thorne clears his throat, facing me. His smile remains warm as he introduces us. “Princess Rosaline, this is Angela Phillips, Monty’s sister. Angie, this is—”
“I’ve been dying to meet you!” Angela rushes over to me and takes my hands in hers. “You’re going to be my sister-in-law.”
“Angie,” Thorne says, a light reprimand in his tone. “I thought you said you received high marks in school. How are you meant to greet a fae royal? Also, be careful. The floor is wet.”
“Oh, right! Forgive me, Highness.” She releases my hands to sink into a curtsy. As she straightens, she notices Minka weaving around her ankles and picks her up at once. She holds her up to look at her, eyes dancing with glee. “Thorne, did you get a cat?”
He lifts a hand in warning. “No, that’s—”
“Pet meeee,” Minka says, her voice laced with a purr. With a yelp, Angela releases the cat. Minka lands on all fours, but unfortunately sticks her landing at the dead center of a puddle. She skitters away and frantically races for me. Before I can stop her, she claws her way up my skirt and into my arms. “She dropped me in a puddle!”
Angela brings her hands to her mouth, eyes turning down at the corners. “I’m so sorry! I was startled. I didn’t know you were fae.”
With a huff, Minka shifts in my arms so that she’s facing away from the girl. Not knowing what else to do, I hug Minka to my chest and run a soothing hand down her silky back.
“I think we’ve had enough excitement for the time being,” Thorne says, his voice both calming and authoritative at once. “Angela, please give Her Highness some privacy. As you can see, there has been an incident, and the princess requires some rest.”
Angela gathers her composure and backs away with a nod. “Of course. I apologize for making such a poor first impression, Highness. I look forward to getting to know you more.” She glances at Thorne, who gives her an approving nod. With that, she scurries out of the foyer.
Thorne makes his way to me, a dark laugh leaving his lips. “What kind of chaos have I let in through my doors?”
With Minka still pouting in my arms and my skirts still dripping, I can’t help but agree. Chaos is the only thing I can think of to describe our current circumstances. Not just the foyer, the excited girl, and the terrified cat, but the game, my engagement, and our bargain too. This is all so ridiculous. A disaster. Nothing has gone the way I thought it would when I came up with my plan. That should make me anxious, but instead, it sends giddy mirth bubbling in my chest. It escapes in a bark of laughter.
Thorne narrows his eyes at me, but there’s mirth playing around his lips too. “Why are you laughing?”
My laughter grows until I’m doubled over. Minka flees my arms and races up the stairs on her own. “Sorry, just give me a moment.”
When I manage to sober from my laughing fit, I feel oddly light. Maybe a little levity is what I needed. Straightening, I find Thorne on the stair above me, arms crossed with a poorly concealed grin twisting his mouth. He arches a brow. “Are you finished?”
“I am,” I say, my cheeks sore from my laughter.
As Thorne leads me up the stairs, I allow my mind to return to more serious matters. An important question snags my mind. “Who is Miss Dervins?”
“Trouble,” he says under his breath.
“But who is shereally?”
He doesn’t answer, and his silence tells me plenty. She must be Monty’s lover. Or perhaps the girl he wishes to marry. Guilt swarms in my chest. I’d never once given thought to Monty’s wishes and feelings. His awful personality made them easy enough to dismiss. But what if he’s preferred another woman all along? What if she’s his first choice, the person he intended to choose when his father promised he’d have his pick of bride if our betrothal contract was broken?
Dread and relief war inside me. I can’t…compete with another woman. I don’t want to. If Mr. Phillips is truly in love with someone else, I can’t stand in the way.
“Miss Rose.” Thorne’s brow is knitted with concern as he studies me from several steps up.
I realize I’ve come to a halt, my mind so tangled with my thoughts. “Does Monty…does he love this woman?”
Thorne’s expression sinks with sympathy. “No, it isn’t like that,” he says, tone gentle.
“What is it like then? Why is she trouble?”
He descends the steps until he stands before me. “Cosette Dervins is a friend of Angela’s. Monty and I have tried to discourage the friendship, as have Lord and Lady Phillips. Cosette has…an unfavorable history with Monty, and anyone with eyes can see she’s using Angela to remain close to him. Angela is too kind to see through her friend’s ruse.”
