For all that I knew Edwin very, very well, there were still parts I didn’t know. Such as what accessories he might like. I wasn’t the least bit surprised, though, when he chose items simple in design, without much filigree or ornateness. He picked out emerald cuff links and a matching brooch. I would have chosen sapphires for him, but he seemed quite confident in his choice, so I didn’t argue. It was his suit after all.
I had plenty of formal suits and no need for more accessories, so I didn’t shop for myself. After we made the right selections for Edwin, we left for a dessert shop. Shopping always made me hungry. I needed a snack.
We each got a slice of cake—different types—and settled in at an outdoor table, only the umbrella above our heads fending off the bright sun. It was very warm out here, but between the shade overhead and the ocean breeze wafting over us, it felt quite nice. It made me want to linger. I ate a bite with gusto, grinning from ear to ear. Lovely cake, truly.
“I find it strange,” Edwin mused.
What was going through his pretty head now? “What?”
“The lack of reaction from the king and queen.”
This seemed important, so I’d better stop indulging in sugar and pay attention. “What did you expect them to do?”
Edwin sighed and gave me this look as if to sayYou’re being deliberately obtuse. “I know you’ve rather been playing ostrich, dear heart, but even you can’t bury your head so far into the sand as to miss all the talk. You know they’re talking of putting you on the throne.”
Erk. I made a face.
“Whether they succeed in talking you into it or not, they should be very, very curious about me. I can’t be dismissed as a fling you’re having, because you’re openly taking me out on dates and introducing me to everyone as your lover. There’s unspoken rules about nobility having flings, and one of themis you don’t openly take them to places like you’ve been doing with me. You’re even taking me as your partner for the ball. Why haven’t Their Majesties said something? Tried to arrange a different partner for you?”
Shidteus’s balls. He made a very good point. To me, having Edwin with me was natural—I hadn’t questioned it—but their lack of response was very telling.
“They’re up to something,” I murmured, my fork resting on my plate. I couldn’t think of eating anything now. Stress immediately started accumulating in my gut because I knew what those two were capable of. Edwin was right, I should have realized their lack of response was not a good thing. “I wonder what. Do they feel like they have the right leverage to make me do as they want?”
“Possibly? I bring this up not to ruin your mood—sorry—but because I’m worried.”
“I can see why. Whatever they’re doing, they’re playing it very close to the chest, otherwise my usual informants would have said something by now.”
“How many informants do you have on their staff?”
“Six.” I was quite proud too; that had been tricky to manage, and not something I had done in my previous life. I’d had to figure out how to approach people, and who, in this one.
“Six, eh.” Edwin popped another bite into his mouth, contemplating as he chewed. “Surely six people would see or hear something. Maybe I’m being paranoid. They did just have their hands full with Victor.”
I adored how the entire country had stopped using any honorifics for Victor after he lost his status—like the man was beneath them.
“Well, let’s give this a bit more time. Nothing we can do today anyway.”
“True enough.” Edwin offered me a bite of his cake. “It’s quite good, try some.”
I tried his green matcha, which was delicious, and offered a bite of my decadent chocolate to him.
After finishing dessert, I took him book shopping, because seeing him so animated and greedy for new things to read was by far the best entertainment of the day. If allowed, Edwin would be content to eat and read all day and not come up for air at all.
It was a wonderful day with him, to be sure, but the day wasn’t over yet. I barely had to convince him to stay the night with me. He did swing by his house to water a few plants and pack an overnight bag first.
The overnight bag made my mind slide straight into the gutter. I wondered if I could convince him to indulge me?
The very second we were done and heading for the palace, I leaned in and murmured for his ears alone, “Dearest, how about a quiet dinner in my rooms tonight?”
He perked up. “Lovely idea. Let’s do that.”
I appreciated that he wasn’t the type to play coy.
Once we reached the palace, we walked hand in hand up to my rooms. My knights fell back once we reached my wing, then discreetly went to their posts. No one gave us more than a glance as we walked, but it did remind me to ask a question.
“Edwin, after the dinner where we announced our relationship, what’s the reaction been?”
“Mostly confusion?” He laughed lightly, clearly not at all bothered. “There were rumors, of course, which I mostly ignored. Some of the court ladies have eyed me like I was this unexpected road block to you, and I think they’re scheming on how to get rid of me, but no one’s made a move. No one’s really confronted me about it either, much to my surprise, but a few were brave enough to come up and ask questions. I keep gettingasked what I did to seduce you. When I explain it was the other way around, I can almost see people’s heads explode.”
