“Ineverexpressed that,” he said.
“Two. You made a poor joke aboutbeinga rake as soon as we were alone.”
“Poor taste; hardlyfact,”he added.
“Well.”I looked between the two of them.“How would I know? You never answered me. Areyou a rake?”
He didn’t respond.
Chapter 18
“Aresoundingyes,” I said.
“No. I did answer you; I said I was a gentleman. I thought you were smart, but here I am with yet another word to define. Gentleman is the opposite of rake. Aren’t you supposed to be tracking my dialogue?”
“I am!” I said.
“Then why must I repeat and debate everything with you?” he asked.
“So you deny the accusation?” I asked. “Despite the obvious?”
“Yes, I deny it,” he said. He rolled his shoulders.
“You ranked very highly on most of the ladies’ lists of charmers,” I told him.
“List ofwhat?”
“For someonenowherenear the court, you certainly are well-known among its ladies,” I said. “Every last one of them had something to say about you, you know?”
The strap in his hand went back at his command, and he maneuvered Ice closer to my horse so that he could lean in. “I’veknowna few of the women in the court. Yes. And women outsideof it. But I’m not arake.I’m afraid I don’t fall into the right social class for your high opinion of me.”
“You dress nicer than anyone I know!” I cried.
“I get on!” he said.
“Clearly. Ifnotrake, would you prefer the term-?”
“Whore?”he asked.
I jumped.
“Wouldyou?”he asked. “My. Howquickyou are to cast judgment upon those willing to be your friend. Would you like to know what I’ve heard ofyou?I could recall the rumors blindly and forget trying to decide myself if you command it, ma’am.”
“I didn’tforceyou out here,” I hissed. “You forced me!”
“I would never force you to doanything,”he declared. “Another slander to my good name!”
For a moment, we said nothing else, and all I could hear were hooves on dirt and lungs breathing. I watched as what I had said shaped his face.
“I’m sorry,” I relented. “I’m very sorry.”
Cyrus was still for a moment longer before the lines of his jaw slacked.
“Iamhappy for your company,” I said. I gathered my hands, my eyes falling to them. “At least you’re frank. Honesty is important. But no, I do not need you to recall any rumors. I’m sure I’ve heard them. Everyone else here dances around me like a set of china, or they comment on mywildnature from corners of the room…Wild mares, us Eissons are. Yes. They talk about me, but no one talkstome... At best, they talkatme or near me. Maybe then just to hearthemselvesspeak.”
“I see you’ve met Miss Aster,” he quipped.
“…Ha!”The ease of my laugh brought a genuine smirk to his lips, even if it faded as fast. “Well. I am pleased to know it’s not just me you hate.”
