Elías’s hand rested at the hilt of his sword. “I don’t like this environment for you,” he said.
“Not much of a choice, dear friend. Between the eleven balls, and?—”
“Twelve if you count the masquerade, miss,” Josie added.
“Masquerade?”I asked. “Why in God’s name would we have a masquerade?”
“It’s an annual tradition in the Chalke Season,” she said.
“So many traditions I am unaware of,” I said. “Weren’t you charged with my preparation?” I asked Elías.
“You’ll learn them,” he said. “Culture is meant to be shared, after all.”
“Eleven balls, two lunches, a tea, a derby, and a masquerade,” I listed. “That is far too much socializing, but I suppose if I can keep up with their quickstep, I can survive a few parties until August.”
Josie squinted. “Huh?”
“Chalke’s empire dance,” I explained. “It was too much for me. Sam nearly knocked me over. He was so fast, and I had zero reward for it.”
Ser Elías cleared his throat.
“As I said, you needn’t worry yourself with the swordsman, Eli. I’m sure you have plenty else to fill your day.”
“Indeed,” he said, retrieving an envelope from his pouch and handing it to me. “I came to deliver your letter.”
I touched the broken wine-colored wax seal engraved with an E. “A letter?” I asked. “This is for me? But this is Father’s mark? And it’s opened?”
“Aye,” he replied. “He is unhappy with your decision to stay but has taken the steps necessary to appease your aunt. He wants you to write her and arrange a new time for the ceremony upon your return.”
I peered at the start of the transcript. It was addressed to Elías by name. “This letter is yours,” I said.
He nodded. “Yes, but the message is for you the same.”
“I see.” I set it on the table. “No matter. I’m sure he wants you to handle it.”
“Writing your aunt?” he asked.
“Well, it’s not addressed to me, now is it?” I said. “Take care of it, please.”
“As you command,” he replied.
I exhaled, glancing at the envelope a second time, and then no more. I forced a smile, stepped out of the dress, and loosened my slip. “Don’t worry about thesparringanyway, Ser. The afternoon wasnotleft upon particularly happy terms, and I do not expect to see Mr. Evergreen any time soon. In fact, I’m quite certain my troublesome nanny will find himself deeply in his work for the next little while. I can’t imagine he should dare to show his face to me, not after my response, and certainly not without the Prince's explicit order to, that is.”
There was a knock at the door.
We all shared a collective pause, looked at each other, and then the door. Elías opened it to find Mr. Evergreen behind it. We met eyes briefly. Isquealedand leaped to hide myself behind the wardrobe, covering my slip with as much mass of my arms as I could.
Josie looked strangely at me.“Pray, Princess. Are you alright?“
“Do you think he heard me?”I asked quietly.
She looked back and then to me.“I think he most soothedlysawyou,”she replied.
She swallowed a snicker and turned politely to the entry, switching places with my knight, who promptly came and leered at me.
“Deeply in his work?”he hissed.
“I am just as surprised as you!”I whined.“Why is he here?”
