I gasped.
Chapter 22
Iheaved so noticeably that Mr. Evergreen’s eyes fell directly to the top of my breasts. Another shocked inhale exacerbated the whole disruption and bothered him so greatly that he had to take a long step away from me. Then, impatiently, he leveled the lip of his shirt and lowered his brow concerned.
“I beg your mercy, Your Highness. My pardon,”he said.
“Did you just–?”
“I meant no offense,” he said.
“You looked at my breasts,”I said.
He shifted uncomfortably. “Your breasts moved in a manner that was difficult to miss. I did notleerupon them like some…some….” He swallowed. “I’m sorry.”
I hadn’t meant to say anything in response, but “...You remind me of him in so many ways,” came out without my permission.
“OfSam?”he asked. His face bent further.
“No, of the ostler’s boy,” I said. I stopped. “I-I mean of no one. You remind me of no one. I’m sorry. I misspoke.”
Cyrus put his hands into his slacks. “Who’s the ostler’s boy?” he asked, cocking his head.
“No one of consequence,” I hurried. “Forget I said it.”
“I thought you misspoke?”
“Yes.”
“Did you misspeak? Or is he no one of consequence?” he asked. “I’m confused.”
I wagged my head.
“Fine. I suppose I can pretend to forget you said it, but you said it for a reason,” he said. “Is this boy… a friend of yours, Princess? How do I remind you of him?”
It was his mouth, I wanted to say, but I did not. “The boywasmy friend,” I told him, sobering. “A very long time ago. I have not seen him in many moons, and I do not know why I compared you two. I imagine that was very odd. I apologize.”
I shook myself from the memory of clover-shaped lips and tousled blond hair beneath the waning night.
“Was hejusta friend?” he asked.
“Yes!” I croaked, standing taller. “He wasjusta friend. He’s the boy I skipped stones with, if you must know, but that’s it!”
“Right.”Cyrus shot another rock over the water harder. “Close friends then, I’m sure.”
“And?” I asked.
He feigned a grin. “First, you misspoke, then you miscompared us, and now you expect me to believe you were close friends with a stable buck,” he said.
“Donotcall him that!” I tensed, his rocks falling from my hand. I swiped one palm over the other, sweeping the dirt, and I closed my eyes to fight the urge to reveal my pain to him and the threat of Miss Hellveig’s awful voice rattling in my mind.
Stable buck!she yelled.
“Please,”I whispered.
Mr. Evergreen folded his arms. “You called him theostler'sboy. I cannot use stable buck? What is an ostler’s boy if not a buck?” he asked.
“Stop it,” I breathed. “Please.”
