“I figured,” I said. I folded my arms. “You promised not to speak of him.”
“No. I promised not to reveal your Willem’s name to Sameer,” he returned. “I didnotvow to not tease you about it all. You are a fool if you thought that was the case.”
I stomped to my steed and tried to hoist myself into the saddle, muttering, “Aye. I’m foolish. And dumb. And agitated, Sword!”
“Seeing how upset your buck makes you only fuels my disobedience, you know?” he said.
“Oh, don’t worry, I’m well aware my misery gets you off.” I gasped. ”I… I certainly don’t know what came over me to say that, sir.” Finally, I made it into the seat. “I’m so sorry.”
He looked up, a wisp of animation to his face. He checked my saddle and its straps.
“What happened to the boy?” he asked. “If you care for him so dearly, why are you no longer friends?”
“With respect, Mr. Evergreen, I would sooner throw myself from this creature and over a cliff into the very bowels of that valley before I told you that,” I said. “Now. I am ready to go. So, if you would be so kind, lead the way.”
He smiled for some stupid reason. I turned Tails toward our path and did not say another word of knights or promises the whole way back to the Palace. Yet, despite my intentions, all I could think about was whatcostMr. Evergreen had tried to barter for and of how cowardly I was not to force him to reveal it or at least what he knew about the Prince.
Chapter 23
Ithought about Mr. Evergreen all evening, even when I tried to reroute my fantasies to Ser Willem. I thought about his lips. I thought about his words. I thought about how angry he had made me and how stupidly bold he’d been, spinning around to declare himself a useful sheath. When I fell asleep, it all became an intertwined idea. Willem was Evergreen. Evergreen was Willem.
I dreamed of chasing my long-lost love through the thick emerald forest of King’s Land, past the deep roots of pines and river birches we always nearly tripped over, and through the spires of light that blessed our youthful skin. When I caught his specter once and for all, I dreamed it kissed me but then became the swordsman, andthatwas the cost he’d waited for. Worse, I was pleased with it. When I woke up, the whole day was Mr. Evergreen’s. There was no escape.
“Are you alright, miss?” Miss Josie asked.
I glanced at her reflection in the mirror as the seamstress marked places on my latest dress.
“Hmm?”
She asked again. “Are you alright? You seem distracted.”
“I’m not distracted,” I said.
The two of them shared a look. Josie said, “She asked you a question. Did you hear it?”
I shook my head. “I’m so very sorry. What did you say?” I asked.
The tailor smiled softly. “I asked if you preferred the longer sleeve or not.”
“Oh,” I said, nodding. “I liked the ruffled one. The shorter of the two.”
“Of course, ma’am,” she said.
But Josie peered at me. She stood faithfully near the vanity and held one hand to her skirt and the other to the surface of the desk. The seamstress circled me once more with her tape.
“I’m fine,” I promised. “I’m just thinking of Mr. Evergreen is all.”
“Of Mr. Evergreen?” Josie asked.
Even the seamstress was caught off guard by my remark.
“Not in an inappropriate way!”I hurried. “I meant…” I shrugged. “I was simply debating on if I would send for him today or not.”
“For what?” Josie asked. Her eyes darted to the other woman and then back.
“No, I–” I laughed, for whatever reason, then scrunched my face, shaking it off, pressing a pair of fingertips to my brow. “No, he asked that I send for him if I decided to continue our ride…ing lessons. Our riding lessons,” I said.
“That, um, that should be the last of it I need,” the seamstress said, rising from her knees. “You’re certain on the swatches, Your Highness?”
