I could not shake the thought of my name from Evergreen’s lips.
“Jocelyn… Just how versed are you in the social differences between men and women? Honestly?”
“I do fine,” she said.
“I think… Actually, Iknowthat Mr. Evergreen came on to me.”
She raised a brow. “Oh? And you allowed it?”
“Not really, no,” I said. “I think I rejected him.”
“You think you did?” she asked. “That’s an interesting concept. There are many layers to that statement. Did you notintendto reject his advance?”
“He called me Svana,” I said.
“Oh.” She rolled her eyes. “That’s not an advance, my lady. That’s nothing. The man is close with His Highness; he’s likely just being?—”
“Itwasn’tnothing. He…” I looked back out the window. “God, I can’t believe I’m even speaking of this. Never mind.”
Josie paused. “Unless you’re suggesting Mr. Evergreen said something else?”
“No,” I lied.
“I see.” She eased, and after a brief lull, she said, “Ser Willoughby was the one that insisted that I use his first name. I’ll admit that I have entertained the idea, but I have yet to call the courage required to implement it into conversation with him. It simply slipped out with you, as I…I have thought of barely anything but his name. I…I hope to continue our friendliness. I enjoy his company. He’s very kind. …You’re not angry, are you?” she asked.
“Angry? About Ser Willoughby’s name?”
“No, ma’am. About the idea of me and…well, a knight? Us. Us communicating in such an intimate manner, Your Highness.”
I raised a brow. “Then by friends, you meanfriends?”
She meekly nodded. “Maybe.”
I thought about it. “I don’t exert much energy toward my cousin’s personal life,” I said, deciding. “I mean, as a knight, I suppose I should, and perhaps if it were SerElías,I would be moderately concerned given the age disparity… But I’ve seen older Dukes marry younger women and be just fine. Ser Willoughby is… He’s…” I struggled to find what to say, but I didn’t know him. “You must understand, he is my second cousin. He went to boarding school while I had lessons at home. He—Until he was assigned to His Majesty, I don’t think I could have told you a thing about him. Except once when we were very little, we played Hide and Seek with his brothers. They never looked for us.”
“That sounds very sad,” she said.
“It was,” I told her, humorously. “I hid for way too long before I realized. I didn’t realize, actually. Willoughby found me after some time. In his defense, I was in the crypt.”
“Are his brothers very mean?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t know,” I said.
Josie sighed sweetly. “It’s nothing, my lady. Just a silly crush. One of my own. See? They’re very common, and I’m very certain it’s one-sided, and regardless...”
“If Ser Willoughby asked you to call him Daniel, I don’t know how one-sided it is. I’m not the expert in the matter, but…Mr. Evergreen asked that I call himCyrus,so…”
“There is something you’re not telling me,” she said.
“Should I speak to Ser Willoughby for you?”
“Absolutely not,” she cried. “No. No. To what end? It’s not as though he’d grow to love me or ask for my hand. And even if that were a possibility, I can’t foresee a future in which His Majestywould ever consider the match. Not that I… I’m not expecting it. I’m not trying to manifest it or anything. I just enjoy Daniel–Ser Willoughby’s jokes. I just like talking to him. He makes me feel… safe.”
“Alright, but I would have no intention to inform my father of such things for as long as it’s just a crush. Not unless you discover that the connection is as meaningful for Ser Willoughby as it is for you. I would exclude him until then.”
“Oh, please. No. I didn’t mean?—”
“The King is very rigid when it comes to relationships. For that, you’d sooner have his blessing marrying Ser Elías, as he does seem to let ole Eli do whatever he wants, I think.”
