“Hello?” Cyrus asked. “You still with me?”
I was caught in the act and gasped! Mr. Evergreen donned an almostimpressedexpression and the fire only burned further when he positioned himself higher upon his elbow.
“What?”I said, defensively. “Hello?”
“You know, in a moment like this, I’d usually ask the woman if she tookpleasurein what she saw.”
I hopped to my feet.
“Whoa, hey!” he said, but he didn’t move as I paced one way, then the other. “Sit down, would you?” he asked.
“I think I should go,” I declared. “I feel ill. Faint. Yes. I feel faint. I think it may be the heat. Or it’s late. Or, I–”
“Or you’re embarrassed because I caught youoglingat me like an depraved animal?” he asked.
“I was not ogling!”
“Sit down,” he repeated. “Seriously. You’re making me dizzy.”
My fingers linked in little loops over each other. I tried to dispel my nerves to do just that, more when his face softened and his brows came together, sympathetically.
“I don’t want to beg,” he added. “I lied before. I’m not above it. Please? Please sit down? Shall I get on my knees?”
I went shyly to my mine, still holding my hands in my lap, and when my weight had settled over my feet, he collected the bottle and passed it to me.
“Grand,” he said. “Do us both a favor; have another drink.”
I obliged, following it with a second, longer one, and then placed the wine back to the blanket. It nearly tipped, but I was quick enough to right it.
“Good?” he asked.
“The wine?”
“Listen, Your Highness,” he started.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “It’s just… If anything I was admiring, yes, but not ogling. Ogling is so crass. It’s so unladylike. It’s just that you are so very…defined. And, and I don’t know a lot of men. I don’t see them; well, I see the Blades in the yard, but…I mean. You’re... You’re…I’m sorry. I’m so humiliated,” I said. I hung my head. “Please do not disclose my failure to Sameer. He already hates me.”
“He does not hate you,” he said.
“Oh, but he does,” I said. “And I just want to do this right. I just want our nations to stop the War.”
“The War is over,” he said. “For several years.”
“For now,”I whispered. “But if this fails… IfIfail…”
Cyrus bobbed his head, slowly. “I understand.”
“I feel foolish. Please know that I do not mean to disrespect the Prince, or Chalke, or… or you,” I said. “I just…”
“It’s fine. If anything I am the problem. I’ve been incredibly deviant in my behavior, and you wish for it to stop, so it shall stop.”
I bit my lip. He seemed to read it well.
“Unless you do nowantit to stop?” he asked.
“I am conflicted,” I said.
“Why?”
