“She doesn’t like me either. But you could–”
“Aye. Icouldhide you,” he said, knowing me. He glanced over my back. “Yes, like I did before? Wecouldspend the afternoon in the woods again. Wecouldskip rocks and discuss horses. Icouldkeep you for myself,but.”
“But you don’twantto?” I asked him. “Youwantme to be found?”
“Iwant….”Willem stopped. His face darkened as I stared into his deep-set navy eyes. “Iwantto see you again tomorrow, Svana,” he said. He brushed a piece of hair back toward the braid. “And the last time I stole you away, we did not speak for days.”
“Not because of me!” I declared.
“Because you are the Princess,” he said. “And I’m a stable buck. I always will be.”
“No,” I argued. “No, you will be my Sword, my brave, undefeated knight. I will–”
“You will be my queen,” he said. “Queens don’t play in stables with ostler boys. They don’t make promises they cannot keep.”
“I will keep it!” I said. “I meant it when I promised you that life. It’s what you want, isn’t it?”
“You are too kind to me to even care what I want,” he said. “I’m not as good as you. I don’t deserve your charity.”
“Is that a commentary on your status again?” I asked.
“No,” he said. “But I... I do things, Your Highness. I…I socialize with other girls in ways that–”
“Oh, yes.” I laughed. “Willem, please. I do not care that you kiss servant girls,” I lied.
He froze. “You know about them?”
“Them?” I asked. “There’s more than just Lana?”
“Which one is she?” he asked.
I gasped; he chuckled.
“Oh, you fiend!” I clutched the feather to my chest.
“But seriously, she’s the ginger girl?” he asked.
I frowned. “You kissed Kitty, too?”
“I kiss a lot of girls,” he said. “That’s what I’m telling you. You should not be so kind to me; I’ll take advantage of it. It’s in my nature. I’m always up to no good.”
“...Look at me, Will. Look at me. I don’t care about the other girls,” I lied again. “It’s fine. So what if you kisslotsof them?”
“Lots?” he cried. “I’ve kissedtwo. Maybe three?”
“Maybe? You can’t recall?” I asked. “Such important things, we ladies are, I see.”
“Yes.”He laughed. He gestured his hands to either side of us. “Exactly why you should not be out here with the likes of me. I’m a rascal.”
I watched his lips form every word. “I’m different to you,” I told him.
“Oh, are you?” he asked. “Pray, what deranged notion gave you that idea, Princess?”
I squared my shoulders. “Am I as pretty as they are?” I asked.
“Stop it,” he begged.
“Tell me,” I went on. “Just say no; I’ll go and leave you to... rascal around.”
