“Yes?”
“Honestly. Will you not tell me?” I shifted. “God. We’ve been in this box fordays. Someone must speak to me. I’m going mad.”
“I can see that,” Elías said.
“Ugh.” I reseated myself, rudely adjusting my skirt. “You know, the closer we get to Rothingham, the more frightened I become,” I said, fine-tuning my tone.
“Frightened?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said. I sighed. “Here I’ve sat quietly upon my hands while the two of you havepissedin the wilderness, and?—”
“Language.”
“And,did I draw attention to it whenIrelieved myself, andyoustood awkwardly to the side to keep me safe frombandits? Alleged bandits. Can you not spare me some embarrassment? Please. I beg you.”
“Embarrassment?” Elías croaked. “You’ll forgive me. I do not follow where the worry connects between travel and your wedding night,” he said.
“I’m glad you asked!”
“I didn’t.”
“IworryI will appear naïve to the Prince and that the impressionwill lead to the failure of meeting his expectations.”
“Expectations?”
“Yes. Expectations of ahusbandlynature. Do you connect it now?”
One cleared his throat, and the other puffed crassly with his reply.
“Svana,” he groaned.
“Elías.”
“This conversation is inappropriate.”
“You’re the only person in this world I trust to ask. No offense, Ser Willoughby.”
“Absolutely no offense taken,” he said. “I prefer to be left out.”
Eli looked at his knight.
“Great!” I said excitedly, aware he had relented. “What does sex feel like?”
“No,” Elías muttered. “That is something you must discover for yourself.On your wedding night. But…expectations? I can shedsomelight upon.”
I folded my arms. “Well. Whatever I can rustle out of you, I suppose.”
He made quite a few sounds before, “When a man-”
“Ew! Are you giving methe Birds and the Bees?”I asked.
We both moved on our seats, uncomfortable and avoiding each other’s eyes, until he said, “His Highness will expect you to respect him. And to be honest, I would think.”
“That’s fair enough. What else?”
“I don’t know. To decorate his house, er, his palace? If you decide to. Wives usually do that sort of thing. And naturally, you’ll manage social affairs, befriend the women of the court, extend invitations for lunch, tea, balls…”
“Mmhmm. And what of the sex?” I asked.
