“Iamsorry,” he said. “I absolutely should have said more in your defense.”
“Yes,” I added.
“I will do better by you,” he promised. “I will.”
I pulled myself free of his grip. “You said we would use our histories to define a better future.”
He paused. “Yes, I think I said that.”
“You think?” I asked. “You did. To me.”
“I trust you,” he said.
“Well, I–I want to trust you, but how am I expected to react when you… You make me feel so foolish? You make melookso foolish?”
Elías arrived at the door, first upset and ready to pounce on poor Sameer, but then he saw Miss Jocelyn and relaxed, opting to lean against the wall and watch. I felt sorry for the Prince.
“You left me to fend for myself,” I said.
“If you’d have it, I’ll march back into the hall and express my immense disapproval,” Sam said.
“It was more than just your father. There were strangers there. Mr. Adeline. Yosif. A citizen.”
“I’ll haul everyone back in. I don’t care. I’ll gather them all, and I will tell them, all of them, that I agree, you are my Queen, nay, mypartner, and I support you, in spite of anyone who does not. And that’ll be that, Svana.”
“You’d do that?” I asked.
“Yes. And further, I will send riders out to the bandits to inform them of my will and of my intentions to still marry you and maintain the Treaty’s cost.”
I felt the temper slide from my face. “That might be a bit dramatic,” I muttered.
He dared a laugh. “I will do it if you ask.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I decided. “I forgive you.”
“You do?” he asked. Sam stood excitedly. “Truly?”
“Yes, as long as youactuallymean what you’re saying now. That we are partners.”
“Yes. Of course. Husbandandwife, not then.”
“Not then?” I asked.
He trilled his lips. “It’s a saying here. Husband, then wife,” he explained.
I frowned.
“I don’t agree with it,” he added. “That’s why I said and not then.”
Elías offered a lazy shrug; I eased.
“Alright,” I said.
“And you will stay?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I said.
“Please?” he asked. “I’ve already told my friends you will be there tonight.”
