“You’re headed to the Rose Suite,” she explained while I fumed.
Lord Evergreen confirmed it with a muttered response, something that sounded like just the room again. As he walked, the flowers upon my gown’s skirt glittered across its ivory, precisely as they had in the tailor’s hand, and for it, I did not know why its existence was such a baffling concept for him to grasp.
I tried to move around him to grab the door, but he was too broad an obstacle. He tried to open it himself, despite his hands wound up into the fabric.
“Sir!” I said. “Sir, just–”
Finally, I snaked into the port and propped it open.
“If you would be so kind, you may deposit mygownonto the bed as quickly as possible, then go on about your way.”
“Miss Svana,”Josie whispered.
“With respect, Princess,” Cyrus replied. His tone readied me for anything but. “This thing weighs more than you do. Iammoving as quickly as possible.”
I frowned. “How?”
“How? It’s heavy,” he said. “About as heavy as its pattern is bold.”
“No, how do you know what I weigh?” I dared.
He didn’t bother to answer me. He made a soft sound, some sort of concealed distress; then I watched him step one foot after the other at a rate slower than molasses might slide off a hill.
“How close am I?” he asked.
“To the bed or to my death?” I asked.
“Miss Svana,”Josie said again. I scowled at her; she flashed her brow back.
“You’re not close,” I told him. “And pray, what do you mean bybold?Bold bad or bold good?”
“Just bold,”he said with a bit of a pant. “Am I closer now?”
“Barely,” I gave.
Jocelyn touched my arm. I frowned harder at her, but she insisted, gently nudging me behind him to help the lord maneuver. I complied, placing my fingers to his shoulder in an attempt to guide him.
He jolted, nearly losing the dress, and both Josie and I had to leap to help him hang onto it.
“Are you alright?” I asked.
Cyrus sighed. “Yes, fine.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. “It was just my hand.”
“I’m fine, thank you,” he said.
I touched him the same way; his back completely tensed.
“It’s just my hands,” I told him.
“Yes,” he said. “I’m fine.”
“Let me help you,” I said.
“I don’t need your help.”
“Yes, but I’m already giving it,” I replied.
