“No.”
“No?”he asked.
“No.” I braced myself. “I said I would not speak of him.”
“I didn’t ask you to speak ofSameer,”Mr. Evergreen explained. “I asked about the ball.”
I decided to be difficult. “It wasbeautiful,”I said, using his word. “Radiant, you might say.”
“Oh, you liked it, did you?” he asked.
“Yes. Very formal,” I added. “I’m sure few expenses were spared to honor my face.”
“And that’s what makes it beautiful?” he asked, moving a single foot forward. “That it cost a lot?”
“No,”I said, too proud. I puffed my chest, matching his step. “I liked the color palette. There was a lot of white, which reminds me of snow.”
“You would like the winter.”
“I liked all the golden accents as well. Together, things matched my ugly tablecloth dress.”
“I did not say it was ugly,”he said.
“AndI liked the veining in the marble floor. The ballroom back home has wood. Oh! And I liked the swan!”
“What swan?” he asked.
“Theiceswan! It was in the center of the feast. Which, I felt, was particularly nice.”
“You would like thebird,”he said.
“I do like birdsandwinter,” I told him. I narrowed my eyes; he did his. “What’s wrong withswans?”
He laughed. “They’re notoriouslymean.”
“Is this about this morning?” I blurted. “I demand that you forgive me!”
“What?” He rolled his eyes. “You can’t demand my forgiveness. Forgiveness is earned.”
“Then I demand that you let me earn it!” I said instead. I stomped my shoe. “Or don’t! See if I care!”
I went to turn, but he caught my arm. He let go and sat on the ground.
“What are you doing now?” I asked.
Cyrus propped one of his legs up and rested his arm over the knee. “It’s about meanbirds,”he said.
I looked down at him. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“Sit down,” he said. He pointed to his left.
“I assumed you were a lord. I was wrong,” I explained. “I would say I apologize, but I don’t believe I’ve insulted you. You carry yourself well. Not! Argh!” I bit my teeth. “Not that someone who isn’t high-born cannot be expected to do such a thing, but it’s just—” I took a deeper breath. “Do you have to sit like that? Can you not stand?”
“I’d rather sit,” he said.
“Right. Well. I just.” I was flustered at his position. “I don’t want you to keep emphasizing the differences in our class.”
“Why? They exist,” he said.
