“They don’t matter though,” I replied.
“Oh, they matter. Maybe not to you. You’re at the top of things,” he said. “For example,Iwasn’t invited to your mean bird ball. Though, it’d be hilarious if I went. Could you imagine everyone’s faces?” he asked.
“I’m not responsible for the guestlist, nor am I sure why we are fighting! If youwantedto attend a ball, I’m sure no one would be upset.”
“Ha!”
“Based solely upon the ladies and their conversations, I would wager many of them would—” I stopped. “Never mind.”
“No, no,” Cyrus said. His grin slowly came to life. “Don’t think you're off the hook so easy. I think I should blush, Your Highness. Did youspeakof me at your little dance? What did you say?”
“Ididn’t say anything,” I said. “You’re the scoundrel here.”
“Now I’m a scoundrel?” he asked. “Grand.”
I felt rude. “I—Alright, if youmustknow, I may have said Iknewyou, but onlyafteryou were brought up. Don’t worry, I didn’t blow your cover about the square.”
“What about the square?” he asked.
I widened my eyes. “Uh, when you lied about knowing me?”
“That was something else,” he said.“Now.How was I brought up? Which lady was it who evoked my name first? Was she cute?”
I shook my head. “You are a rake, aren’t you?”
“A rake?” he asked. “Is that what they said?”
“N-No.”
“Are you sure, Your Highness? I slithered my way into your conversationsomehow. Surely, if you were speaking illy of me?—”
“What? No, I would never!”
“You would never?” he asked. “You just accused me of being a rake.”
“I didn’t— They said?—”
“They saidwhatspecifically?”
I growled. “You are insufferable! Stop prodding me! Ladies should not divulge such things!”
“It must be very crass to tie you in knots,” Cyrus declared. He stood but only to circle me. “Fear not, my pretty little fowl, you don’t have to tell me what they said. I will guess. You tell me if I am right.”
“Lor-Er. Mr. Evergreen.” My throat tightened.
“They told you I wasdangerous.”He dragged his gaze over my shape.
“Dangerous?” My face lost its color. “No, they said…”
“They said I was too sociable with women.”
“…Areyou?” I asked.
He crossed his arms.“AmI?”
I scanned the treeline, taking a step back. “Please, sir. I said nothing bad of your name.”
“Nothing?” he asked.
