“You don’tcare?”he asked.
“I… I don’t know what you want me to say, Elías! I was sent here; I was traded for peace. My sole purpose is to solidify that for decades of feuding parties. I intend to complete my mission. It’s not as though I have a choice.”
My knight nodded, but I did not think for a minute that he believed the words I spewed.
“We will contain it,” he said. “Ser Willoughby won’t talk of this matter, I promise.”
“Good. Thank you.”
We both waved brightly at one of the passing maids before ushering ourselves outside.
“Did he tell you, or did you discover it?” he asked.
I looked at him. “…I caught them in his study,” I said. “He was pressed against her and…And his pants were undone.”
“Oh, Svana. I’m sorry,” he said. “Why didn’t you come to me?”
“I don’t know. Fear of your reaction? Horror of mine? It doesn’t matter, for I shall not expect to see too much of the Prince this summer anyway. That, I am sure.”
“How do you intend to avoid him?” he asked. “You have a ball nearly every other week.”
“Every other week?”I cried. “Damn the luck! How can they afford this?”
“If you wish for me to speak to him, I will educate the man on priorities,” he said.
“I donotwish that,”I said. “That will help nothing. No. No, I wish to go on about my day, my week, thisseason, and eventually, unfortunately, my marriage. It’s fine. I’ll make it work.”
“An oddly rational approach. Your mother would be proud.”
“God help me; I despise him already,” I said. “And what do you mean, oddly rational? I’minsulted, I think.”
“What were you saying? About not seeing him,” he asked. “Did he instruct you not to?”
Elías narrowed his eyes at someone else, spooking them from any thoughts to eavesdropping, and I tentatively dragged my hand along the other.
“No. He simply employed someone from his inner circle to be my ‘riding companion,’” I quoted. “He was not interested in spending time with me, but he wants to know where I am, so he’s disguised this idea as a courtesy, but it’s nothing of the sort. Don’t worry; I know better, and I informed him of such.”
“Riding companion?” he asked.
“Yes. The idea on paper works, I’ll admit. A friend of his will ride with me every day– except Wednesday, he’ll remind you, and all because, I think, he wants to keep an eye on me, which isridiculousconsidering the facts.Iam not the one having the affair.”
“He’s employed a friend, you say? What friend?” he asked. “Why was I not approached? I will accompany you on any ride.”
“It began because I requested that Sam ride with me one time, and now, he’s entangled another party into this whole mess.”
“What party?” Elías asked.
“That mangy swordsman. You know, the one with the hair. And that’s sweet, Eli, really, but you don’t evenlikeriding if it’s not into battle,” I said. I forced a laugh. “Though I do appreciate your unwavering devotion, Ser. I probably would’ve liked the idea had I known nothing about Miss Agatha.”
“Svana,” he stressed. “Which friend did he employ?”
“I said, didn’t I?” I shrugged. “The mangy swordsman. Cyrus is his name. Though, I suppose he’s notsomangy. He’s actually quite posh.”
“Cyrus,”Elías asked. “As in Cyrus Evergreen?”
For whatever reason, Elías’s reaction, the way he’d said his name, how awful it sounded, how mad he was—I felt an intense rush for it.
“Is there something wrong with him?” I asked quickly, waiting, hoping, dreading, aching, bending with the thrill.
