“My chamber,” I said.
“Your chamber? Of course, I can do that.”
“No,” I told him. I touched his cheek, prying his attention from the scene to mine. “No, I wish to retire to my chamber with you, my Sword.”
The dance ended. Cyrus offered me a cordial bow. Then as he had predicted, the floor began to disperse.
“And I want you to make love to me,” I said, privately.
Mr. Evergreen set his glove at the small of my back; his hand was shaking.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said.
He nodded, slowly, then guided me close to the hall.
After a full minute, he said, “Go first. I’ll wait a moment then follow after.”
Chapter 30
Iwaited for Mr. Evergreen near the foot of my bed. The door opened, he stepped in, and he locked it as soon as it shut. I exhaled. Then inhaled directly after. I held my hands.
“You are a vision. A man’s religion in that gown,” he said.
I bit my lip. “You look dashing as well.”
He came forward and then, tentatively, as if he were nervous himself, he brought his hands down my ribs until they met my hips. “I’ve dreamed of this night since I was first a man. My heart is racing.”
He tried and then failed to lift me. My heels left and met the hardwood. He wheezed sharply. I shook my head.
“Stop hurting yourself,” I begged. “Please. Let me.”
“Let you what?Lift me?”There was humor in his voice.
“No. Let me take care of you for once,” I said. I disrobed his jacket, then began to work the buttons of his vest.
He breathed. “Svana. It just caught me off guard. I can–”
“Shh,” I said. “I am your Queen and you are my Knight. Yes?”
“No.” He undid the ribbon of my mask, pulling it free and tossing it somewhere else.
“No?” I asked.
He nodded, more confident. “No. You are my Svana and I am your Willem. There are no titles here. We left the game, remember? Here, in this room tonight, it’s us. Just us, and all the world must wait outside that door while we find each other..”
I touched his lips. “Everything you say is so romantic. I can’t even begin to imagine the ways you’ve charmed women like this. But I don’t even care. I am so happy to be in your light.”
“My words are only for you,” he replied. “Yes. I have a past but I’m rarely poetic with anyone else. I don’t have to be. Don’t want to be.”
“I don’t believe it,” I told him. “It comes too naturally.”
He smirked.
“Take off your mask,” I said.
He removed it without hesitation, eyes dusted with sheets of gold from the candlelight.
