I folded my arms. “I suppose.”
Cyrus turned his awful glare to me. He shook his head. “It was not your place,” he said. “You must apologize.”
“I don’t understand why you’re not more upset,” I said. “Ser Willoughby told me that helovedMiss Jocelyn.”
“I do,” Willoughby said.
“You say that, but now you’re revoking the whole emotion. You’re–”
“I’m doing no such thing,” he replied. “I amshieldingher from the promised disappointment that loving me will bring.You’rethe one who’s complicated it.”
“As if she would ever accept your father’s bribe,” I said.
Willoughby made a face. He pointed to Mr. Evergreen. “I suppose you’ll just share all my concerns with anyone then? Perhaps I should expose the absolute tantrum you threw when we discovered your Willem’s mark?” He addressed Cyrus. “Yes, that’s right, I know who you are!”
“Don’t you dare,” I growled.
Cyrus sighed. “Daniel, Svana, stop it,” he said. “You’re both out of line. You’re going to say something you don’t mean.”
I scoffed. “Daniel, I will speak to my father. He–”
“I’ve made my decision, Your Highness,” Daniel stated. “If you draw the King into it, I will never speak to you again.”
There was a thick, obvious silence.
“That would make your job rather difficult wouldn’t it?” I asked.
“I don’t care,” he said. “I mean it. I will never speak to you again. You will have to live with my silence.”
“Svana,” Cyrus pressed.
“Fine,” I said. I looked away. “Then I suppose you don’t care to know that Miss Jocelyn lovesyou?”
Daniel paused. “Please, stop.”
“She does though. She told me she does. She told me thatherbiggest fear is that you will not accept her because she–”
He interjected once more. “Please, Svana. Do not violate her trust by delivering the end of that sentence,” he said. “If Miss Jocelyn wanted me to know something that she feared, she would tell me. I will not accept it any other way.” He pulled a bottle from the horse’s sack and tossed it to my Sword, then sat back down in anger.
“Honestly,” I moaned.
Dan exhaled. “Miss Jocelyn has already told me plenty. I know I am not good enough for her.”
“Oh, cry me a river,” I spat.
“Svana!” Cyrus snapped. “Apologize to Daniel. Now.”
I scowled at them both. “She’s a widow. There.”
Willoughby flared his nostrils.
“Apologize right now,” Cyrus said. He wasn’t kidding.
“What are we apologizing for?” Josie asked. She held a bouquet in her hands and then shyly handed it to the knight like it was nothing.
He took the flowers, then set them to the side.
“You don’t like it?” she asked.
