“…To be clear, you want me to accompany you todistractSer Willoughby?” she checked.
“Yes!”
That drew attention, though neither man seemed to piece together what I was affirming. Josie and I smiled, innocently, before frowning at one another.
“You must be coy, Princess,”she teased.
“I need you,” I told her. “I’m up against the Lord Commander here. I cannot win without an ally. He has one already; it isn’t fair.”
Josie nodded. She pressed her palm flat to her stomach and turned. “I've decided I should like to come along after all.”
Willoughby was brighter than I’d ever seen, even as a boisterous, happy man. He smiled boldly and cried, “Fantastic!”
Cyrus crossed his arms and quirked a brow, admitting his defeat.
“Although,” Josie noted. “I can’t ride a horse. Ser Willoughby, Miss Svana suggested you might help me learn?”
He sort of paused, but then he was smiling again. “I will not fail you,” he said.
“Perfect,” I replied. “What chivalry.”
Willoughby was proud, and Josie told him exactly how inexperienced she was with horses. He vowed to break down the basics for her as I hovered near my own Sword, positively beaming with delight.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Mr. Evergreen,” I promised him.
He smirked. “Has he ever taught someone to ride before?”
I shrugged. “How should I know that?”
“I’ll see to it.” He nodded, then raised two fingers toward the knight. “Ser?”
Willoughby turned.
“Take a walk with me. Let’s plan the day.”
My chest felt light as my cousin accepted his invitation. He bowed farewell to Miss Jocelyn, and once the goodbye found me, they left.
Josie sat as soon as she could, resting her hand across her chest.
“Are you alright?” I asked.
“He makes my knees weak,” she confessed. “I just need a moment here, if that’s okay?”
I sat beside her.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s been a long time since I felt such a way. Thank you for inviting me, even if it was just for a plan.”
“Not just,” I said. “Though I did mean the ally thing.”
She hummed. “He’s got such pretty brown eyes. I think I might drown in them.”
Chapter 6
Iwas up before Miss Jocelyn arrived in the morning, wrought with worry. I laid out two dresses at the foot of the bed—one for her and one for me. Then I stared at them both, completely undecided on which was which. When she arrived, she was rightfully concerned, pausing in the hall.
“You’re awake?” she asked.
“Oh, yes,” I said, waving her in. She closed the door.
