“Jocelyn!” I cried.
But Cyrus said, “As always.” Then added, “On the insistence of Daniel here, I’ve broughtred winefor us to enjoy.” He looked directly at me, and I was upset by how disarming the joke we shared had felt.
Ser Willoughby nudged his arm. “You can tease me all you want, but at least I know what I like. And when you’ve lived as long as I have, that becomes the quality of a man, not his fault.”
“As long as you have?” I poked. “You’re twenty.”
“Twenty-three, cousin,” he said. “I’m your elder.”
“Oh, twenty-three,” I returned. “Yes. Quite elderly, Ser. Should you need a cane soon?”
“I’ve seen death, and war, and the effects of not treating oneself to enough red wine. So I’ll thank you for the humor, and ask that you pass the bottle this way, yeah?”
“Twenty and three and so harsh?” Cyrus asked. He handed it over. “Is that what I sound like? I’ve seen the same.”
“Ser Willoughby isn’t harsh,” Josie said. “He’s just…” She lost herself in what must have been a fantasy, finally adding, “Aged. Like the wine.”
Mr. Evergreen and I shared a look.
“Do we get cheese today?” I asked.
Chapter 8
After some time, the four of us found ourselves trudging through the forest next to where we’d sat. Cyrus led, his boots crushing the sticks and scattered leaves of our uncharted trail, and just when I had decided to call attention to how convinced I was that we were lost, he stopped. He swept his hand out to show us the prize for our efforts— a lake, or pond, or whatever the difference was, living within rock and surrounded by trees.
Mr. Evergreen was too proud of himself, and his grin was not going to let us go on without praising him for it first.
“Well?” he insisted.
“It’s lovely,” I said. “Not sure it was worth the agony it took to get here, but-”
“We should go swimming!” Josie called.
Her eyes were alight, but then she caught the implication of that suggestion, and both Ser Willoughby and I turned to her, strangely afflicted with matching faces.
“Swimming?” I asked. “I haven’t my swim attire.”
Cyrus snapped his fingers at her idea, excited. “Said the Princess. Shall I show you and your knight how us lowly commoners survive our summers then?”
He weaseled out of his jacket and tossed it aside, leaving us hyper-aware of his intent.
When he lost his vest, Willoughby turned me from the sight. I could barely see Mr. Evergreen out of the corner of my eye. He had left his undershirt and trousers on, but nothing else, and I wasstrickenby the idea of his dismantling.
I looked, then turned back, blinking in total awe, forcing my mouth to shut, and then praying Ser Willoughby had not seen my excitement. When Mr. Evergreen ran and leaped into the water, there was a loud, cascading splash. I gasped at its crash, and my cousin snickered like a child.
“This has taken a turn,”he considered. “Are you uncomfortable?”
“Well, um.” I peeked back then refocused. “I mean. Wow, he is, uh…” I stopped, eyes widening. “Not that I…”
Willoughby nodded his head. “Right.”
I watched Josie wring her hands, less faithful to executing her own suggestion. After a breath, she lost the dress but left everything else—the shift and stockings. Willoughby did not look at her. He only looked at me.
“I will take you back to the Palace if you ask,” he said. “Say the word, cousin.”
I turned, hesitant, to observe the scene. Cyrus splashed nothing, but he met my eyes from his place in the pool.
“I think I might be fine with it,” I told him, directing myself to only his face. “As long asyouare. I… I don’t want to force you here. This is… This is not… Well.”
