“What? No. You go.”
“I can’t.”
“Of course you can, you just won’t because you’re stubborn and kinder than you ought to be,” I scolded him. “Tomeespecially. So really. Go.”
“No.”
“If you’re useless on our ride, I’ll be furious.”
“No you won’t,” he said.
“Yes,” I pressed. “Yes, I will. I’m actually quite selfish like that!”
“Sure you are,” he said, rolling his eyes. “But in the morning we’ll find our friends and we will be too merry to be sour, and this will be a night behind us. All nights pass. Remember that.”
“Willoughby.”
”Go.”
“I-”
“If you arrive with bags under your eyes, Mr. Evergreen will ask you what’s wrong. You’ll probably tell him we spent all night talking about our plans and preference for him. He’ll feel weird that I know there’s something more between you than what should be. The ride will be awkward. He could choose to distance himself from you in fear of what may come. IfIarrive with bags beneath my eyes, no one will think twice of it, and I won’t be bad off, I promise. I’m used to long nights and as soon as I see Miss Jocelyn, all the sleep in the world will have fallen short of the rest she gives me anyway.”
“All the—Oh, my word. That isquitesomething to declare of her, Ser Willoughby. Are you sweet then? She’s sweet on you.”
He rolled along the stone. “Yes.”
“This is great news,” I said. “She’ll be so happy.”
“About that. I prefer you keep it to yourself,” he said.
“But she-”
“Please. I have my reasons. Trust me.”
“...Alright.”
He nodded. “When you see Mr. Evergreen tomorrow, tell me if I’ve captured the sensation correctly or not.”
I blushed, heat ripping through the vessels of my face. “We are justfriendly.”
“You can trust me,” he said. “As proof, say the word and Miss Jocelyn and I will find ourselves on a separate path tomorrow. I’ll aid you in your scheme to be left alone. That is, for a time.”
“This all feels highly, highly inappropriate,” I said.
“Does it?” he asked. “Did you not ride alone for several weeks before I was assigned as escort? Miss Jocelyn said by the suggestion of His Royal Highness no less.”
“Yes, but.”
“And if nothing happened at the farm?—”
“It didn’t!” I cried.
He scanned my face. “And there have been nopublicincidents to note?”
“No!” I said. “Not at all.”
“Then I hardly think he’s a man of opportunity or lack of control. And he didn’t skip town when we discovered you before or when I spoke to him. I think I could be content with granting you two some time, though I won’t be far away. Call for me; I’ll come.”
