“I see. I’m surprised you answered.”
“Well done, Your Highness.” He clapped. “I must say, that was a brutal plaint.”
“Thank you. I did feel rather clever for it.”
“As you should.”
“And also…. Thank you…” I played with the stem. “For the daisies and for the rose.”
He nodded once.
“Should, um, should we go inside?” I asked.
Evergreen stammered, and the magic and the spark between us was gone. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said.
“What? Why not?” I asked.
“Because you’re inexperienced, and-”
“Inexpe-?”I replayed the word. “Oh!” I gasped.
“Sex is?—”
“Sex? Oh! Mr. Evergreen, no! I meant, I meant for theprivacy!”
“The privacy?”
“Yes! The privacy of the cottage. Because— Because there’s a door, and I thought…. I thought we could continue tokissprivately? But not-I’m mortified.”
“We really need to revisit your phrasing, love. I thought you were coming onto me.” He fought off a self-deprecating sound.
“You thought Iwanted to-?”
“You asked me to go inside!”he said. He shrugged. “And a minute ago you asked me what I wanted.”
“I…Wait!” I said. “Do you not wish togo insidewith me?”
“Svana,” he moaned.
“Whynot?Because I’m inexperienced? Does my virginity repulse you? Or do I?”
“Good God, do stop, love,” he said. He smiled. “That is not the case, I assure you.”
“Oh, you assure me, do you?” I asked.
“Now you wait a moment. Are youangrythat I’ve chosen to be a gentleman?Mostwomen would remark upon a man’s good nature for remaining patient with this sort of thing!”
“Sort of thing. Virginity is not an affliction, sir! You think there’s somethingwrongwith me, do you? It’s not as if I haven’t had the urge or anything. I’ve just never had the opportunity, and-”
“Yes, your urges, huh? I suppose I do recall ramblings of bedposts.”
“Ugh!”I swatted him and he returned fire playfully, but soon the amusement dropped from my face and the whole mood sank. I crossed my arms.
“There’s nothing wrong with you,” he said. “Butbecauseof your status, both in experience and in your engagement to my best friend, it feelswrongto agree or suggest such things. Like I’d take advantage of you that way. Your first time should be special, and not in a deteriorating farmhouse with a man who uses flowers to manipulate the feelings of women.”
“You’ll forgive me for feeling differently.”
He raised a brow at that. “About farmhouses or the manipulation, love?” Then he jutted his thumb out behind us. “Does the chance of spiders do it for you, yeah?”
