“Thank you for the dance, Your Highness,” I announced louder.
Sam waited. Then said, “The honor is mine,” but didn’t go. He looked bothered.
I lowered my voice. “I don’t know why I’m helping you when all you do is hurt my feelings but here’s your solution. Apologize. That’s it.”
“For what though?” he asked.
“How should I know?” I shrugged. “Whatever your fight was about.”
He asked, “Grand. Alright. …How?”
“Say the words ‘I’m sorry.’ Are you that dull?”
Sam nodded. He said, “Honestly, yeah.”
“Oh…. Well good that you know, I guess.”
“Thank you,” he said, then casually, he made his way across the floor to his lady.
Ser Willoughby was standing at the end of the corridor furthest from the party. It took me a few minutes to locate him, and the moment I touched his back, the smaller frame that his hid came into view.
“Oh,” I said, as if I had stumbled upon something rare. “Miss Jocelyn. My apologies. I, uh… I can come back.”
She hung her head to blush. “Come back?” she muttered. “For what purpose? You’re not interrupting anything private.”
“Good evening, Svana,” my cousin said. He politely shelved his hand at her. “I was just describing the fanfare to Miss Jocelyn. She was kind enough to entertain me for so long. How can I be of service?”
Josie smiled at him; he offered a slow, cordial nod.
“Good night, Ser,” she said.
“Good night, Miss Jocelyn,” he replied.
I stifled a laugh, quickly shaking my head. “You don’t need to say good night on my accord. In fact, I don’t need you anymore, cousin. I bidyoua good night.”
“I was just leaving, Miss,” she said anyway. She met his eyes. “Will I see you tomorrow, Ser Willoughby?”
I stood awkwardly, as I continued to intrude upon the moment.
Neatly, Willoughby said, “I do hope so.”
“Me, too,” she replied.
I widened my eyes a bit. “It’s truly not far of a walk. I’ll see myself to my chamber.”
“That isn’t necessary,” Willoughby said.
“It really feels like it might be,”I replied.
He canted his head, but when he went to look at me, his eyes departed to a shape beyond my shoulders.
“Ser Elías,” he announced boldly.
“Happy to accompany you, Your Highness,” the Lord Commander said.
I spun just as he came to my side, promptly greeting him with the world’s most well-executed, most respectful, but most close-quartered curtsy.
“Ser Elías,” I said.
