“Why are the lovers skeletons? Why are they in the wardrobe? Do youkillthem or something?” I asked.
“Sam. Please.”Cyrus rolled his eyes. “Is this really the conversation we should have with your intended?”
“No one kills the—I suppose that is an odd expression,” Sam said. “But no. ‘Skeletons’ means lovers.”
“Trust me, Her Highness cares not for my skeletons,” Evergreen said. “Allegedskeletons, I’ll thank you. Anyway, the trip was short lived and, as I said, it’s in the past. I think we can move on.”
“Were you not with Miss Swift then?” I asked.
He didn’t respond.
“Who can recall so long ago?” Sam tried.
“Brilliant, thanks,” Cyrus said.
I felt duped somehow. Before I knew it, Sam had linked his arm in mine. He made a point to wave at someone on the other side of our aisle. I let him lay my hand over his, to sell the display. In doing it, I realized just how shaky I had become. Sam noticed, too.
“Are you well, my love?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” I said.
Cyrus opened his mouth to say something but then he didn’t.
“You won’t hear much else,” Sam said. “I’ve been begging for years. He never speaks of her, whoever it was.”
“Sameer!” Cyrus spat.
Sam chuckled, unfazed by his scolding. He patted my hand. “We’ve struck a nerve, it seems.”
“I see,”I said.
Cyrus shook his head. “I’m pretty sure I said I went for swords.”
Sam nodded. “Something like that.”
Mr. Evergreen turned his back to us and trekked several yards ahead to inspect a different booth. I felt his frustration thickly in the air. He breathed out, and in, then deeper as he discovered the daggers he’d been looking for. Then he started to pick up and inspect each one.
Sam whispered in my ear.“I have my suspicions, if you want to hear them.”
“It’s really not our business,” I muttered.
He gave them anyway. “He would kill me if I told you, but Cy is really sensitive. I offered to go with him to your empire; he told me he wanted to go alone. He rode. He didn’t even accept my carriage. Honestly, I think he was in correspondence with another woman. I think he left to court her, and I do think he was quite taken with her, despite his courtship to Miss Swift. Who knows what happened? Maybe when he saw her, she was hideous or a con, somehow? All I know is that he came backsodepressed. I didn’t see him for several days.”
My chest felt heavy.“That’s horrible.”
“He proposed to Lydia that week.”
I frowned. “That week? But that doesn’t make sense. If he went to meet someone else… No, no our Cyrus isn’t that sort of man. He's a romantic.”
“That’s what I’m saying. I think whatever bird he went to see was who he really wanted. I think she rejected him, so he came home.”
“Your Highness, Mr. Evergreen told me he loved Miss Swift,” I said. “Or, at least that he felt affection for her. He said he washurtwhen they parted ways. Your suspicion is incorrect. I don’t know where the flaw is, I’ll concede, but there is a flaw somewhere.”
Sam looked surprised. “He told you all that?”
I nodded.
“I must say, I…” He inclined his head. “I’m flattered you have invested such time and effort into my best friend. Thank you. Oh! Bags! I promised Aggy I’d look for one she saw last night. Excuse me.”
