“My. What teeth! Do tell,” I told her.
“His station,” she replied. “Yourstation. Yourmutualacquaintancewhom you are never speaking of when you discuss such things.”
“Yes, but…” I had nothing else. I scoffed. “But I’m notin lovewith Cyrus Evergreen. I just like tokisshim when he lets me.”
Josie shot up. Her hands bolted to the sheet.
“You’ve kissed him more thanonce?”she asked. “Howmanytimes?”
“Shh!” I covered her mouth. “Lord have mercy, Miss. Please do not summon the Lord Commander with your excitement! He will murder us both to save us from our ruin!”
But it was no use; her smile stretched ear to ear beneath my hand. I let go, and her mouth hung open in a special air of anticipation.
“Tell meeverything,”she pleaded.
I adjusted awkwardly. “There isn’t much to say,” I said. I felt my lips, recalling the vibration. Then I sighed longingly. “Mr. Evergreen is very…warm. Gentle, like you said. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s not at all like I expected things like this to be.”
“Likekissing?Or have you donemore?”she asked.
“Josie!” I whined. “I have not done anything.Wehave not, I mean. Mr. Evergreen is the utmost gentleman! He’s never-!”
“I wouldn’t beoffendedif you had!” she said. “I was asking out of curiosity....” Her amusement tapered into a slight pout. “I like knowing.”
“Have you kissed Daniel?”
She shook her head. “He hasn’t evenlookedat me for too long.”
“Well, heisbound by an oath of Chivalry. That’s likely a hindrance,” I said.
“You don’t know the knights I know,” she said.
“I’ve…I’ve heard rumors that knights have lost love to the confines of the oath, though my only real connection to that life is Ser Elías, and we don’t suspect he was ever bound to anyone like that. Don’t tell him I said it, but I’ve heard he wasquitethe scoundrel in his youth. The Blades all talk of him like he’s a man of legend. It’s scandalous.”
“I can’t envision Ser Elías with any woman, let alone enough to cause a scandal,” she remarked. “What a thought.”
“Don’t I agree,” I said. “But I’m serious. Don’t tell him I told you. I don’t ask him about it because that isn’t the man he is now. None of us want to be sentenced for our less-ideal years.”
“That is a nice thing to say,” she said. She wilted. “Do you thinkDanielis a lost cause?”
“No. He seems very taken with you,” I explained. “I should think he’ll declare himself soon.”
“I’d be happy if he just kissed me,” she said.
“Perhaps you should kiss him?” I asked. “Or take your own advice andspeakto him about lost causes,” I said. “Either way, I’m not sureI’mthe best judge of a man’s character.”
“No, probably not,” she said.
“You’re not supposed to agree,” I said. “Ahem. But, based upon his reaction to even thehintof your name, I’d wager he at least likes you…”
“I see.” Josie inhaled deeply as she stood, wading toward the wardrobe. “You’re right, I suppose. I will ask him where it is we stand.Someday. Not tomorrow. Certainly not the day after, but soon. Perhaps. Shall we dress you for bed?”
“Yes. Please,” I said, reaching for my brush, and playing with it in a moment of melancholy next. “I’m very mad at Mr. Evergreen,” I said. “I wish I wasn't but I am and I don’t know what to do with that.”
“Wallowing in it seems to be working, yeah?”
I laughed. “I’m not sure I like this side of you, Jo. You’re sort of cheeky.”
She nodded. “I’ve been told that, yes.”
