Provocatively, Wynnie raked her gaze down his body while giving him herlook—the one always accompanied by her tongue darting out to swipe her lips and her back arching.
There it is.
George sidestepped closer to Isahn and raised a brow at Wynnie.
“And who isthis?” she asked coyly, biting her lip as she ogled him.
George considered answering, but he spoke first, “Lord Isahn Yaranbur, Earl of Midlake, at your service.”
George’s pulse quickened, and she didn’t mean to do it, but she felt her top lip pop on one side as her nostrils flared.
She hadn’t expected to react that way—or maybe she had. This was Wynnie’s modus operandi after all: move in on every single man with a pulse. She hardly gave George and Hildy a chance to see if said men might, possibly, not want tostaysingle.
George loved Wynnie. They’d been friends forever, playing in the palace, getting up to hijinks around the capital. But as they got older, Wynnie’s confidence grew. She learned to use her charms in a way George was never fully comfortable with. It wasn’t disgust she felt toward Wynnie, just jealousy. She wished she could feel that good about herself. She wished she was lithe and beautiful and never had a hair out of place. It often took a mirage for George to feel comfortable enough in her skin to make her appearance do work for her.
“You must tell me how you came to join the traveling party,” Wynnie gushed at Isahn. “Maybe fill me in on what youknow, while we’re at it.”
Isahn blinked stupidly as he rumbled a wordless response. And Georgehatedit. She really, truly, hated it.
“I’ll update you,” George spoke up. “Come, we’re tired from travel. Let’s settle in. Maybe bath time? No men allowed?”
“Fantastic idea,” Hildy piped in.
Wynnie’s eyes flicked to Isahn for one last lingering glance before she turned her attention to her female friends. “Yes, there’s so much you have to share.”
As they walked toward the house, Wynnie signaled to a few waiting stablehands who came running to take away their mounts.
“Burke, Dunstan, will you be dears and show our newfriendto one of the guest rooms? Be sure to let me know where he lands, if you wouldn’t mind.” Wynnie winked.
George’s stomach decided that was the perfect moment to flip over and fill her throat with burning bile.
Itwasn’tlongbeforethey found themselves alone in the expansive baths. George wondered if Isahn would consider this bath house “divine” too.
Most certainly. She smiled to herself, appreciating the turquoise tiles.
“My father’s back in the capital already.” Wynnie had submerged herself in thetepidarium’spoolso nothing but her head remained above water.
They’d opted for the largest room with the most comfortable temperature; it was most conducive to a long swim and even longer chat. Typically, they’d move through the baths from hot to cold, but not that afternoon. The girls needed to lounge.
“Did my father call him in?”
“Not officially, but with your absence, he thought he should be inside, well ahead of the assembly.”
Hildy nodded. “That’s wise.”
“Yes, and he’s going to keep our cover going. Well, your cover—I’ve been here the whole time. Bored out of my mind!”she lamented before dunking herself entirely.
“I’m sure you kept busy.” George laughed. “We really should get our holiday story straight, before we head back into the palace. I doubt he’ll ask more than a passing question, and even then, only if the right company is around and he wants to seem interested in my life. But we can’t be too careful.” George didn’tneed to specify that she was speaking of the king, they all knew it.
Wynnie, who’d resurfaced, and Hildy nodded.
“Tonight, when we’re with the whole group?” Wynnie offered.
“Perfect,” Hildy replied.
“Speaking of thewhole group.Tell me everything, where, how, and why did you bring me that stunning earl?”
“He’s not for you,” George snapped, and her cheeks immediately heated.
