Hugo dragged in a deep, fortifying breath and pulled free of Everand’s grasp so he could start pacing. “At the Winthrop ball weeks ago, Lady Hawthorne overheard my mother makingoutlandish claims that I could spin straw into gold. No one believed her because it was so impossible, but Lady Hawthorne carried the story back to the queen. The day before we first met—at the luncheon—she summoned my mother and me to the palace. Rather than admit that she exaggerated at the ball, my mother…lied to the queen.” Hugo swallowed hard and forced the words out of his mouth. “I had no choice. To protect my mother, I told the queen that I had told my mother I had such a skill. The queen demanded I prove it.”
“I don’t understand. How did you prove it? Did you confess the truth to her?”
Hugo shook his head. “She locked me in a room with straw and a spinning wheel. Just as I was contemplating throwing myself out the window—rather than having my head chopped off—a strange man appeared and agreed to spin the straw into gold for me. The next day, gold replaced the straw, and the queen was happy. I thought that would be the end of it. Especially after our fateful first meeting.”
Everand flashed him a weak smile. “I was sure you were another of my mother’s horrible attempts at matchmaking. If I could get you to hate me, you’d never return.”
“You were my reward for spinning the straw into gold.” Hugo rocked his head from side to side and corrected himself. “Well, that and being allowed to live.” But the amusement that flitted through Hugo withered quickly. “However, when the rewards were delivered to my house forsaving you…” Hugo paused to give the prince a stern look.
“Youdidsave me, but continue.”
“I also received an invitation to the ball from the queen that instructed me to arrive days in advance. I had a dark feeling she’d require me to spin more straw into gold, but I thought I would have the chance to talk to her upon arriving. My plan had been to confess immediately and beg for mercy. But I was takendirectly to a room filled with straw and a spinning wheel. There was no chance to talk to your mother. Once again, the stranger appeared and handled the task for me.” Hugo held up one finger. “As an aside, I do not know if you are aware of this strange man wandering about the palace. He seems harmless enough, but he’s always wearing a mask and ragged clothes. You might want to speak to the captain of the royal guards about him. I don’t want him hurt because he’s been very nice to me, but I don’t want you hurt either.”
Everand grinned and rose from the chair. He grasped Hugo’s tense shoulders and squeezed. “I know the person you speak of, and he is an odd friend of the family.”
Hugo exhaled. That was a relief at least. “I need to tell your mother the truth. I can’t spin straw into gold. Maybe she won’t kill me, but there’s no way she’ll ever allow me to see you. I’m no one, Everand. Certainly not worthy of a prince’s notice. I?—”
His trembling words were cut off as Everand’s mouth crashed into his, stealing away all his voice. Hugo wrapped his arms around him and kissed him with everything he had, afraid that it might be their last kiss. He wanted to memorize everything about it, burn it into his brain so deeply that it became part of him for the rest of his days. The velvety feel of his lips. The rich taste of his mouth. The hauntingly crisp, woodsy scent that tickled his nose. The crushing weight of his arms. They were all so perfectly Everand.
“I’m sorry,” Hugo whispered against Everand’s mouth. “So sorry I ever lied or misled you.”
“My treasure, stop, please. I can’t,” Everand begged between desperate kisses. “I can’t take it.”
“What? I don’t understand.” Hugo was so confused. Everand was kissing him and begging him so sweetly to stop, but he didn’t understand anything. Why wasn’t the prince mad at him? Hadn’t he deceived him just so they could meet? He wasn’t anybetter than the other frauds who would do anything to get close to him.
Everand pulled away and held his face in both hands, swiping away stray tears with his thumbs. He smiled at Hugo so warmly; it made Hugo’s heart ache. “Yes, you lied, but you only did it to save your mother’s life, putting your own at risk. That’s bigger than a silly little lie. Far more forgivable than some of the nonsense other people have said in this castle. You have nothing to apologize for, and if you continue to be so amazing, I’ll have to do something insane like beg you to marry me.”
Hugo shook with a soundless laugh. He couldn’t force any noise past the lump that had formed in his throat. It took him a moment to clear it before he could finally speak. “You’re ridiculous. Your mother would definitely have me executed.”
“I wouldn’t allow it. I’d stop her. And if I couldn’t, I’d kidnap you and run off to live out in the wild with you as my husband. We’d raise rabbits and have a garden where I complain about our rabbits stealing the carrots.”
“That’s nonsense,” Hugo chided, but he still laughed, feeling lighter for telling him the truth.
“It is, and it isn’t. I’ll do anything to keep you, Hugo Baker. You make me happier than I’ve ever been, and I’m not about to let that go.”
Hugo wrapped his arms around Everand’s waist, pulling him in close. “Then don’t. However, I must talk to your mother. My conscience won’t let me continue living this charade.”
“Let me talk to her first. Soften her up. Get her to see reason. She has to know she forced you into this corner. I’ll fix this.”
A frown tugged at the corners of Hugo’s mouth. He didn’t want Everand to be involved with this. It was his problem, but he could see the wisdom in it. Everand probably knew the right words to say to get his mother to relent. A few good words fromhim might also help get her to consider Hugo as a true suitor for her son.
“Very well,” Hugo mumbled.
“Good. Now, let’s get you undressed and into the bath.”
Seventeen
Hugo didnotallow the prince to help him take a bath, even though it was incredibly tempting. Prince Everand was also more than willing to play the role of the diligent valet, helping his lordoutof his clothes. But after an unseemly amount of giggling and even more kissing, Hugo got Ev out the door so he could take a fast bath alone.
His resolve was crumbling, though. It was likely this would be his last bath without the prince if he remained in the castle much longer. For now, he was enjoying the slow romance, trying to savor every kiss and smile. He wouldn’t allow himself to believe it was all on the verge of falling apart. No, he had a shot at keeping his prince forever. He just had to figure out how he was going to convince the king and queen that he was worthy of their only son.
That was a problem for later. Today, he had the chance to spend the day with Ev without them having to run for their lives or fight Wulian soldiers.
He washed and redressed in the clothes he’d worn to the castle. It didn’t look as though they’d been cleaned while heslept, but they were neater, as if Florence had sneaked in while he was unconscious and tidied them up.
The hallway was empty when he stepped out of the room. His heart flipped as his feet turned toward the large double doors with trees carved into them to create a forest relief. He lifted his hand to knock, but before his knuckles could brush the wood, both doors were ripped open and Ev’s excited, grinning face greeted him.
“Took you long enough,” Everand teased.
