“Ev,” Hugo began, his voice dipping to an intimate whisper. “There’s no one else in this room. Just empty suits and fluttering fans. My eyes find only you.”
Everand’s expression softened. “I don’t doubt you. It’s others I don’t trust. I won’t let them steal you away. No one can have you but me.”
Hugo thought he was going to float away with the prince’s words. How could anyone care for him so much?
“I can’t be stolen. I swear it.”
The tension that had gathered in Everand’s shoulders flowed away and the joyous look returned to his face. “Forgive me. There’s never been anyone who…I…who consumed me so completely. If I see you as a treasure, so must everyone. And if everyone sees it, they must want you as well. They’ll try to steal you from me. I can’t lose you, Hugo.”
With a soft smile, Hugo lifted his hand from where it rested on his shoulder and placed it against Everand’s cheek. “But I’m not a pretty bauble content to go along with whoever snatches me up. I have a mind and a heart. Both demand that I keep you for as long as you’ll have me.”
Everand turned his face and pressed a kiss into the center of Hugo’s palm. “Good.”
Unfortunately, the waltz couldn’t last forever. The music faded, and they had to separate. At least to a socially appropriate distance.
Instead of returning Hugo to the sidelines, Everand guided him to the raised dais, where he introduced him to the king and queen.
There was a glimmer of amusement in the queen’s eyes, and a grin played on her thin lips as she nodded at Hugo. “It’s good to see you again, Mr. Baker.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. It is an honor to see you both as well,” Hugo said, bowing a second time.
“Let’s hope you can be a positive influence on our son,” King Hubert chimed in.
“For Hugo, I’m willing to mend all my frivolous and reckless ways,” the prince promised.
Heat rushed to Hugo’s cheeks, but he was more interested in the way the king’s eyebrows leaped toward his hairline and his eyes widened. His gaze narrowed as it shifted to Hugo as if he were reexamining the young man.
“Do you hunt, Mr. Baker?”
“A little, Your Majesty, and rather poorly, I’m afraid.”
“No matter. Hunting is a skill that needs to be practiced regularly if you’re to be good at it. Join me on my next hunt. We’ll get you into shape.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
“Of course. It’ll give me a chance to get your measure, and you might succeed in dragging my laze-about son with you.”
Hugo’s mind was still spinning over the idea of joining the king’s hunting party when Everand groaned beside him.
“It’s not that I don’t wish to go hunting with you, Father, but you always have to do it at such an ungodly hour. It’s not good for the body to be up at dawn.”
Hugo choked on a laugh, quickly turning it into a cough. “I will do my best, Your Majesty.”
“Well, if Hugo wants to get me up at dawn, he?—”
“That’s enough, Everand.” The queen cut off her son, stopping him from saying something that would likely be deemed scandalous. She released an exasperated sigh and gave him a look, which her son just smirked at in response. Clearly, this was an exchange they’d had in the past. It was also proof that Hugo had his work cut out for him if he was going to be a “positive influence,” but Hugo was up for the challenge. Not that he had any interest in changing Everand in the slightest. As far as he was concerned, Everand was perfect exactly as he was.
Queen Liliana smoothed out her expression and lifted her chin as she continued to address her son. “Don’t forget to invite your cousin Melissande for a dance. She and her mother came to Frostbourne to visit you.”
Everand’s lips tensed, but he didn’t argue as he tightened his grip on Hugo’s arm and led them away from the king and queen, joining the rest of the crowd.
As soon as they were out of earshot of his mother, Everand muttered, “Cousin Melissande couldn’t care less about dancing with me.”
Hugo glanced over at the storm cloud clutching his arm. “Really?”
Everand nodded. “She has the same problem you have—an overzealous mother eager to get her married off.”
A smirk lifted one corner of Hugo’s mouth. “As a cousin of the crown prince, that shouldn’t be too big of a problem.”
