“Except my cousin has zero interest in marrying. She wants to go off to university in Belhaven and study magic.”
“Ahh,” Hugo murmured. The university in the kingdom of Belhaven was one of the best in the world, offering deep scientific studies into the realm of magic. Melissande must be incredibly gifted if she could get accepted there. “Why don’t you dance with your cousin? It will make your mother happy, and you can reassure your cousin that you have no intention of helping her find a spouse.”
The prince glared at Hugo, but his gaze soon drifted behind him to the many people lingering very close by, looking for an opportunity to sneak close and “have a word” with Hugo.
“I’m not a fan of this idea. I prefer to stay by your side.” The growl was half possessive and half protective.
“How about you have one dance with your cousin and then one dance with someone else? Maybe the queen? Afterward, we can have our second dance.”
“That’s even less appealing. How about I just take you for another spin on the dance floor?”
Hugo leaned close and whispered in his ear. “You know you can’t protect me all the time. I can handle them.”
When Everand lifted his dark-blue eyes to Hugo, worry filled them. “You know if they hurt you, I’ll cut all their tongues out. Literally. Cut. Them. Out.”
It took all Hugo’s self-control not to lean in and kiss him. He knew Everand meant every word he said. Instead, he laughed and gave the prince a nudge away from him. Everand gave him a last glance over his shoulder and worked his way along the edge of the dance floor, likely heading in the direction of his cousin.
Hugo enjoyed exactly thirty seconds of peace and solitude before many of the people who had been watching him brokethrough their inertia and descended upon him. Countless happy faces introduced themselves. He met dukes, viscounts, barons, and a few knights, as well as the glamorous sons and daughters of the aristocracy.
And why not? The crown prince had not only gifted him with the very first dance of the night, but he’d introduced Hugo to his royal parents. Everand couldn’t have stamped a bigger seal of approval on him. It also didn’t hurt that both the queen and king had smiled through the entire introduction, and the king even invited him out for a hunting expedition. If Hugo’s mother had been present, she’d have been somewhere between calling for her smelling salts and ordering the engraver to start on the wedding invitations.
That was still premature from Hugo’s perspective. There was no doubt in his mind that he and Everand would need to do more to convince the king and queen of the wisdom of their match, but Hugo was more than happy to put in the work.
Holding on to his polite expression, Hugo spent the next several minutes navigating probing conversations, as people tried to uncover how he and the prince had met, how well they knew each other, and other more sordid details. Hugo dodged uncomfortable questions and simply played dumb when he couldn’t evade. These strangers didn’t need to know all the intimate details of their relationship. Why couldn’t he savor it for a bit longer?
But those nosy aristocrats weren’t the only problem he had to worry about.
“Hugo Baker.” The speaker hummed as if he were tasting Hugo’s name as he stepped closer. He was a tall, blond man with blunt, square features, cool pale-blue eyes, and the most interesting divot in his chin. Something about him appeared familiar, but Hugo couldn’t remember ever meeting him. “That name sounds familiar.”
“Forgive me, I don’t believe we’ve been introduced,” Hugo replied.
“Farris Hawthorne, eldest son of Lord and Lady Hawthorne.”
Of fucking course…
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Hugo stated, fighting hard not to grind up his words between his teeth. Had the queen sent him to stir up trouble, or was this guy like his mother and a troublemaker?
“That’s right!” Farris exclaimed, snapping his fingers sharply. The sound seemed to capture the attention of anyone who might have started to ignore them. He added a laugh, gazing down his blockish nose at Hugo. “Didn’t your mother tell some crazy tales about your magical talent at the Winthrop Spring Gala?”
“Yes, I’m afraid she did.” Hugo kept his voice even and low. It was important that it didn’t look like Farris’s words were bothering him.
Hot flashes and icy chills engulfed his entire body, as if it didn’t know whether to broil him with irritation or freeze from fright. Instinct screamed for him to turn heel and walk away from this pompous ass, but he couldn’t. Being with a prince meant facing plenty of people who had nasty things to say or suffering through uncomfortable situations. Wasn’t he just thinking that he would fight for Everand? Well, not all fighting was going to demand the use of a sword.
“Oh, what was it now that she was telling everyone?” Farris continued. The smirk twisting up his lips showed he enjoyed making Hugo uncomfortable.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to rehash such a tired old tale and bore everyone.”
“I remember now,” Farris declared, nearly talking over him. “Your mother claimed you could spin straw into gold. Isn’t thatcrazy? Who would ever say something like that?” His loud bray of laughter rose above the last dying notes of the orchestra.
Hugo grinned. “It was silly.”
“Impossible!” Farris barked.
But it wasn’t impossible. Hugo knew someone who could, in fact, spin straw into gold, not that he’d ever give that information away to an idiot like Farris. Let him laugh. His magical friend was safe from this snob.
As the man’s snickers subsided, he took a step closer while Hugo tried to edge away from him. Unfortunately, Farris’s loud words had captured the attention of too many people, and they were now pressed close, blocking Hugo’s escape.
“My only question is whether Prince Everand knows about your mother’s boasts? Does he know what kind of family you come from?” There was an evil twist to the man’s words, making it sound like he was accusing Hugo of climbing out of a pigpen at birth.
