Patrick just shook his head at her, as if her question was frivolous. But Elowen was serious. She could sense something wasn’t right. And her indignation only increased when Patrick pulled his horse alongside Bertrand and murmured something inaudible. Bertrand’s eyes widened, then he nodded, guiding his horse around as well.
“I regret the necessity of missing our time together, Princess,” he said, a glint in his eyes as they passed from Elowen to Theo. “I’ll have to content myself with the anticipation of taking part in the celebrations in your honor tomorrow.”
Whatever his words, he didn’t look as regretful as she would have expected. He looked tense, his focus clearly on whatever Patrick had just told him.
“My apologies, everyone,” Bertrand called to the group. “But Sophia will still be delighted to host you all for the promised luncheon.”
A glance at Sophia showed that she wasn’t delighted so much as considerably distressed. Elowen had sympathy for her friend, even if she thought Sophia’s reaction overblown. She may not like attention, but Sophia was an intelligent, socially adept young woman, perfectly capable of hosting a luncheon for her peers.
The two men prompted their steeds forward, Patrick’s small retinue of guards flanking them as they moved northward around the castle wall.
“Is all well?”
Theo had come up alongside Elowen, but she didn’t immediately answer him. She was still frustrated and, in all honesty, a little humiliated. Not to mention suspicious.
“Princess Elowen?”
Theo’s prompt decided her. She turned her head, eyeing the prince speculatively.
“I gave you leave to drop the title, if you recall.” She tapped her fingers on the saddle in front of her. “I confess that I’ve lost enthusiasm for visiting the floating gardens. Would you instead be interested to see more of our kingdom, outside Toledda?”
Theo raised an eyebrow, sensing that she was up to something. “I was privileged to do so extensively on my ride through Torrens on the way to the capital.”
“Ah, but you didn’t see anything north of here, did you?” she said innocently.
Theo’s eyes traveled northward, along the route taken by Patrick and Bertrand. “No, I didn’t.” His expression was hard to read—she had no idea what he was thinking of her machinations. But for the moment at least, he was going along with them.
“We should rectify that.” Elowen turned her horse again, raising her voice and addressing the rest of the group. “I’m very sorry, everyone, but something has come up to detain both my brother and myself. Please continue to the gardens without us, and enjoy the beautiful day.”
There were a few disappointed murmurs, and a number of the young men in the group looked crestfallen. With an internal wince, Elowen saw Theo’s eyes resting unerringly on each of her most tiresome admirers in turn. He didn’t appear to miss much, which made her uneasy. But on the whole, the group seemed inclined to take her advice. For the girls at least, it would be more enjoyable in her absence. She knew a number of them were eagerly anticipating her marriage and departure so that the more eligible of her suitors might turn their attention to lesser targets.
They were welcome to every one of them, as far as she was concerned.
“Come on, Sophia,” Elowen said determinedly. “You’re coming with me.”
“But…the luncheon,” Sophia protested half-heartedly.
“That’s Bertrand’s mess, and I see no reason for us to clean it up for him,” Elowen said.
“If you say so.” Sophia sounded doubtful. “Where are we going?”
“Northward,” said Elowen, steering her mount after the others. “Come on, Ochre.” She caught the uneasy glances her guards exchanged as they followed her. “We’re going after the boys. Apparently a dam is about to burst, and Patrick wants to get there in time to stop it, somehow.”
“Bertrand won’t like it,” Sophia said, biting her lip.
“Bertrand doesn’t have to like it,” said Elowen with spirit. “My movements are no concern of his.” She shot a self-conscious glance at Theo, who’d kept pace on his own mount, but had remained silent.
Sophia gave her a confused look. “I meant he won’t likemefollowing him.”
“Oh,” said Elowen. “Well…Patrick won’t like me doing it, either, but even princes have to deal with disappointment.” She cast a semi-defiant look at Theo. “I suppose you have an opinion on it all.”
“An opinion on whether princes have to deal with disappointment?” he asked dryly.
“No.” She lowered her gaze, an uncomfortable prickling going over her. “I suspect I’d rather not know your answer to that question.” Making her voice more natural, she raised her head again. “I meant an opinion about our change in activity.”
For a moment, she thought Theo looked confused, but his face was so hard to read, she couldn’t be sure.
“If you’re asking whether I’m going to attempt to dictate your actions, the answer is no.” To her surprise, he sounded faintlyamused, but his gaze was perfectly serious as he once again subjected her to that scrutiny that made her want to fidget. “You seem to think more is going on than what’s been said.”
