“I’m so glad to get the chance to meet you, Princess Elowen,” Princess Flora said.
“You as well,” said Elowen. “And please, no need for the title.”
“Likewise,” Flora said, sounding relieved.
Elowen looked her over surreptitiously. She was pretty, but in a more everyday way than she’d expected, after hearing her story. Her hair was a similar color to her husband’s, a little too straight to be fashionable. And while her face had a softness to it that made Elowen instantly warm to her, she held herself with awatchful, capable posture that couldn’t have been more different from the manners adopted by the women in the Torrenese court.
“I don’t claim the level of friendship with Prince Theo I’m so lucky to enjoy with Princess Miriam,” Flora went on. “But I have a very high opinion of him, and will be so glad to see him happy in marriage.”
“Let’s hope you will see that,” Elowen said lightly.
“I’m sure I will.” There was something more than politeness in Flora’s words, and Elowen found herself more invested in the stranger’s verdict than she should be. “He likes you,” Flora added. “Very much.”
“Did he confide in you so quickly?” Elowen laughed, wishing her cheeks weren’t so quick to get warm.
Flora’s smile was a little too knowing. “No, I don’t think Theo is in the habit of confiding in anyone. But I used to be a guard, you know. I’m good at noticing the little ways people give their intentions and opinions away. It’s part of the role.”
She nodded toward where Theo and Patrick were speaking, and Elowen followed her gaze.
“See how he’s angled toward you? His eyes are on your brother, but his feet are pointing toward you. He’s aware of you, every moment. If you needed him, or I suspect even wanted him, he’s unconsciously placed himself in a position to instantly respond.”
“That’s quite a conclusion from the direction of his feet,” Elowen said, although under her casual words she was fascinated.
“There are other things,” Flora said comfortably. “As we walked in, his eyes were on you more often than anything else.” She grinned. “He even scanned the room as we entered with a look I saw many times when guarding Princess Miriam. An ever so slight hint of jealousy as he assesses any competition.” Her expression became pained. “Poor Mim is probably still puttingup with it from every eligible nobleman in her court, since she remains unmarried. Thanks to my unplanned interference,” she added as an afterthought.
“Your story sounded very exciting,” Elowen said, her mind half on the other girl’s revelations. Was she right about Theo? Did Elowen dare ask her whether she also had some insightful answer for why he was so reluctant to show the attachment he apparently felt?
“It was certainly an adventure,” Flora said. “I confess I’m glad it’s over and everything’s settled, though. I still have too many guard-like instincts to enjoy danger, especially danger coming after Cassius.”
Her eyes drifted to where her husband had just joined Theo and Patrick, her expression somehow both softer and more fierce than before. Elowen felt a prickle of jealousy, not over Prince Cassius, but over the intimacy of the understanding between the couple. Her eyes drifted to Theo, and she stilled when she found his gaze on her as well. Her heart beat a little faster as he abruptly broke off his conversation with Patrick and strode to his seat at her side.
“My apologies, Elowen,” he said, in his deep, steady voice. “I’m a poor dinner companion so far.”
She just smiled. “You did very well in your event this afternoon,” she said. “Congratulations on progressing to the next round.”
“I’m sorry we won’t be able to stay to watch the rest of the tournament,” Flora cut in. “It sounds fascinating. But we really do have to leave first thing. We’re not even going to be able to join the dancing tonight.”
“Very understandable,” Elowen said kindly. “You’re midway through an exhausting journey, a solid sleep and clear weather for travel is what you most need.”
“Nonsense,” Theo said unsympathetically. “As a former guard, you should be able to survive on very little sleep.”
“Chivalrous of you,” Flora said. “You may recall, Your Highness, I’m not a guard anymore.”
Theo’s answering smile was so relaxed, Elowen would almost have called it a grin. “True, you’ve certainly risen in the world. Do you outrank me now that you’re a crown princess, and I’m merely a lowly second-born prince?”
“Naturally,” said Cassius calmly. “As a royal of Carrack, Flora outranks most of her peers.”
Elowen was a little shocked, until Theo’s chuckle told her that Cassius had been joining in the banter. She still had a way to go in learning the hidden humor of these solemn princes, it seemed.
“Watch yourself, Prince Cassius,” Theo retorted. “You wouldn’t wish to offend an ally.” He dipped his head toward Elowen, a barely visible twinkle in his eye. “Especially when that ally is on the brink of strengthening its ties with the fair kingdom of Torrens, which can rival even Carrack in power and prosperity.”
“Oh dear, you’ve slighted Carrack’s honor,” sighed Flora. “Now we’ll never hear the end of Cassius singing the praises of his homeland.”
Elowen laughed, barely able to pull her eyes from Theo. She was mesmerized by the relaxed side of him the visitors had brought out.
“To save us from that fate,” Theo was saying, “how about you instead tell us about your trip to Pulau?”
“It was interesting,” Prince Cassius said, becoming serious at once. “The islanders are very different culturally, and we were there far too short a time to really understand their ways. But they were open to discussions about the security of the region, which is encouraging.” His broad brow creased slightly. “We gotthe sense that they were keeping their cards close, though. I would feel easier if we had a better strategy for strengthening bonds between Pulau and the rest of the Peninsula.”
