The seamstress waited patiently, nodding at Angelique tocontinue.
“Eventually, my master realized Stil found me less intimidating and instructed me to talk him around. I…managedit.” It was a temptation to tell her just how Angelique had convinced the bratty Stil, but with Gemma’s gray eyes on her, Angelique felt unexpectedly guilty for wanting to embarrass him, so she rushed to continue. “We brought him to the school at the Veneno Conclave where he proved to be a veritable genius at craft magic.” She tapped the stem of her glass as Gemma gravely studiedher.
“I see,” Gemma finally said. “It is obvious you have a bright relationship with MageStil.”
“Friendship,” Angelique corrected. “I flatter myself to say I am like an older sister tohim.”
“Oh, no.” The seamstress shook her head. “He cares for you much more than as asister.”
Angelique barely restrained herself from shivering in revulsion.Perhaps Evariste had the right idea. Maybe we should have just let folk think he was our child.“I fear my crying episode earlier gave you the wrong impression. I treasure Stil’s friendship, but that is all we have.” Angelique took another swig of her wine—this one was a little larger than polite, but was completely necessary for mentalfortification.
“Perhaps that is all youthinkyou have,” Gemmasaid.
What?!Angelique choked on her wine and coughed, placing her hand on her chest.I must have misheard her. She couldn’t have really saidthat.
“Right! The tarts finally set—what happened?” Stil pranced into the dining room like a proud peacock, carrying an arrangement of tarts on one of his best silverplatters.
Your sweetheart is bad at reading story cues, that’s what happened.Angelique tried to call out to Stil to get him to collaborate their sibling-like relationship, but she could only cough andgurgle.
Gemma had no such difficulty, so she spoke freely whilst inspecting Stil’s fancy tarts. “I was clearing up amiscommunication.”
Angelique’s dismay grew, and she could no longer keep the horror from her expression as she bulged her eyes and gaped at Gemma.No, no, no, no! How—by Pegasus’ constellation—could she so willfully misinterpret what was supposed to be a touching originstory?
Gemma blinked at Angelique’s gurgling, thenshrugged.
Angelique longed to yell at the girl,THIS IS NOT A SHRUGGINGMATTER!
Stil set his fancy platter down on his polished table. “Isee.”
Angelique could hear the faint note of suspicion in his voice and judged it was entirely necessary to beat out a hasty retreat.If I leave them alone, Stil will get her back on the conversation I interrupted, and he can woo Gemma himself. This is why matters of the heart areridiculous!
Hastily, she stood, almost knocking her chair over in her enthusiasm. “As marvelous as all this food was, I find that I am simply exhausted, and I must beg your pardon and excuse myself.” She made a show of yawning and daintily patting her mouth. “Thank you, Stil. The food wasoutstanding.”
Stil’s pleased grin said he knew what she was doing and was thankful for it. “I’m glad you enjoyedit.”
Gemma frowned down at her pewter plate, watching Stil slide three different tarts onto it. “Why doesn’t she have to eatdessert?”
Stil attempted to wink roguishly at the seamstress—which she missed entirely and only made Angelique want to roll hereyes.
He tapped the end of Gemma’s nose. “Because I don’t care what shedoes.”
Yes, time to leave. I’ll grow ill over the romance he’s attempting to ooze.Angelique smiled encouragingly at Gemma, hoping the lack of jealousy in her manners might get through to the girl.“I enjoyed conversing with you, Gemma. I will see both of you in themorning.”
“Goodnight,” Stil called after Angelique as she slipped through thedoorway.
Angelique paused on the other side of the door to shake her head, but before she walked down the hall, she heard Stil speak to Gemma. “That was excellenttiming.”
There was the scratchy thud of furniture getting pushed across the wooden floor, and Angelique pausedmidstep.
Did he just move his chair to sit next toher?
“Why?” Gemma asked, her voice creeping out of the barely crackeddoor.
“Because now we can talk. We never did finish our earlier conversation.” There was more shuffling of furniture, likely as Stil tried to draw closer to his ladylove.
Angelique stared at the wall.I don’t believe it. Stil—craftmage genius—is falling prey to the same fall-in-love-whilst-running-for-my-life-disease that all the royals I’ve met have been inflictedwith.
It was, perhaps, a tiny bit funny because AngeliqueknewStil, and in seeing Gemma’s cool reception, it was amusing to see him and his cockiness rebuffed, but it also filled her with the desire to throw her hands up over the inert silliness of itall!
