“Perhaps as wide asyoureyes will go,” Margaret shoots back. “But this has heartbreak written all over it, and I’m going to be the one to pick up all the pieces when this little fling meets its inevitable conclusion. And you didn’t even tell me about it in the first place.”
I go back to watching my hands as I fidget with them. “I thought you’d either try to talk me out of it or get way too excited about it and make it into something it’s not. I want this. I’m tired of being the sweet, innocent little southern girl who blushes every time a man gives me a second look. Also, I thought if you gottoo excited about this thing with Friedrich, it might give me hope that he and I could be something more. But we can’t, and I’m okay with that.”
“Are you?” my friend presses. “Because I saw you two dancing tonight. I saw the way you glowed in his arms, how easy you two were with each other. That didn’t look like a casual fling.”
“Oh, there’s chemistry there for sure,” Princess Beatrix puts in.
“Not actually helping my point,” I say to my new…friend?That’s what she had said about me when Margaret started in on me at first.
“I’m sorry, Aurelia,” Margaret says as she stands. “But I can’t stand by and watch you be taken advantage of.”
“Margaret, please.”
I reach for her hand, and she holds tight for a moment. Her eyes soften at last; her face relaxes, and I see the concern behind the hurt. My shoulders drop as my friend takes my other hand as well, clasping them between us.
“I’m worried for you, love,” she whispers.
“Don’t be,” I flash her a huge smile. “I’m finally taking a moment to enjoy my life. Even if it is just a moment.”
Margaret heaves a great sigh. “And the smut habit I’ve been trying to start you on just wasn’t enough, hm?”
“Ooh,” the princess cuts in. “Actually, I have someamazing recs that I think Fritz would appreciate me passing along.”
“Really? Is there something specific I’m missing because he’s been so focused on me, and I really want to?—”
Margaret clears her throat.
“Sorry,” I say to my friend, heat rising to my cheeks as I realize I was about to ask sex advice from the cousin of the man I’m doing the not-sex stuff with. “Look, Margaret.” I squeeze her hands tighter. “I’m trying to work through some stuff, and this arrangement with the prince is just… Margaret, he makes me feel alive.”
She blows out a breath and turns her head over her shoulder to look at Beatrix.
“You’ll vouch for the prince that he’ll treat my girl well as long as this affair continues.”
The princess shrugs. “He’s a royal pain in the ass, but he’s one of the most genuinely kind and considerate people I know. And I’ve known that boy since he was in diapers, and I’ve never seen him so at ease in my life.”
Margaret lets go of one of my hands and gestures for her to join us in the middle of the room. Beatrix rolls her eyes but stands and takes our offered hands.
“Don’t leave me in the dark again, Aurelia Sumner,” Margaret chastises me. “I don’t want to miss another moment of your sexual awakening.”
I groan, but she pulls me and Beatrix into her arms and squeezes tight. I hug both women back, and theprincess eventually relents and relaxes into our group embrace.
She extracts herself quickly, smoothing down her skirts. “Alright, if we’re done with this little reconciliation straight from a shitty teen melodrama, can we please get back to the ball? I had my eyes on that princess from Bahrain.”
Margaret and I share a look.
“What?” Trixie shrugs. “Just helping my cousin narrow the field a bit.”
We laugh as we leave the parlor, arm in arm, my chest much lighter now that my best friend is finally in on my big, sexy royal secret. We walk back into the ballroom together, and several eyes flit over in my direction. I remember Trixie’s instructions from earlier and don’t let my gaze falter.No weakness.My employer’s half-sister is watching me with pursed lips from the circle of stunning women near the dance floor. I fix her with my best boss girl stare as Trixie peels off to find her intended mark, and Margaret pulls me with her towards the drinks table.
“Quick,” my friend hisses, tugging my arm harder and glancing over her shoulder.
“What?” I peek too, trying to see what has her all in a tizzy.
I spot Friedrich and Miles across the room, watching our every move. The prince raises a questioning eyebrow, and I give a slight nod. He lifts his glass in understanding, and the fact that we can communicate without even a word makes my heartflutter a bit. It’s insane to me how connected we are after such a short time. Miles flashes me a cheeky little smirk that I’m sure means mischief.
Margaret does another subtle peek behind her as she orders more wine for the two of us. She’s not delicate or demure as she throws back half the glass in one go.
“What’s going on?”
