Murmurs came from the banquet hall. The guests were waiting for me and their crown prince, no doubt.
My hands grew clammy. The alcove seemed to grow smaller. “As His Highness has not shown his face, perhaps I may be allowed a stroll?”
The maid poked her head out when I exited the alcove. “Milady! You mustn’t! The guests will expect you soon.”
I turned, tucking my shawl tighter around me. “As it is, I cannot be announced without the crown prince,” I said, forcing a smile. “Five minutes. I will return shortly.”
I didn’t stay to hear the rest of her pleas.
The exterior of the banquet hall was lined with gladiolus flowers, opening up to a manicured lawn and a man-made pond where the debutantes had spent a morning during last summer’s Season. The surface of the water was undisturbed. The swans had since migrated for the winter. It was likely they would return soon.
I walked along the perimeter of the building, taking care to duck out of sight when I passed the windows. The glittering chandeliers within threw golden panes of light onto the dew-drenched grass. The hem of my gown was soaked from it. Giselle would have fainted.
My steps slowed when I wandered past the exterior of the banquet hall. Rounded shrubberies marked the entrance to the royal family’s private gardens. I played there frequently in my youth.
The garden hadn’t changed much. Every bush was trimmed to perfection, the grass a lush carpet beneath my slippers. The wisteria tree in the center had the first blooms of spring, drooping elegantly over the large fountain where I used to sit, counting the flowers I picked while waiting for Mother.
I had brought Misty the week after I found her, but she didn’t like the water and scrambled up the tree in protest. My lips twitched at the memory.
I began to turn back, but my feet fell into a patch of light beaming from the window to my left. It spanned floor to ceiling, as many of the palace windows did, but I started at the sight within.
A desk was pushed up against the glass. Seated behind it was the crown prince, hunched over a mess of papers, his hand raked in his hair. His shirt was rumpled and his waistcoat halfway buttoned, a stark contrast to his usual impeccable dress.
An emerald green ribbon was tied around his wrist. From it glittered the ring he had given me all those weeks ago. The one I had returned.
“Oh, Bennett,” I said under my breath. My words were scarcely loud enough for my own ears. I slipped back into the shadows, content for now to watch and imprint the image of him into my mind.
Bennett crossed something out and threw down his quill with evident frustration. He pressed the heels of his palms to his eyes.
I thought I saw my name scribbled on the paper, but a faint knock came from within before I could take a closer look. Ulysses entered.
“There you are, Your Highness! I’ve been combing the grounds for you,” the steward said between breaths. “You’re late for the banquet.”
“I’m not going.”
I jumped at how close his voice sounded despite the glass.
“Not going?” Ulysses sputtered. “B-but the king has invited—”
“I do not care who my father has invited, I am not going,” Bennett said curtly. “I believe he will be pleased to know I’m spending my time in a less frivolous manner.”
He turned back to his papers and began scribbling furiously, though from my point of view, there were only loops escaping his quill. I couldn’t help but smile.
Ulysses furrowed his brow, disapproving. “Your Highness.”
Bennett gripped the quill tighter. “Please, Ulysses. Spare me this one night.”
The steward slumped his shoulders. “You cannot pass your entire life in this manner.”
Bennett deigned him no reply and continued scribbling nonsense. At last, Ulysses turned and shut the door, but not before giving the crown prince’s back a pinched scowl. I almost laughed out loud, but the sight of Bennett’s face put off all amusement. He looked positively miserable, and though Ulysses had left, did not stop his scrawling.
My heart twinged. I stepped forward and tapped the glass with a finger.
Bennett’s brow furrowed. “Ulysses, for heaven’s sake I told you—” His breath caught when he looked up, our gazes colliding.
After a beat of silence, I gave a hesitant smile.
“Narcissa?” My name finally tore out of his throat.
