He laughed sheepishly. “I suppose not.”
“Pippin has been in a sour mood the entire month. He misses you.”
“Perhaps not as much as I miss you.” Bennett bumped his forehead against mine and gently squeezed my waist. I was suddenly very aware of him. “May I kiss you now? Please?”
I nodded, not trusting my voice. I grew slightly unsteady when he guided me to the window, closer to the light until my back touched his desk.
Bennett smiled when I asked him what he was doing. “So I can see you better,” he whispered.
Then he kissed me.
His kiss was gentle, though not wholly without passion. I simply melted into him, noting with some delight that he had figured to move his lips since Vandil.
Bennett pulled away after ten blissful seconds. “Did you know what I was going to say to you in Alevine? Before my father interrupted us?”
I shook my head, still reeling from his kiss.
“I think I’m in love with you,” Bennett said softly. He touched my cheek. “And I am. Thoroughly.”
“Oh.” The word was little more than an exhale.
My torso was already tipping forward for another kiss, but we were interrupted by the sound of rustling bushes.
“Your Highness!” Ulysses emerged into the clearing, and promptly slapped a hand over his eyes when he caught sight of us. “I see you have, er...foundLady Narcissa.”
“Indeed.” Bennett stepped back and cleared his throat. I was so muddle-headed that I was hardly ashamed of being caught. “Apologies, Ulysses. I should have listened earlier.”
“Certainly,” Ulysses said. He still didn’t unshield his eyes. “To the banquet, then?”
Bennett squeezed my hand and laughed. “To the banquet.”
41
“Hurry!”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Bennett blew a strand of hair off his forehead, his crown tucked securely under his arm as I pulled him down the hallway. We dodged a group of maids dusting vases and paintings.
