“I didn’t know Misty was going to give birth this morning,” I said. We turned a corner and exited the south wing of the palace. My carriage was waiting for us on the cobblestone.
Misty herself hadn’t even known. It came as a surprise to all of us after breakfast when I found her in the blanket-lined crate I had prepared for her, the first signs of a kitten emerging. Pippin was pacing nervously before her and yowled at me to get Bennett.
This was, after all, a family matter.
I tapped my foot impatiently as the coachman set out, the carriage moving much too slowly for my taste. It had taken half an hour to get to the palace. Greenwood Abbey was confoundingly far away, and the traffic in the streets was no help either.
Bennett grinned at me from across the seat. “I’ve never seen you like this.”
“Like what?”
“Excited. Your face is glowing.”
I pressed a hand to my hot cheek, pretending his comment didn’t make my stomach flutter.
It had been over two weeks since our reunion. I saw him daily, even as he was busy drafting laws with the king. King Maximus was in a considerably better mood now that he and Bennett were on speaking terms. Though His Majesty was still hesitant to include me in royal affairs, it was only a matter of time. His face still pinched whenever he saw me, though I suspected it was out of habit now instead of disapproval.
“This is taking awfully long,” I muttered, peering out the window. We were practically inching down the streets of Delibera, a hackney-coach before us and a horse-drawn cart behind.
“We’re in no rush, are we? Cat labor can last twelve or more hours,” Bennett said.
“How do you know that?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I did some research. Drafting laws gets boring at times.”
I laughed.
Bennett leaned forward and took my hands. I was still getting used to the feeling. “By the way, I brought you a gift.”
He slipped something cold on my finger. I stared at the new ring when he drew away. The band was embellished with floral motifs, wrapping around the diamond in the center like minuscule vines.
“You do have a tendency to lose all the rings I give you,” he said when I started to protest.
“You could have returned the last one,” I said, recalling the emerald surrounded by seed pearls. “I liked that one.”
Bennett wet his lips. I noticed he only did that when he was nervous. “Cissa, I wanted to ask—”
The carriage jerked to a stop. A look out the window showed an enormously long train of carts blocking the road. I groaned.
Misty and Pippin were going to kill me.
Bennett reached for his crown. He had set it beside him when he entered the carriage. Now, he smoothed back his hair and put it on.
“What are you doing?”
He merely smiled and opened the carriage door. “Excuse me? May we pass?” His voice rang clearly out in the streets.
Gasps erupted from the passersby. Murmurs of “Your Highness” rose from the crowd. Bennett barely shut the door before the carriage began rolling again, this time faster.
I threw my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Thank you!” I paused, studying him for a moment. “You’ve been practicing.”
The only time King Maximus encouraged my presence was when I was coaching Bennett on public speaking. Ulysses claimed I had a penchant for it and Bennett had asked to learn.
“I have.” His gaze lingered on my mouth. “Is that all the reward I get?”
I tapped my chin and sat back. “Perhaps another ring first?”
Bennett’s expression was serious. “Certainly. Do you prefer sapphires or opals?”
