Lady Ruan faltered. “Ah, apologies, Your Highness.” She offered us a sheepish smile. “If you prefer separate chambers I will have someone prepare another. For now, why don’t you both sit down? I’ll bring tea.”
“Thank you, Lady Ruan,” I said.
She departed, as did Lord Frederick and the others. I touched Bennett’s arm before he could leave.
He looked at my hand. I detected a hint of surprise before it fizzled out. “What is it?” he asked curtly.
“I need to speak to you.”
He took a step back. “I have duties to see to. Perhaps another time.”
I flattened my lips and took his wrist, pulling him inside before he could object. There was no sense in letting this drag on.
I seated myself on a plump armchair near the door. The room was flooded with skylight, but I didn’t linger on the lavish interior. Bennett rubbed his wrist.
“You are not cutting Maddox and Flannery from the Royal Guard.”
“Narcissa, they are not fit for their positions,” Bennett said, his voice deceptively calm.
I crossed my arms, peevish. “Do youeverraise your voice?”
This seemed to irritate him. He stepped forward, fixing me with his hazel eyes. “Do you always concern yourself with the positions of guards?”
I stood. “What does it matter to you?”
“I am your betrothed. And for you to have gone off with one of them in the middle of the night at Vandil—” Bennett stopped abruptly, his color heightened.
I scrunched my brow, wondering what that had to do with anything. “My brother was helping me that night. He doesn’t deserve to be punished for that.”
Bennett blinked. “Who?”
“Maddox Greenwood.”
“Greenwood?” He looked taken aback. “So he’s...not a favorite of yours?”
“Pardon?” I sputtered. My face burned at his insinuation. “You thought I would beunfaithfulto you?”
My offense seemed to surprise him. Bennett shook his head vehemently. “I—no that’s not what I meant,” he said. He exhaled. “It’s just the two of you seemed close. I...I made assumptions.”
I sat back down, reigning in my feelings. His poor opinion of my character was nothing new, after all. But to think I would have favorites among the guards!
“Forget it,” I said with as much composure as I could. “We don’t have time for this.”
Bennett’s voice grew quiet. “Time for what, Narcissa? Protecting you?”
Romance. Tender feelings. Ridiculous lovers’ spats. He admitted to being jealous ofMaddoxof all people. Wherever this conversation was leading, I didn’t want to go.
“I do not need to be protected,” I said hotly.
“You are the future princess.”
“I’ve been in danger before. I can handle myself.”
He frowned. “Crown princesses do nothandle themselves.Part of my duty is to care for you and—”
“Carefor me?” I laughed. What gave him the right to avoid me for weeks, then tend to my scratches and argue for my protection in the next breath? “Is this a performance for the public, like at Vandil? What about after the fire? Where were you then?”
The question hung in the air.
