“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.
“Because you are the only one willing to say that out loud.”
What is in his eyes? Confusion? Hope? Anger? Love?
“Evelyn! There you are,” Leo said, appearing in the hallway.
Evelyn gently pulled her hands out of Damien’s grasp.
“I see our guests have started to arrive. Hello, Daphne, Desirée.” Leo smiled at each sister and received curtsies in response. He gave Evelyn a quick kiss. “Why are we all in the hallway?”
“Just talking before lunch starts,” she explained.
Damien whispered something to Nicolas, who nodded before leading Daphne into the dining room. Then Damien escorted Desirée to lunch. Leo and Evelyn were alone in the hall, other than her guards.
“Did I miss something?” Leo asked.
“Lord Stuart put everyone on edge,” Evelyn said.
“That makes sense. He can be… difficult.”
She gaped at him. “Difficult? That’s what you’re going with?”
“What would you call him?”
“Antagonistic? Misogynistic? Manipulative? Cruel?”
“Keep your voice down,” Leo said, moving her farther from the door. “He’s a lord.”
“Isn’t there something you can do about that?”
“Why would I?”
“Because he’s a horrible person!”
Leo sighed. “I can’t remove someone from their own court just because you don’t like them.”
“This isn’t some petty disagreement, Leo! You know he?—”
“I know he is the Lord of the Auditory Court. Anything beyond that is none of my business.”
Evelyn blinked. “Are you kidding? Damien is your friend!”
“And he can handle his own problems. I don’t know why you are getting involved in someone else’s family drama.”
“Because Damien’s sisters are terrified! Don’t you care?”
“There’s nothing I can do.”
“You haven’t even tried. You’re the king!”
“That doesn’t mean I get to do whatever I want.”
“I told Lord Stuart he wouldn’t be welcome in the palace after tomorrow.”
Leo groaned. “Evelyn, you can’t do that.”
She took a step back from him. “I just told you that I don’t feel safe having him in our home. And instead of asking mewhy, you’re telling me I don’t have a choice. Did I hear that right?”
