She isn’t going to believe me that I wasn’t on a date with Damien, and I can’t tell her about Leo because he wasn’t supposed to be there.
“What I do doesn’t matter because I’m not getting married,” Evelyn said. “But you better LOVE that prince if you marry him.”
Hannah grinned. “I plan to!”
I’m not sure she would back out of this even if she hated Alexander.
10
Laughing Gods
Evelyn assumed the knock on her bedroom door was Hannah telling her to come down for dinner. Instead, she opened the door to find the mismatched blue eyes she had been imagining all day.
Leo smiled at her. “Hi.”
“You’re not Hannah,” Evelyn said breathlessly.
“Um, no…” Leo glanced around the hallway like he needed to double-check his answer. “Sorry?”
“No, it’s… What are you doing here?”
“Are you hungry?”
Evelyn crossed her arms. “Did my father send a guard because I’m late for dinner?”
“What? No. I don’t know where the king is. I saw you weren’t downstairs.” Leo was flustered now. “This wasn’t supposed to be complicated. I?—”
She chuckled. “You’re rambling.”
Leo smiled again. “Damien and I are going into Pointe-Rosemère for dinner. Will youpleasecome with us so I havesomeone to talk to when he inevitably abandons me for a bartender?”
Evelyn hesitated. “Do you not remember what happened last time we went to the city? And how I’m banned from leaving the palace?”
Leo cocked his head. “Let’s say… no. I have no memory of that.”
Evelyn rolled her eyes. “This is a terrible idea.”
“Come with me. Please?”
He looks so hopeful, like a dog begging to play outside.
“Okay.”
Leo grabbed Evelyn’s hand and led her to the staff staircase. They passed two maids, who giggled conspiratorially once they were out of sight.
I feel like a teenager sneaking out of the estate with a boy. And it’s just as fun now as it was then.
Leo brought her to the stables. Damien was waiting inside with two horses ready to go.
Damien took one look at Evelyn, her hand in Leo’s, and said, “No.”
The conviction in his voice nearly made Evelyn turn back to the palace.
“What?” Leo asked innocently.
“Absolutely not,” Damien repeated. “You did not tell me that the thing you ‘needed to get from the palace real quick’ washer.”
“Damien—”
