Evelyn fought back tears. “Whatdoyou want, Leo? Do you want to be with me enough to go against your father? Because I’m not okay being a secret! You say you want me to stay in Gryon, but how? I’m not going to be your mistress after you marry Hannah!”
Leo blanched. “I would never ask that of you!”
“Then what is your plan? What do you want from me?”
“I…”
“Leo!”
“I need more time!” he pleaded. “I don’t know what the right thing to do is, but I don’t want to lose you. I’m sorry, Evelyn. I messed this up and I am so sorry.”
“How can I trust you?” Evelyn cried. “How do I know you’re not hiding a million other secrets?”
“I didn’t lie about anything else. I swear.”
“But you had Damien and your mother lie for you.”
Leo’s brows pinched in confusion. “My mother?”
“She called youLeo. She knew what was going on. I guess I’m the only one who didn’t.”
“No.” Leo shook his head. “She knows that’s a nickname I use, but I never asked her to call me by it. Damien, yes. He knew everything and he warned me it was a bad idea. But my mother was never part of this. When did you talk to her?”
“She wanted Hannah and me to spend time with her this week. Hannah would gush about the pr—aboutyou. And I…” Evelyn’s face turned red. “I told her about the handsome palace guard with two different blue eyes.”
“Then that’s how she knew to call me Leo with you,” he told her. “That’s why she keeps mentioning you to me,” he told himself. His eyes darted around, recalling memories of his own.
Evelyn was exhausted. This day, this conversation, this mess she was in, she couldn’t do it anymore. She was humiliated, angry, and heartbroken. Did she feel all of those at once, or were they all the same thing?
“I need to go.”
Something in her voice told Leo not to argue this time.
She used the heat of her magic to dry her skirts, which caused most of the sand to fall away. Anyone paying attention could see something was wrong with her dress, but it wasn’t as obvious as when she was dripping ocean water.
Nearly everyone had left the patio and the ballroom by then. Except the Taste Court and Lord Grégory, who were still singing. But Hannah was waiting for her.
“Why were you on the beach with Alexander?” her sister asked without preamble.
Evelyn kept walking. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does!” Hannah fell into step beside her. “I can tell you were crying. You were out there for ages.”
“Well, I’m back.”
I can’t do this right now. I don’t know what to tell Hannah.
They were nearly to the main staircase.
“I thought you were seeing Captain Fontaine?” Hannah asked.
“I’m not,” Evelyn grumbled.
But maybe I should be?
“You can’t wander off with the prince!” Hannah scolded.
“I didn’t. He followed me.”
