Rodrigue gently squeezed her hand, grounding her to the moment. She blinked, forcing herself to speak, “I-I have missed you as well. You arrived earlier than I expected!”
“Yes,” he said, tilting her chin upward to meet his tender smile. Nin held back a swallow. “I was the first to ride ahead. I couldn’t wait any longer, not when it meant more time with you.”
Her thoughts raced, crowding her mind with rules of posture, tone, and restraint, but none came to her aid. The prince was flirting withher. A small, frantic voice inside her screamed in panic.
His hand slid away from her jaw, lingering a little longer than she was comfortable with. Rodrigue seemed entirely unconcerned whether there were curious eyes watching from afar.
“Would you care to walk with me, YourHighness?” he asked.
Nin accepted, wrapping her arm around his offered one. Her heart raced as the warmth of Prince Rodrigue’s gloved hand rested around hers. He gave her fingers an affectionate pat before guiding her around a statue and setting off on a path lined with beds of red tulips. With every step, her pulse quickened.
The garden was quiet and sunlit, filled with the scent of roses and other blooms. Its grounds stretched endlessly around them, and though a few servants followed as chaperones, the gravel path suddenly grew too private for her comfort.
Rodrigue strolled beside her, seemingly content in the silence, but it pressed in on her, compelling her to say something.
“You look well, Your Highness,” she said at last.
“Truly?” He tilted his head with a wink.
Blood rushed to her cheeks as she nodded meekly.
“You are as beautiful as I remember. No, even more,” he said, his voice dipping an octave. “Especially when you blush.”
Heat seared across her face.
They paused before a large, tiered fountain bubbling with sparkling water. Light caught against the sparkles embedded in the stone, and Nin wondered if the material had been enchanted to always appear ethereal.
Rodrigue stepped back from the fountain but caught her hand in his.
“You seem quieter than usual,” he said, taking a step closer. The aroma of fragrant, aged cedar filled her senses, making her pulse race.
Nin schooled her nervousness with a smile. “I’ve just recovered from an illness. My voice isn’t at its full strength at times,” she explained, softening her voice deliberately. “But I am pleased you came early to see me. It’s been too long.”
“Yes,” he murmured. “It has.” He moved closer still.
Rodrigue reached up and brushed a stray curl from her face.
Nin froze.
His eyes wandered to her mouth. The distance between them narrowed, breath by breath, until panic crowded out every rational thought.
He is going to kiss me.
And she had no idea how to stop it.
The sound of boots crunching over gravel interrupted them.
“Your Highness.”
Nin’s chest loosened in relief when Cedric halted beside her.
“My apologies,” he extended, inclining his head toward the prince, though Nin caught the subtle sharpness behind his spectacles. “But the physician has advised that the princess should not remain in the sun for longer than necessary.”
Prince Rodrigue’s eyes flashed to her, his smile dipping into a frown. “I’m sorry, my love. I had not realized.”
“It’s all right,” she said gently. “We will have plenty of time to catch up now that you’re here.”
“I won’t keep you,” Prince Rodrigue said. He grasped her hand and placed a kiss on the back of her knuckles. Nin smiled, hoping it was what Princess Marianne would do, but she worried she looked too stiff. Beside her, Cedric’s mouth compressedinto a thin line.
