Page 52 of A Wayward Movement

He left Charles spluttering a confused protest, striding out of the room and bypassing the dining room altogether.

He walked briskly through the streets, remembering his way from the previous times he’d been to Mrs. Pincer’s store. Two guards discreetly followed him, their presence so familiar he barely noticed them. He’d never enjoyed early mornings, and the current one was the most offensive of them all. He was annoyed at Charles, annoyed at Alina, annoyed at himself.

The trouble was, Charles had a point. Xavier wasn’t in the habit of trying to win the attention of aloof girls, or even sensible ones. The ones trying brazenly to flirt with him for their own perfectly comprehensible ends had always been a much safer target for his charm. Alina could hardly be further from the scheming, manipulative girls Xavier led along without a shred of remorse. But like he’d told Charles, this was different. This was about exorcising the pain that still plagued him when he thought about Alina’s rejection of his young, painfully sincere self.

“It’s not as though I’m going to break her heart,” he told Zuzu sternly, as if the bird had chastised him aloud. “I happen to know that she’s much too clearheaded to suffer in that area. I just want to prove to myself that I can make her feel something—which I can. And if she realizes in the process that what she turned down wasn’t so unpleasant after all, so much the better.”

Zuzu gave a disgruntled mewl, whether sharing Xavier’s feelings about Charles or just about the early morning, he’d never know.

As it had already done numerous times before, Xavier’s mind replayed for him what Alina had said the night before, when he accused her of being jealous.

She’d spoken dismissively of his dishonorable trysts, even after he’d made himself vulnerable in all he’d shared with her in Alton. Dishonorable? The word had sounded very bitter coming from her. He couldn’t seem to shrug off her opinion like he did most people’s. Xavier didn’t believe he was without honor, but he was starting to realize that the truth might not matter, might not ever be able to overcome his reputation. The childish reactiveness that had set the course for the last ten years of his life may have cost him the chance of ever winning Alina’s respect. It was a hard reality to accept, and all the more so because he knew how much of his anger should be directed at himself. She’d been astute with her observation that it was unreasonable to expect her to picture him plagued by rumors he couldn’t prove wrong. He’d never tried to prove them wrong. On the contrary, he’d encouraged them at every turn. He’d played into his reputation for his own childish entertainment.

It’s more than that, an honest voice whispered in his mind. You’ve been trying to protect yourself. And you don’t seem to have done a very good job.

When he arrived at the dressmaker’s store, it wasn’t yet open. He rapped on the door anyway, and was greeted by a flustered young woman who looked familiar. He searched his memory.

“Lilah, is it?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” She ducked into a very unpolished curtsy.

“Can I come in?” he asked, when she continued to hover.

“My apologies, Your Highness, the store isn’t open yet,” she said.

“I’m not here for the store,” he told her. “I’m collecting Alina for official business. Is she upstairs?”

“She…she is, Your Highness.” The poor girl was very rattled by the whole situation.

“Excellent,” said Xavier brightly. “I’ll go up.” He turned to his guards. “You can remain in position by the door here.” A hint of steel entered his voice. “That’s an order.”

He paused mid-stride toward the door. “You stay here, too, Zuzu.” He deposited the anzu into the arms of one of his guards, ignoring both the creature’s hiss of disapproval and the guard’s dismay.

Not waiting to be invited, Xavier loped into the store, crossing it swiftly in the direction of a lone staircase at the back. Lilah looked like she wasn’t sure if she should protest, or maybe follow him. He was pleased when she didn’t do either. He took the steps two at a time, rapping on the door at the top with confident insistence.

He heard the creaking of a board underfoot, then the door swung open.

“Good morning,” he greeted Alina, a smirk rising at the surprise on her face. She was almost as discomposed as Lilah.

“Good morning,” she replied, attempting a smile.

Not standing on ceremony, Xavier sauntered past her into the apartment. He paused just inside the door, looking around the small, sparse accommodations. Impossible not to picture the lavish estate in the capital where she’d grown up. He’d attended many social events hosted there. If he was invited to that estate, he always found a way to clear his schedule.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked.

“I will be in just a minute.” Alina hastened to a corner of the room and sat on a sturdy bench. Xavier realized she was pulling on her boots. “Did Lilah let you in? Where is she?”

“She let me into the store,” Xavier said. “I don’t think she wanted me to come up, but I didn’t ask permission, and she was too flustered by my majestic presence to tell me not to.”

“Your majestic presence is what flustered her, is it?” Alina narrowed her eyes at him. “What did you say to her? She’s been forced to grow up quickly, but in her heart, she’s still very innocent, Xavier. I won’t have you pushing any boundaries with her.”

“You wrong me,” Xavier said with a lopsided grin he knew to be infuriating to Alina when she was worked up. “I never push boundaries.”

Alina didn’t look impressed, but Xavier’s grin just grew. It was easy to laugh off the spectacularly unfair and unjustified suggestion he was trying to seduce the teenager downstairs, because he was far too experienced not to recognize the hint of jealousy beneath Alina’s accusation. He knew now why Alina hadn’t wanted him to come over.

“Is that why you tried to keep me away?” he asked, his tone turning speculative. “She is very pretty, isn’t she? Golden curls, just my style. Should I see if she’d like to join us?”

“It’s too early in the morning to summon outrage,” Alina grumbled. “Even on Lilah’s behalf.”