Page 73 of A Wayward Movement

He settled himself at the scrubbed wooden table, trying to be patient and polite through the clumsy attempts of the giggling cousin to captivate his attention. Watching Alina help her aunt to make tea, he realized he’d been wrong to think there was no resemblance. There was a certain familiarity about the dip of the older woman’s nose, and something Alina-like in her bearing.

Her manner was warm toward Alina, and more than once, he caught her looking at her niece in a way that made him sure she was wrestling with invisible emotion of some kind. It seemed she really did regret having been unable to spend time with Alina on her previous visits.

Xavier felt validated in his earlier opinion, that Alina was absurd to question her welcome in her aunt’s home. Why did she always seem to see herself as an imposition? Clearly her family were glad to have her around, as he’d known they would be. Had she been struggling on alone all these years needlessly, her isolation caused only by an overdeveloped sensitivity to being a burden?

“We would be honored to have you eat with us, Your Highness,” Aunt Diana said, when she cleared away the cup from Xavier’s tea.

“You’re very kind,” he said warmly. “But I’m afraid I’m expected to rejoin my team. The captain will have my head if I disappear again.”

The older woman’s eyebrow twitched at the word again, but she restrained it before it could lift all the way. Xavier offered no explanation, rising to his feet.

“Yes, we should go,” Alina said quickly, taking his actions as her cue.

“No, Alina, surely not,” Aunt Diana said, putting her hand on her niece’s arm. “You should stay with us tonight. Your uncle will want the chance to see you, and the other children.”

“Oh, Aunt Diana, you don’t have to—”

“But I want to,” the older woman cut her off. “Just one night?”

“Well...” Alina looked to Xavier, who smiled encouragingly at her. “All right,” she said.

She seemed surprised—underrating herself as usual—but pleased. Xavier was glad to see color back in her cheeks. A good sleep in a real home with her family would do her more good than a night at an inn. She still wasn’t quite her usual self.

After the polite goodbyes were said, Alina walked Xavier to the door.

“Are you sure it’s all right for me to stay?” she asked quietly, once they were standing in the yard. “I don’t want to cause any inconvenience for the team.”

“There’s no inconvenience,” he assured her. “It’s an excellent idea to spend some time with your family. I can let you know tomorrow whether we’re staying a second night here, in case you want to stay longer.”

Alina shook her head. “I couldn’t possibly stay two nights. It would be too much of a disruption.”

“Alina, they’re your family,” Xavier told her. “They’re happy to have you.”

“They do seem happy, don’t they?” Her smile was shy as she looked back at the house. “I’ve missed having family.”

Xavier lifted a hand to her face, extricating a strand of hair that was dancing across her cheek with the breeze. She stilled at the touch, and Xavier withdrew his hand quickly. He wasn’t sure he wanted to try to charm her anymore, but the gesture hadn’t been intended to be flirtatious. It came naturally, his whole being craving an outlet for the things he felt when she showed him any hint of vulnerability.

“Will you be all right here?” he asked. “I think I should leave two of the guards with you.”

“No, don’t do that,” she said, slipping her hands into the folds of her skirts. “I don’t think my aunt and uncle would like it, and I doubt your guards would, either.”

“They don’t have to like it, they just have to do what they’re told,” Xavier said simply.

A cleared throat drew his attention to one of the aforementioned guards.

“Yes?” Xavier’s tone made no secret of his feelings about the interruption.

“Forgive me, Your Highness, but our orders are to remain with you at all times.”

“Captain Mitchell isn’t in charge,” Xavier informed him. “I have oversight of the team, including you.”

“I apologize, Your Highness, but I didn’t mean orders from the captain. I meant from His Majesty, before we left the capital.”

“Ah.” Xavier sighed, mastering his annoyance before turning a winning smile on Alina. “There my authority ends.”

“I don’t need guards,” Alina assured him. “I’ll be here with my aunt and uncle.”

He nodded, resigned. “All right, then. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He summoned his guards with a flippant wave of his hand. “Come along, traitors.”