Page 82 of A Wayward Movement

Xavier frowned, not liking the finality in her voice. “Sindon is the best home in Siqual,” he said in defense of his city. “And therefore the whole Peninsula.”

She smiled, dipping into an elegant curtsy. “My apologies, Your Highness. I meant no offense. Some of us are content with life outside a large city.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I’ll make you eat those words,” he promised.

As she shook her head, amused, another face appeared in the door of the carriage. Xavier moved forward, offering a solicitous hand to Lilah. He helped her alight, taking great enjoyment from doing so with his best flourish, and sending her a small wink in the process. It had taken no time at all for him to get the measure of the twins. Lilah’s calm and sensible acceptance of any help or attention he gave her told him that he didn’t need to be too careful not to give the wrong impression there. And Benji’s over-the-top disapproval of the slightest notice given to his sister made it a highly entertaining exercise.

Xavier smiled in the friendliest way imaginable to a glowering Benji before turning away from the carriage to find that Alina had witnessed the whole exchange. Her long-suffering look earned her a wink as well, but she had no chance to respond as Xavier was hailed by his brother.

“Xavier! Welcome back.”

Xavier greeted Theo with a brief clasp of arms, then smiled at his sister-in-law, who’d followed her husband across the courtyard.

“Elowen. You’re well? You look it.”

“Yes, of course,” she said. “Welcome home.” Her clear blue eyes drifted past him, taking in the crowds still calling out excitedly from just outside the castle gate. “Did something happen out there?”

“Yes, something happened,” Xavier said cheerfully. “Sindon’s favorite son has returned.” He leaned down, his tone becoming conspiratorial but his voice still loud enough for all to hear. “Life is more entertaining as the popular prince. Poor Theo can draw a few observers, but nothing like the frenzy my activities create.”

“If you say so yourself.” Elowen laughed. “But I dispute your claim.” She waved a shapely hand toward the gate. “This is nothing to the crowds that filled the streets after our wedding.”

“You’re right,” Xavier acknowledged, as if having a revelation. “This is terrible, I can’t bear to be outdone. Maybe I’ll have to resort to a wedding myself.”

“We’ll all believe that when we see it.” The last addition came from Miriam, who’d just joined the group. “Are you going to find your manners and introduce us to your friends, Xavier?”

“Of course.” Xavier smiled at his sister. He could never before remember an absence from home filling him with such fondness for his city and his family. It was a nice feeling. He turned, finding that Lilah was close at hand. “This is Lilah, and her brother Benji.” He twisted around, stepping to the side when he discovered that Alina was somehow behind him. “And this is Alina. She’s been helping with the investigation. They’ll all be staying in the castle.”

The three he’d introduced bowed or curtsied according to their varied abilities as Xavier named his siblings, titles and all. He had the impression that Elowen at least had taken note of how much more polished Alina’s curtsy was than the attempts of the other two.

Theo, however, was watching Lilah, a slight frown furrowing his brow. His gaze passed from the lovely, young, golden-haired girl to Xavier, his expression conveying impatience. He waited until Miriam engaged the twins in polite conversation before moving closer to his brother.

“Been diligently focused on the investigation, I see,” he murmured.

Annoyance flashed through Xavier, and it was on the tip of his tongue to tell Theo that he had in fact been committed to the task. But he caught Alina’s eye, realizing with chagrin that she’d heard the comment. She turned away quickly, her expression sending a hot, uncomfortable trickle over Xavier. He found himself unable to answer Theo, too aware that however mistaken his brother’s assumption might be, he wasn’t wrong that Xavier had been distracted.

Unfortunately for Xavier, his discomforts were only beginning. The group had barely made it inside the castle before the first of his admirers arrived.

“Your Highness!” Lady Liesl, accompanied by a few of her particular friends from the court, sank into a curtsy, her eyelashes fluttering in a very suggestive way.

Xavier’s eyes somehow found Alina’s again. He had no difficulty interpreting the laughter in her features as a reference to his audacious words about the use of his title. She wasn’t wrong about the way Lady Liesl had said it, but he found he couldn’t laugh about it. Not with her. He’d been so eager for Alina to accompany him to the capital and stay close by in the castle, he’d failed to think through what exactly she would witness while there.

“Lady Liesl,” he said, summoning a smile.

“You’ve returned to us,” she said. “It’s been so dull here without you, Your Highness.”

“I don’t know if I’d say dull, Lady Liesl,” Miriam interjected pleasantly. Theo and Elowen were in polite conversation with the twins, but Miriam had stayed close to Xavier. “It was at least a little bit exciting when the new crop of anzus raided the dining hall during a court dinner.”

“I can’t believe I missed that,” Xavier said, gratitude filling him at the rescue from his sister. “Zuzu will also be very disappointed not to have played her part.”

“She would certainly have been right in the thick of it,” Alina said humorously.

Xavier grinned at her, but this was a mistake. Lady Liesl’s eyes narrowed at the pleasant exchange, her focus shifting to Alina.

“And you are?” Her sweet tone made Xavier’s skin crawl.

“This is Alina,” he said. He was glad that Lady Liesl was unlikely to remember Alina from earlier days, given the noblewoman was several years younger than they were, and had been a child when Alina left. “She’s been assisting with the investigation.”

“Oh, yes.” The exclamation came from one of Lady Liesl’s friends, accompanied by a dramatic shudder. “Such frightful stories we’ve heard. I lost sleep worrying about you being in danger, Your Highness.”