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I pushed myself to my feet, shuffling to the mirror. I looked awful. Tired and puffy. Not someone a handsome squire would kiss.

I shook my head. Ann was probably right. Beric was helping me, protecting me, as was his duty. But how could he have touched me that way if he didn’t have some sort of feelings for me? How could he have held me so close, so desperately, if he didn’t want us to be more than knight and squire?

But Ann was wrong about him not being allowed, I was sure of it. Lady Vi had been in a relationship with her squire, before Beric. It had lasted for years, and the king must have known about it. He wasn’t the type to let something go if he didn’t approve of it.

I went to the rope in the corner and pulled, before putting on my robe to wait, bouncing my knees in anticipation.

Beric was going to declare his feelings for me.

I just knew it.

CHAPTER21CALLIOPE

Eliza and Faline entered soon after with a tray of food.

“How did you sleep, my lady?” Faline asked.

“Surprisingly well,” I said. “This bed is amazing.”

“Wait until you sleep in your permanent room,” she said, and I felt a bit sick at the thought. I’d chosen this life, but the last thing I wanted was to be so close to the lair of a dragon.

Eliza set a pair of shoes down by her choice of dress for the day, and I immediately picked them up.

“How unlike you, Eliza,” I said, grinning, “to bring me such sensible shoes.”

“I thought you might try them for the day,” she said, as she prepared my bathing area. “See if they’ll suit you for battle. Perhaps we might go on a long walk today to test them.”

“Oh, in the gardens, please,” I said, lacing my fingers together. “I’ve been dying to see them since I arrived.”

And it’s the perfect spot for a confession.…

“You won’t be going anywhere until you eat.” Faline guided me to my small dining table, sitting me in front of my tray. Grateful, I ate—healing truly did take a lot of energy. I felt so blessed to have so many people who took such good care of me.

I ate, bathed, and dressed, but my maids did not seem to be in as much of a rush as I was. And I kept thinking that, at any moment, Beric might come to check on me. Might invite me someplace private and … well, I hardly knew, but one must always be ready for anything when it came to romance.

Faline wanted to ensure my strength was recovered so, despite my insistence that I was fine, we sat at my table and played cards rather than going out right away. Albert even joined us, and I felt as if we’d all been friends forever. It was probably better that way—I should hate to be out when Beric came to visit.

Calm down, Cali.

I had to stop obsessing over this boy I hardly knew … this beautiful, smart, brave boy, who was so perfect in every way I’d always envisioned a suitor to be. He almost seemed unreal.

“Shall we play again?” asked Eliza, after playing the winning hand for the third time in a row.

“God, no thank you.” I sighed, impatient. “Can’t we go outside?”

And find Beric was the detail I left out, since it was clear he wasn’t coming to me.

“Are you well enough?” Faline asked, looking me over.

“You have to be cheating,” said Albert, examining Eliza’s cards. But when Eliza held out her hand, he smirked and handed her a coin.

Faline shook her head in disapproval. “You’re a good, decent man, Albert. You don’t need to be participating in this nonsense.”

“It was Eliza’s idea. How could I refuse a princess?”

Faline glared at her. “Must you influence everyone you encounter?”

Eliza shrugged, grinning. “It’s my royal lineage. I’m a born leader.”