Page 62 of Ties of Dust

“I’m ready to retire,” he told her firmly. “So I’m afraid you have little choice.”

Flora stopped arguing, but he could see that she wasn’t satisfied. It confused him—he’d been sure she would be glad to leave the ballroom.

Cassius could feel his mother glaring at him, but he didn’t give her the chance to reprimand him. She would be furious he’d danced with Flora, and even more furious he was leaving the ball so early. But that price could be paid later. Tonight he was too worked up—both from the moment with Flora and his anger at her treatment—to deal with his mother.

Followed by the usual pair of guards, he left the ballroom, Flora walking alongside the guards with a subdued gait.

The queen wasn’t the only one watching him. As they moved away from the table and the unstable cake stand,Cassius felt eyes on him. He turned his head to see Sir Keavling standing near the table they’d just left. Had he been there the whole time? Cassius hadn’t noticed him, but if so, he was close enough that he might have heard the exchange with the courtiers. And yet he’d stayed unobtrusive rather than putting himself forward as he usually did with the king.

Cassius didn’t like it.

The prince and his companions moved out of the ballroom swiftly, walking in silence through the halls. It was peaceful, with most of the castle’s usual inhabitants clustered in the ballroom. Once they reached the royal wing, Cassius dismissed his guards. He didn’t miss the way their eyes slid over Flora, still hovering, as they moved down the corridor. He waited until they were out of sight before speaking to her.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

Her stiff manner was so far from the warmth she’d shown as they danced. The memory of that kept Cassius lingering. How did he get her to drop her mask again? He craved it more than was wise.

“You’ve overextended yourself, haven’t you?” Cassius asked, frowning.

The sound of footsteps forestalled her answer, and a moment later a pair of maids rounded the corner.

Once they were out of sight, Cassius tried again.

“What’s wrong, Flora? Tell me.”

“Nothing is wrong,” she said firmly.

Cassius didn’t miss the cautious way she watched the corner ahead.

“Come inside,” he said, pushing open the door to his receiving room. “We can’t talk here.”

She hesitated for a moment, but followed him in. Cassius’s chest tightened strangely, and he told himself he was being absurd. Thanks to the impracticalities of their tether, she’d been obliged to step into his receiving room many times. This situation was no different.

“Tell me what’s wrong, Flora,” he said, as soon as the door closed behind them. “I heard what those ill-mannered fools said about you. But don’t let it—”

“I don’t care what they said,” Flora cut him off. “You should have stayed out of it.”

He paused, searching her eyes. Why was she angry with him?

“No, I shouldn’t,” he contradicted. “They were saying vile things about you for doing what I asked you to do. Was I supposed to let that pass in silence?”

“Yes,” she said promptly. “That’s exactly what you were supposed to do. You’re a prince, Cassius, and you’re not supposed to expose yourself to conflict every time one of your guards gets into trouble.”

“You’ve done nothing to get yourself into trouble.” Cassius felt his brows lower.

“I don’t expect you to make life fair,” Flora told him earnestly. “No one can do that. Do you think I’ve followed you around this long without seeing the strife you’re already in? Don’t increase it on my account! First the guards, then the housekeeper…now your own court. You can’t pick a fight with everyone who makes a snide remark about me.”

“I can, and I will,” said Cassius stubbornly.

“You’ll make your life so much harder than it needs to be!” Flora protested. “Do you think arguing with the staff over me will increase your standing in your father’s eyes?”

“That’s my affair,” Cassius told her.

“It doesn’t help anyway,” she insisted. “If you defend me to their faces, it will only make them hate me more. The best course is to stop intervening.”

Cassius let out a quiet growl. “I can’t do that.”

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