Page 105 of Prince of Masks
Eric arrived first.
As I take the steps up to the grand entrance of the museum, I spot him loitering near the ticket booth.
It’s a busy spot in a busy city—and there could be any number of witches around here to see if I threw my arms around him and planted a smacker on his lips.
So I don’t.
Neither does he.
His thoughts mirror mine—and our hands don’t so much as touch as we wander the exhibition.
It’s a long, tedious two hours.
Honestly, I enjoy a good day at the museum, but not when my mind is unravelling with all the ways I need to lure this witch into some pseudo love with me.
I’ll settle for lust, at this point.
I need any kind of leverage.
So, with a plan in mind, I suggest a walk in Regent’s Park after we leave the museum.
Still, we haven’t touched.
I really need to up my game.
The stakes are too high now.
The Debutante Ball is around the corner.
And any time I bring up my contracts around Father, he goes quiet, shuts me out—and it’s clear I have lost the privilege of being a part of the decision, if I ever was.
My mind has already laid out the details of my scheme.
Eric and I aren’t openly warm with each other, not affectionate, we don’t stand in loving gazes with each other or exude chemistry.
We are awkward, walking the tightrope between student and teacher, back and forth, over and over.
Father will sense that at the ball—and it will influence his decision. This guy I’ve gushed about, the one I claim to be close to, but one look at us and we are so clearly just acquainted, not close.
I need to take it further.
Our bodies need to go further.
That is my scheme for the day.
Eric and I need to, literally, get closer.
And then, come time for us to cross paths under Father’s gaze at the Debutante Ball, we will be much more familiar. We will be warmer. Our smiles sneakier, our blushes hotter.
The chemistry will change.
Father will notice.
And that will serve me better, because then he will return his consideration to Eric’s offer.
Regent’s Park is the only place I could think of that wasn’t a hotel of some kind. Not that accommodation works, since Eric is the type of guy who needs it to feel organic to overcome his guilt.
So, after the museum, Regent’s Park it is.
