Page 38 of If The Crown Fits
“I’m a prince.” I placed my hand next to her head on the wall. “I was brought up to rule a kingdom, to be a soldier, not to have a personality.”
“Humph.” She tilted her head and looked across the room.
“What about you?” I asked and her eyes met mine again. “You’re a princess who pretends to care and act proper all the time, but you’d rather be outside, you clearly hate society and you’ve got a knack for throwing knives, for crying out loud.”
She squinted. “Have you been observing me?” When I didn’t answer, she said, “I’m a princess. I was brought up to be married off, not to have a personality.”
I was a bit taken aback. “Are you very unhappy about this union?”
She must have sensed a change in my tone because she said, “No, that’s not what I meant. I’m just...” She yawned. “I’m just tired, that’s all.”
“Shall I escort you back to your room?”
“Please.”
Truth be told, it was difficult to remember where her chambers were. I’d definitely had too much wine. And I wasn’t the only one. We stumbled up the stairs, giggling like little children before stopping in front of her bedroom door. She patted her pockets as if looking for a key and then burst out laughing at the realisation she didn’t have a key or pockets... that the door wasn’t locked at all.
One of the duke’s servants approached us in the hallway and we turned, holding our hands in front of our mouths to keep from laughing, but lost our game faces as soon as he passed.
“You truly did look beautiful tonight.” I had no idea where that came from.
“Well, it’s only fair I look my best now. Soon, I’ll be married and then I won’t have all the gentlemen falling at my feet.”
“I doubt your marital status will keep them from pursuing you.”
“Jealous much?” She raised an eyebrow, swinging back and forth a bit.
“Of course not.” I saw the Duke of Darwick’s son, Edgar, in my mind once more as he scanned Eloisa up and down while we were in conversation with him and his father.
“Liar.” She jabbed a finger at my chest.
I blinked slowly, regretting the fact that I’d had so much to drink and having the sickening feeling that there was nothing to stop my mouth from spilling out my thoughts.
“So what if I was?” I challenged her.
She shook her head. “I’ve grown up surrounded by men and I will never understand them.”
“What do you mean?”
“What’s there to be jealous about?” she questioned. “I’m already yours.”
I was still processing her words when she turned to open her door, and it must have been the combination of the wine and the long hems of her skirts, but she stumbled and, without thinking, I reached out to catch her around the waist.
She swallowed hard, facing me once more. I didn’t drop my arms.
“I hate these stupid dresses. I’m always tripping over everything.” She wiped a loose strand of hair away from her face in frustration. Eloisa looked up at me then and I caught myself leaning in without meaning to. She stared at my eyes before her gaze travelled down to my lips and back up to my eyes again.
We were close enough to share a breath when the door behind us flew open.
Chapter 11
Darwick Estate
Lara
Cai and I practically jumped a few feet apart and my eyes met Cordelia’s. She was standing on the other side of the threshold, her cheeks flushed a deep red.
“I thought I heard someone,” she said, and I turned to Cai.
