Page 48 of If The Crown Fits
I held her by her wrists. “Or is he married? Or a romancer that your father would disapprove of?”
She said nothing but her face was an open book. “Ah, so that’s it.”
“Is there anything else I can help you with?” She put the brush down on the dresser.
“Yes, actually.” I turned back to face the mirror. “I need a big favour from you. Tonight I’m going to meet Prince Cai in the rose garden.”
“Alone?”
We both knew it was inappropriate according to the rules of polite society and the monarchy, but that was exactly what I would be counting on.
“Yes, alone, and then I need you to sneak up to his chambers and steal his sword while I keep him distracted.”
“Have you gone mad? I can’t do that.”
“Please, Cordelia, you have to. Lance is pressuring me and I’m afraid I shall have to suffer consequences if I don’t get this over with soon.”
She didn’t seem convinced, but agreed anyway.
I waited in my chambers for the sun to set before putting on my cloak Pulling the door open, I was a little surprised to find Rhen there, clearly standing guard.
“Don’t you have anything better to do?” I asked. “Like an assigned duty?”
“This is my assigned duty. I am to keep watch at your door.”
“You say it as if it means keeping someone unwanted from coming in. But you and I both know it’s to keep me from going out.” I smirked.
“Where exactly are you going?”
“For a walk.” I shrugged. “I need some fresh air.”
“Lara.”
I turned to face him.
“Princesses don’t sneak out of their rooms at night,” he warned, as if he could read my mind.
I squared my shoulders. “Well, it’s a good thing I’m not a real princess, then.”
The evening air created a chill down my spine as I stepped into the garden and I pulled my cloak closer to my neck. I rushed down the steps that led into the large gardens of the manor house. Cordelia had informed me that Cai’s chamber windows looked over the west side of the garden. Hiding my head beneath the hood, I strode past the large hedges and berry bushes.
I hoped that this absurd plan would work out. There was no guarantee that anything would go the way I wanted. In fact this whole plan was based on my gut instinct about Cai’s character. And I’d been wrong about character before.
I walked slowly, in the shimmer of the moonlight, my figure visible between the splashes of flowery colour hidden in the night shadows. Cordelia had pulled out a beautiful dress. It was simpler than my other gowns but just as elegant. The material was white and light blue, my sleeves long and flowing. Every fibre of my being yearned to look back and up at his window to see if he was looking outside, if he had noticed my movement. But it was too risky. He shouldn’t for one second consider this was planned.
I allowed my fingers to run over the nearby leaves when I heard footsteps on the marble steps of the back porch. A rhythm I had become all too familiar with.
I smiled, although pretending I had heard nothing, and stalked among the tall thorny rose hedges until I could no longer hear his steps. But I knew he would find me still.
This part of the garden was a maze, turning to the left and right. With only the moonlight as a guide, you could barely see where you were going. The green hedges allowed for plenty of dark, secluded corners. It was a good thing I wasn’t a real princess with an actual reputation to be concerned about. This would be considered positively scandalous.
“You’re out late, Your Highness.” The sound of Cai’s voice forced me to stop at the entrance to the maze.
“So are you.” I picked one of the white roses and held it up to my nose, still not having turned to face him. I feared my expression would give me away.
“Well, I am a gentleman, if nothing else. It wouldn’t be right to leave a lady wandering outside alone at night.”
I faked surprise in my voice. “You followed me?”
