Page 49 of If The Crown Fits
“The more important question is what are you doing out here alone at this hour?”
I looked at him over my shoulder for a moment, pretending to hide a grin.
“I needed some fresh air,” I stated nonchalantly as Cai fell into step beside me. I couldn’t help but feel a certain tension between us. Something I’d only felt that night at the Darwick estate when we’d had too much wine. I used to think it was my strong dislike for him. Now I was no longer sure.
“And an open window wouldn’t suffice?”
I stopped again, forcing him to face me. There was a hint of a sparkle in his eyes, and I wasn’t sure if it was the starlight or the fact that he knew exactly what I was trying to do. Cai was a prince. He’d be no stranger to women trying to flirt with him. I simply wished I was more of an expert at the skill, but despite Cordelia’s advice, the mere way he looked at me caused my stomach to tighten.
“Are you accusing me of something?”
Cai surprised me by leaning in so that the space between us became minimal. “Is there something to be accused of?”
A lump formed in my throat. A thought that perhaps I hadn’t given Prince Cai enough credit all along, that maybe, just maybe, he had figured it all out. There were, after all, a great many things to be accused of.
“Whatever can you mean?” I attempted to keep up the act. I had to distract him at all costs, and if I were lucky, Cordelia would be successful in her task and I wouldn’t have to spend another minute in this place. But this meant I had to keep him busy for a while.
“Who is to say you weren’t meeting a man here in the garden at night? A secret lover whom you can’t marry because you’re promised to the Prince of Norrandale.”
I let out a chuckle. “You think I have the time and the will for secret lovers too?” We hadn’t moved from our proximity.
“I think you have the will for a great many things.”
I wasn’t sure what to make of his words. And I believed him. So I gave the Prince of Norrandale my best attempt at aseductive smile and turned away before taking the first left turn in the maze. He was quick to catch up with me.
“So are you going to tell me what you’re actually doing out here in the gardens?”
“I told you.” I twirled the rose I’d picked earlier between my fingers. “I needed some fresh air.”
“Liar,” Cai replied, but he wore a smile.
“Maybe I am planning to meet someone out here, in which case I must ask you to leave,” I teased.
“I’ll only leave in order to go and retrieve my sword.”
His words made me halt.
“What for?” My voice was more strained than I would have liked.
“I must duel with him for your hand, of course.”
Of course.
I had to force myself to take a steady breath. “There will be no sword fighting.”
“Would you prefer if I used my bare hands?”
“Cai.” I couldn’t help but let out a laugh until I saw his expression. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No reason. I just don’t think I’ve ever heard you say my name like that.”
I wasn’t sure exactly what he meant but it felt personal and borderline intimate. I found myself feeling shy, so before things got awkward, I tucked the rose behind his ear. “I think you’re ready for a portrait painting, Your Highness.”
Cai adopted a faraway gaze as many royals had in the paintings I’d seen. “Like this?”
“Yes, that looks perfect.”
“You reckon?”
