Page 50 of If The Crown Fits
I nodded with sincerity.
But his witty smile gave way and he took the rose to place it behind my ear. “I think it is much better suited to you.”
I could barely move.When did he get this close again?Cai’s hand trailed from the rose down my cheek and to my jawline. My breath got caught in my throat. When he pulled his hand away, I could still feel his touch lingering on my skin.
Cai cleared his throat before stepping back. “It’s getting quite late, I—”
“I wonder about mazes sometimes,” I blurted out. It was a ridiculous topic but the first thing that came to mind. Pretty soon I was going to run out of things to say.
“You wonder about mazes?” he asked in confusion.
“Yes.” I gestured to the hedges around us. “I think one has to be awfully clever to design a maze like this.”
Cai scratched the back of his neck. “I suppose.”
I started walking backwards. “Do you want to know what else I think?”
“What?”
“I think that if I hide, you won’t be able to find me.” Before he had a chance to reply, I turned and made a run for it. Unfortunately, I was quick to step on the hems of my dress and nearly toppled over. I grabbed the fabric, thankful not to hear a ripping sound, and veered left and then right. I had no idea which way I was going but I hoped it would keep Cai out here just a little longer. When I reckoned I was far enough from where I’d left him, I stopped to catch my breath.
I listened intently for him calling my name but there were only the sounds of the night. Where could he be? I continued walking, figuring I would reach the end of the maze at some point.
After a few minutes of walking alone in silence, I began to grow worried that perhaps Cai had abandoned our little game. Maybe he’d gone back to his chambers, having had enough of the awkward princess and her strange topics of conversation.
“Cai?” I called out hesitantly, but there was no response.
What if he’d gone back and caught Cordelia red-handed? Lance certainly wasn’t going to defend her. She’d find herself in endless trouble and it would be all my fault.How did I ever think this was a good idea?
“Cai?” I said again, a little more uncertainty in my voice this time.
I peered around one of the hedges when an arm wrapped around my waist and gently pulled me back.
“Got you,” a breathy voice whispered near my ear, causing shivers to run down my spine.
I turned to face the prince with emerald eyes. “You scared me.”
“That was not my intention.” His voice was low and the hedges hid him from the moonlight, casting a shadow across his face.
I swallowed. We were very close again... and it wasn’t entirely unpleasant. In fact, it was kind of nice.
Nice and nerve-wracking and what was happening to my pulse?
Cai’s eyes softened as he looked at me and I found myself unable to look away.
“What was your intention?” I dared to ask, wondering where my breath had gone.
Cai’s mouth began to form a grin when an owl hooted in the distance and I stepped back.
“Any idea how we get out of here?” I looked left and right but I had no idea which direction I’d come from. It couldn’t have been that complicated a maze, but the darkness of the evening certainly didn’t help.
“I think I can find my way.”
I contemplated holding on to his arm as we continued our walk in the garden but I feared there had been more than enough touching for one evening. I tried to remember all of Cordelia’slessons in flattery and charm. Although I suspected I was the one being charmed.
“Norrandale has a wonderful library, you know? I should think you would take quite a liking to it.” Why would he bring up a library? Perhaps neither of us were very good conversationalists when nervous. Could he tell I was nervous? My mind replayed our earlier moment repeatedly.
“And why is that?”
