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“Sorry, Mother,” I murmured contritely

I dared to peek up at her She was standing there with the same exasperated expression plastered to her face she usually hen speaking with me

“The Copeland girl got engaged only last week, and the Devauxes are in talks noell Yet you’re still acting like a child”

I sed, but Delia Grace had never been one to stay silent “Don’t you think it’s a little preood a chance as anyone at winning the king’s heart”

Mys’s eye is prone to wander And Hollis isn’t quite queen ree?” she asked with a sharply raised eyebrow, daring us to think otherwise “Besides,” she added, “are you really in a position to talk about anyone’s potential?”

Delia Grace sed hard, her expression stone-like I’d seen her don that mask a million times

“And there you have it,” Mother concluded Having made her disappointment with us clear, she turned on her heel and left

I sighed, turning to Delia Grace “Sorry about her”

“It’s nothing I haven’t heard before,” she ad over the letter “And I’et you into trouble”

I took it from her and cracked the seal “Noelse” Shethe note “Oh dear,” I said, patting at ain”

“Why?”

I s in the breeze “Because His Majesty requires our presence on the river today”

“How many people do you think will be there?” I asked

“Who knows? He does enjoy having a crowd around him”

I pursed my lips “True I’d like to have him to myself just once”

“Says the girl who insists this is all just a game”

I looked over at her, sharing a smile That Delia Grace, she always seemed to know more than I ever wanted to admit to

We rounded the hallway and saw that the doors were already open, welco sun My heartbeat picked up when I saw the red robe triure at the end of the ay Though he wasn’t facing h to fill the air with a war

I fell into a deep curtsy “Your Majesty”

And I watched as a pair of glossy black shoes turned to face me

Two

“MY LADY HOLLIS,” THE KING said, holding out his ring-bedecked hand I took it and rose, looking into a beautiful set of honey-brown eyes So about the deep and purposeful attention he bestowed upon ether made me feel a little like I did when Delia Grace and I were dancing and I’d spun around too quickly: slightly warm and dizzy