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“Excuse me, Lady Truly, but I must take my leave.”
I curtsied, and then strolled away down the corridor. I wasn’t eager to rush back into the ballroom. I didn’t want to be a shadow to Mother or Comfort, both of whom would be thoroughly enjoying this rare night of socializing. I wanted a mirror to check on my cosmetics, to be absolutely sure they were hiding my scars. I wondered if Cynthia had arrived yet, if she had managed to find a coachman able to drive her. I should search for Curtis and get the apology over quickly, but now I felt like I was losing my nerve.
The halls were chilly, and I folded my arms tightly across my chest. How could the castle be so cold when it was a warm summer night? Deciding to forgo the gloomy interior of the castle, I instead turned out into a quiet courtyard. The fresh air blew gently, and scent of the nearby rose gardens refreshed me, wiping away my anxiety. I could still hear the music of the orchestra, but it was faint, a soft background to the singing of birds and chirping of crickets. I sat on a stone bench, kicking off Comfort’s tight, fashionable shoes and stretched out my large feet luxuriously. The moon softly glowed and stars were beginning to pop into existence. I felt more relaxed right then than I could recall ever being before.
I wondered what Mother and Comfort were doing. Entertaining large groups of people, undoubtedly, with their charm and wit and beautiful faces. I wondered if the rumors were true, and this was indeed a ball planned so that Hubert could choose a bride. Then memories began returning, just as they had when our carriage had entered the castle grounds. So many good memories from my childhood and adolescence had happened here.
Nearby, a figure passing a lit window caught my eye. Could it be?
I stood up to get a better look. “Curtis?” I whispered softly to myself. Then louder, unable to stop myself, “Curtis!”
The figure halted, then turned. With the light behind him, it was difficult to see his face, but he began walking slowly towards me. “Truly?” he asked, incredulously. “Is that you?”
CHAPTER 46
Self-consciously, I resisted the impulse to cover my face. “Yes, it is me,” I answered in a small voice. With his coming closer with each step, I now half regretted calling out to him. Was it a mistake in coming here tonight? Did he still think I hated him?
Now Curtis was right beside me. The lights from the windows fell across his face, and I caught my breath. He had changed in the few years we had been apart. He was even taller now, but more filled out and muscled, less gangly. His face looked more mature, his jaw more solid. But his mop of curly, unruly hair was just the same.
For a minute, we just stood, taking in each other’s changed appearances, unsure of what exactly to say. What do you say to an ex-boyfriend after years apart? Images from our childhood flashed across my mind—archery contests, lessons together, walks around the moat, our first kiss…
Remembering that he was royalty and I was a mere commoner now, I quickly dropped into a curtsy. “Your Majesty.”
The spell that had come over us broke. Curtis laughed, then pulled me up from my curtsy and hugged me hard. “Don’t start with all that protocol now, Truly!” I placed my arms around him, hugging him back. We broke apart and he held me at arm’s length. “You look wonderful, milady.”
Embarrassed, but really quite pleased, I smiled. Even if he was only saying it to be nice, it was nice to hear a compliment. “Thank you. And I didn’t think you could get taller, but you proved me wrong.”
Curtis laughed again. His bubbling energy was infectious. Just as I remembered.
“Walk with me?” he asked, gesturing to the open grounds.
I nodded eagerly, and started forward, but then remembered my shoes laying neglected under the stone bench. I hastened to put them on, squashing my toes into the tight shoes, and then caught up with Curtis. “Now you are taller too,” Curtis joked. My heels were fashionably, and uncomfortably, tall.
“Is Aria here tonight too?” I asked, forcing my voice to stay calm.
Curtis seemed puzzled. “No, why would she be?”
“I was just wondering,” I said. “Since you are betrothed to her, I thought that maybe—"
Curtis cut me off. “What?”
Now it was my turn to be confused. “Aren’t you two betrothed? I heard—"
“You heard wrong,” exclaimed Curtis. “We have never been engaged. She and Hubert were, but they broke it off.”
I didn’t yet dare to hope. “You… you aren’t engaged? They said you took Hubert’s place.”
Curtis shook his head. “When Hubert and Aria broke off their engagement, Aria said that she didn’t want her rule to be hindered by a husband. They have a matriarchal monarchy, so the queen rules anyway. She never wanted to marry him. Or me. And I wouldn’t have wanted to marry her either.”
“Oh,” was all I could come up with. “Well, uh, I guess I don’t need to congratulate you then.”
“No, you don’t,” Curtis chuckled.
We strolled past the lit windows of the grand ballroom and peeked inside. We caught sight of Prince Hubert, rigidly dancing with a simpering girl, and I noted that it looked like he hadn’t changed his stuffy ways at all.
Curtis and I caught each other’s eye then burst out laughing. It was as though no time had passed. As though we were still sixteen years old and eager to spend every minute together. “Quite the charmer, isn’t he?” Curtis said.
“So is it true?” I questioned Curtis. “Rumor is in town that after his betrothal to Aria was called off, the ball was arranged so Hubert can choose a bride.”
