Page 96 of Of Curses and Courtship

“I do.”

“Oh, to live like a pampered prince. Alas, I’m late for my cleaning duties.”

I retract my hand, but he captures it and holds me close to his chest.

“You’re not to leave,” he says. “That’s an order.”

“Emyr!” Surprised laughter escapes my lips. “Imustgo.”

“I’m the prince. You’ll do as I say.” He opens an eye and gives me a cheeky grin.

We both know his power is overstated, and not something he often takes claim of. He seemed to be perfectly happy doing as I said the evening before, but I’m not bold enough to say it aloud, even now that I’ve felt him filling me.

“I’ll be in trouble if I’m later than I already am.”

“You can’t be in trouble if I say you have been taking care of me.” He yawns. “They don’t have to know to which needs you are attending…”

“You’re impossible.”

“Stay for breakfast, my love.” He lifts my hand and kisses my knuckles. “That’s all I ask. Once you’ve eaten, you can do whatever you please. Go to work. Go to your bedchamber and read a book. Walk around the garden. The choice is yours.”

“You mean…” I look around and tuck my hair behind my ear. “Shall we eat breakfast in here?”

“We must, I’m afraid. I can’t yet parade you around the palace, no matter how much I wish to.”

He inadvertently brings up a topic I’ve been trying to avoid. We’ve been together now, and I’ve given my heart to him, but there’s still much that may keep us apart. If anyone knows we are entangled, they’ll have the ammunition to end us.

It’s a threat. Everyone is a threat.

I offer a tentative smile. “Is that what you wish to do with me?”

“Yes.” He sighs softly. “But for today, we’ll have a private breakfast. I have much to take care of, I’m afraid.”

“Oh?” I lift a brow. “Would you like to tell me what your day entails?”

His expression softens. He tangles his fingers in my hair, draws my face closer, and kisses my forehead. “I must speak with my parents and Princess Minetta. I want to do right by you—and by her, no matter how she treated me and the secrets she kept.”

I struggle to feel bad for Minetta, considering her lies… or at least her avoidance of the truth. Emyr is a good man; I don’t wish him to see himself as anything less.

“Breakfast, then,” I say, though his cushioned bed threatens to swallow me whole and keep me here forever. “And you’ll assure me that I won’t be in trouble for being late.”

“I promise.”

My worries for the future will have to wait. For now, I’ll eat breakfast with a handsome prince and prepare for the many questions Helena will pester me with next.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

EMYR

This should be the day I welcome my betrothed back to our future home, but that’s not the case. I’m sick, my body is stiff, and…

I betrayed Minetta—or perhaps she betrayed me. It’s all so confusing.

The only thing I know is that I trust Ophelia with certainty; I have no reason to mistrust her. Before last night, if someone told me to doubt Minetta, I wouldn’t have been so quick to. Would she truly lie to gain access to the throne? Her parents didn’t seem pleased with our union, so it can’t be their doing…

No, I must speak with her before coming to such conclusions. It’s only fair that I give her a chance to explain.

I fasten the last few buttons on my waistcoat and smooth down my hair as I walk through the quiet palace. Ophelia is here somewhere—likely working—and she’s all I can think about. That’s where the guilt comes from. Even if Minetta deceived me, I should have spoken to her before taking Ophelia to bed.