Page 56 of Throne Off Course

It was driving him mad.

When she finally glanced up, he caught the flash of recognition in her eyes before she quickly schooled her features into professional neutrality.

“Your Highness,” she said, her voice carefully modulated. “I wasn’t expecting you today.”

“Clearly,” he replied, gesturing to the spread of documents. “Working on something interesting?”

“Just organizing some correspondence for the exhibit.” She straightened the papers with unnecessary precision. “Nothing that would interest you.”

“I’m interested in a great many things, Miss Carter.” He pulled out the chair across from her and sat down without invitation. “As you well know.”

A faint blush crept up her neck, and she pointedly looked back down at her work. “Was there something specific you needed?”

The question hung between them, loaded with unspoken meaning.

Alexander leaned back, studying her. Her careful avoidance of his eyes and the slight tension in her shoulders were so different from how they’d been just a few days earlier, before the party, when their verbal sparring had gradually evolved into something that felt almost like friendship. Before he’d found her falling asleep on Sebastian’s library sofa, her guard completely down for once, vulnerable in a way he’d never seen her.

He’d then gotten Sebastian to help him find a room where she’d be safe, and he’d wound up watching over her until she’d stirred and opened her eyes to find him there.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said finally.

Her pen paused mid-stroke. “I’ve been busy.”

“Emilia.”

She sighed, setting down her pen. “Fine. Yes, I’ve been avoiding you. Happy now?”

“Not particularly,” he said. “I’d rather know why.”

She finally looked up at him, exasperation clear in her eyes. “You know exactly why.”

“Do I?”

“Don’t play dumb, Alexander. It doesn’t suit you.” She crossed her arms defensively. “It’s embarrassing enough that I drank so much at Sebastian’s party, but to wake up and find you just… sitting there, watching me like some—”

“Guardian angel?” he suggested.

“Judgmental babysitter,” she corrected, but there was a hint of amusement beneath her irritation. “How long did you watch me, anyway?”

“Long enough to learn that you snore.Very slightly.” He replied.

“I do not!” Her eyes widened in genuine horror.

“No,” he conceded, “you don’t. But your face right now was worth the lie.” He said with a hint of laughter in his voice.

A reluctant smile tugged at her lips. “You’re impossible.”

“So I’ve been told.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “I wasn’t judging you, you know. If anything, I was envious.”

“Envious? Of what?”

“Of how peaceful you looked.” His voice softened slightly. “I can’t remember the last time I slept that soundly.”

Something in his tone made her pause, made her really look at him. The shadows under his eyes were more pronounced thanusual, his normally immaculate appearance just slightly less perfect. For all his teasing, there was a weariness to him that hadn’t been there before.

“Is everything alright?” she asked, genuine concern replacing her embarrassment.

Alexander’s features suddenly sharpened with irritation. “Everything’s perfect,” he said, with a bitterness that surprised them both. “My mother has finalized arrangements for my marriage to Lady Genevieve. Her father arrives next week to discuss the details. Everything is proceeding exactly according to plan.”