Page 30 of The Shadows Between Us
I catch sight of the king’s face once he steps farther into the room and realize he’s glaring at me. His fists are clenched tightly at his sides. Despite the late hour, he’s clothed from neck to toe in his day attire.
“I thought you were done peering in on ladies while they were dressing,” I say.
His jaw shakes slightly as he says, “You’re clothed.”
“But I might not have been. If you had knocked first—”
“What the hell have you done?”
I cross my arms. I refuse to cower, king or no. “What’s the matter with you? I’ve done nothing.”
Unable to bear shouting at me from so far away, he comes forward until we’re mere feet apart. “The whole castle is buzzing with it! Did you or did you not tell the ladies in my mother’s sitting room that we’ve touched?”
Cold fingers walk down my spine. I’m unsure whether it’s better to lie or not. “Servants gossip. They exaggerate.”
“What. Did. You. Say?”
I step away from the bed. “I’m trying to sell our courtship. I embellished our interactions. I said we take midnight strolls together and that you’re more intimate when we’re alone.”
Why is he so worried? It’s not as if he has a reputation to protect. He’s the king. Royalty may do as they please.
“Did you say that we’ve touched? What were your exact words?” he demands.
I rack my brain, trying to find the wording. “I said you kissed my gloved hands in private.”
“Gloved? You’re sure you said gloved?”
“I’m certain. Why?”
He runs a hand through his hair, and the immaculate style falls away, the strands drooping to his ears.
“You cannot tell people that you’ve broken the law. You cannot—”
“You have no right to be angry with me!” I snap, quite finished with being reprimanded. “You tasked me with selling our courtship. That was the deal. If there were things I wasn’t allowed to do, you should have said so. Now tell me why people cannot think that we’ve touched. And don’t you dare try to tell me it’s for my safety. You could pardon anyone for anything. You’re king. So what do such rumors mean for you?”
The anger falls from his face, and I think he realizes for the first time that I’m in a nightgown. His eyes trail down the length of me. Slowly, just as he did when we were first introduced at the ball.
“They make me weak.”
He turns on his heel and disappears through the solid wall of my room.
CHAPTER
9
I demand my maid look for something red in my wardrobe the next morning. I know exactly the garment she will find. A floor-length dress that requires a petticoat to give it some volume. From my waist to the floor, the silk is gathered in bunches, giving it a tastefully wrinkled look. The bodice turns black at the torso and hugs my waist, coming to a little point over each breast, giving me full coverage. The dress is sleeveless, but I wear gloves that climb nearly to my shoulders.
I didn’t want to detract from my new necklace by wearing a dress with sleeves.
My maid does the clasp at the back, and the red rose pendant falls over my collarbone, matching everything beautifully.
I am not wearing the dress for the king. Not after last night. No, I’m forced to wear his trinket because all the ladies in the sitting room saw me receive it. How would it look if I were not to wear it?
As soon as I’m done, a tray is brought in and placed on the table, a breakfast of fresh fruits, porridge with sugar, and freshly squeezed juice.
Next to the first tray, a servant brings in a second, setting it on the other side of my little table.
“What is this?” I ask.
