Page 53 of Betraying Korth

“It doesn’t surprise me,” Korth said slowly. “I think most men would be attracted to you. What surprises me is that you didn’t catch on before now.”

“He made a few remarks, but he always said them like he was teasing, and since we worked—since he worked for me I didn’t think he was actually serious.”

“I must admit I’m astonished that a servant would make such remarks to royalty.”

My stomach clenched painfully. “He was my handmaiden’s…cousin. I suppose he felt more familiar with me since his cousin and I were friends. I swear I never gave him any indication that I wanted?—”

“I believe you,” he said simply. “I wasn’t accusing you in any way. Anyone who saw you two when I found you could vouch for your innocence. He was at fault, not you.”

I clung to Korth, still shaken, as my mind whirled. I needed to talk to Garrik before Curdy got a hold of him. I’d been so focused on Korth that I hadn’t paid any attention to Garrik or Curdy or Odette. I wanted to trust that Garrik was still loyal, but what stories had Curdy cooked up about me in my absence? The one small benefit was that most rebellion members had been satisfied with my work when they went back to Ebora. If it was only Curdy and possibly Garrik who mistrusted me now, it wasn’t the worst thing. If I asked him, Korth would have Curdy thrown in prison without hesitation. If I did, I knew Curdy would never forgive me. He would rat me out.

Surely, Curdy would know that I wished him no ill since I’d let him go. Korth rubbed my back, and I closed my eyes at his touch, resting my cheek against his firm chest and sighing.

My allegiance to my country and mission had a fierce competitor, and I wasn’t sure where my loyalty lay anymore.

CHAPTER 23

Korth walked me to my rooms. Along our way back, Tess had been scolded for missing a lesson by one of her tutors and was pulled back to her studies the moment she set foot within the castle walls. “Thank you for helping me,” I told Korth when we arrived at the door to my suite. I fiddled with the handle but didn’t open it, hoping he would take advantage of our rare moment of solitude.

“I’ll always be there to help you,” Korth answered, keeping an infuriatingly appropriate distance between us.

“Godfrey would be aghast if he found us alone again.”

“Undoubtedly.”

“I wouldn’t mind if you kissed me again.”

Korth’s dimple became visible as the corners of his mouth turned upward. “I wouldn’t mind that either, but we aren’t supposed to.”

I teased the strings that hung down from Korth’s laced-up tunic. “I can think of a lot of things we aren’t supposed to do that would still be enjoyable. Isn’t that part of what makes it so enticing?”

“Rest assured that you are plenty enticing by yourself.”

I gave a mock gasp. “Prince Korth, are you flirting with me?”

“I think I am.”

My gaze dropped down to study his mouth. “I like it.”

I tried to coax him closer by pulling gently on his hands, but Korth resisted. “Anyone could walk around that corner and see us when we’re out in the open like this.”

“Oh, are you trying to ask me to invite you into my rooms?”

Korth’s ears lit up again. “No. I would never.”

“Too bad.”

He shook his head. “You’re determined to tempt me, aren’t you?”

“I wasn’t aware that there was any limit to your ability to resist temptation.”

He chuckled softly. “Each day, I seem to discover anew just how difficult it is to maintain such endurance around you, particularly without a chaperone present.”

A voice interrupted our conversation, calling from down the hall. “Your Highness! Another missive just arrived from Ebora.”

Korth shot me an “I told you so”look and whispered, “My endurance lasts another day.”

The pageboy bowed and offered a sealed envelope to me. I took it with a word of thanks, slit the wax seal, and scanned the page, holding it so Korth could read as well.

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