Page 121 of The Thirteenth Child
I glanced back at my unlikely friend.
She had noticed.
“I take it my uncle’s men didn’t prove much of a challenge?” she asked, leaning forward on her seat to push forth her very best assets. Her smile curved with calculated seduction.
“Look at these strapping lads,” Leopold said, slapping one across the back. “Is it any wonder Baudouin’s militia up and turned tail?”
“We heard stories of life on the front,” Bellatrice allowed. “Whata frightful business. You all must be incredibly brave. And have quite the stamina,” she added, a wicked glint sparkling her eyes.
“We’re hungry too, after the morning’s ride,” Leopold said, commandeering the conversation once more. “Is there enough to go around?”
Bellatrice gestured to the table. “We’ve plenty. Join us.”
At his watchful perch near the hidden servants’ door, Binghamsnapped for assistance, and within a moment, more settings werelaid.
Leopold took his usual seat and I kept my eyes fixed on him, waiting for him to look up and notice me, but he played with his coffee and made finicky, minute adjustments to the servingware. The soldiers filled the other seats, and I noticed the tallest hustle to secure the chair to Bellatrice’s left. He slid in with a wide grin.
“What a spread!” Leopold said, surveying the table. “The instructors at the academy are brilliantly skilled, but I must admit, the kitchen staff leaves quite a bit to be desired.”
“It’s Hazel’s birthday,” Euphemia announced, and I felt the gaze of every one of the men fall upon me.
“Is it?” Leopold asked, startling as though he’d only just noticed I was there.
I sat up straighter, ready to salvage the moment we’d finally greet each other.
He opened his mouth and closed it quickly as a look of indecision flickered over his features.
Just because you made him change does not mean he changed foryou.
“Good fortune to you on your birthday,” the tallest soldier quickly supplied. “And many happy returns.”
“Thank you…?” I said, drawing out the last word so that Bellatrice might learn his name.
“Mathéo,” he supplied.
“Mathéo,” Bellatrice echoed, a coy smile playing at her lips. “Tell me of all the noble deeds you have carried out.”
Leopold set his coffee cup down with more clatter than was necessary. “Why, Hazel, you’ve not said a word to me since we arrived. One might think you were unhappy that your future monarch has returned.”
“Certainly not, Your Royal Highness,” I said, struggling to keep my voice even. “It’s good to have you back.”
“Just Hazel,” he announced to the table, gesturing to me. “My father’s healer.”
Bellatrice snorted. “The way you say that makes her sound like she’s one of Papa’s prostitutes.”
“Bells—” I began, wanting to laugh off her irreverence, but the prince interrupted, shocking me.
“Isn’t she a bit of one, though?”
My mouth fell open, but Leopold held his hand up to stop my protest.
“I only mean that she provides services for Papa,” he explained, as if the comparison was impossibly easy to draw. “Services for things he could not do on his own,” he continued, eliciting snickers from his companions. “And she is paid quite handsomely for it.”
The snickers turned into guffaws, filling the dining hall with the echoes of brute laughter.
Just because he said he’d change does not mean he’s changed at all.
“You’ve just laid out the definition of any skilled tradesman.” I kept my tone as sweet as I could as I mentally set a torch to everyversion of the prince’s return I’d ever played out. What a fool I’d been. “Is this truly the best conversation to have in present company?” I added, tilting my head toward Euphemia.
