Page 28 of Songs and Spun Gold
“What else?”
“She was displeased that I couldn’t tell her where you’d been. Oh, and there’s a nasty rumor that you missed an opening night.”
Rolling onto his back, Axel crossed his arms over his forehead, smashing the pillow down.
“Wheredidyou disappear off to?” Tobias asked, the tiniest bit of curiosity seeping into his voice.
Axel took a few moments to settle the pounding in his head enough to focus. Heaving a great sigh, he ripped the pillow off his face and tossed it to the end of his bed, where it stood on end for a moment before toppling onto the floor. He turned a half-anguished, half-awestruck face to his friend. “I met a girl last night.”
“A girl?” Tobias’s eyebrows raised a fraction. “You missed opening night for agirl?” He gave a single shake of his head before reaching for his glass. “Must have been some girl.”
“She was. You should have seen her,” Axel said earnestly. “She beckoned to me from a side hallway as we entered, so I went to see what she wanted. Hair like the sun, eyes as green as the grass in spring; she was beautiful, Tobias.” He gave another heartfelt sigh. “We started talking, and I lost track of the time, so I missed the first curtain. Then she suggested that we explore the seasonal gardens while there was still light, and I thought, since I’d already missed part of it—why not?”
He transferred his gaze to the ceiling, continuing in hisdreamy voice. “The gardens are wonderful this time of year. I couldn’t leave once the sun had set – how could I? It would have meant bidding farewell to the loveliest creature I’ve ever had the pleasure to lay eyes on. So I stayed.”
Tobias gave a low whistle. “The untouchable prince has met his match. So, do I hear wedding bells?”
“Would I have imbibed to excess if that were so?” Axel retorted, dropping his dreamy aspect as he turned a glare on his friend.
“If it were celebratory.”
“It wasn’t,” he said shortly.
It was silent in the room while Tobias surveyed him thoughtfully, taking another slow sip of his drink while he considered. “I’m sorry, Axel. Unfortunately, your mother is expecting to see you at lunch, or she’ll charge in here to drag you out personally.”
“Then wake me when it’s time for lunch,” Axel grumbled, rolling over and pulling his sheets over his head.
The scrape of chair legs on the wooden floor preceded Tobias’s grunt as he hauled himself to a standing position. “It already is.”
Bother.
As the door closed lightly behind Tobias, Axel considered staying where he was. He’d stayed up much too late, and he rarely drank, so even the small amount he’d consumed had him shunning light and motion. Not his brightest cover story ever.
However, he didn’t want his mother to burst through the door to scold him. If he appeased her by appearing at the meal, she’d be quieter. And if he was in luck, his father would be, too.
Mother and Father were already seated when he walked steadily into the family dining room. He kept his smile carefully modulated, holding back a wince at the bright sun streaming through the tall windows on the opposite side of the room.
“Good m—afternoon, Mother, Father,” he greeted them pleasantly as he took his seat. Smoothly, so as not to jostle his head.
King Steffan frowned at him but withheld comment. Queen Carina sniffled and fixed him with a baleful glare. “I never thought I would discover that my son is a wastrel.”
“I’m sorry, Mother,” Axel said woefully, arranging his features into a repentant expression. “It was a one-time aberrance, I promise.”
“And what was the reason for this ‘one-time aberrance,’ boy?” King Steffan demanded. He made a motion to the hovering servants, and they quickly vacated the room. Reaching forward, he began serving himself from one of the dishes without taking his eyes off his son.
Axel placed one hand over his heart as he subtly angled his face away from the windows. “A foolish pursuit, Father. I admit it.”
The king circled his hand in a “keep going” motion and continued filling his plate.
“Love,” Axel replied with a heavy sigh.
His mother perked up, her eyes brightening. “Love, Axel?” After a moment, her expression darkened, and she narrowed her eyes at him. “Then why did you drink yourself into a stupor?”
“It was hardly a stupor, Mother,” he said, relaxing his jaw muscles so that his mournful smile stayed natural.
“You obviously didn’t see yourself,” she grumbled.
“Alas, I fear I made a few hasty decisions after bidding her farewell.” He grimaced, lifting his spoon so that he could watch it as he slowly turned it over in his hands. “I must confess to being rather upset by the situation and attempting – unsuccessfully – to drown my grief.”
