The rest of us don’t have snacks,Bunny pointed out.
And I’m bored,Kismet put in.Let’s go somewhere.
Let’s go find Nina!Nonna put in, and Sebastien sighed.
“You’re right, I have to go, but I’d like to hear one of your stories before I have to leave you.”
“And you’ll tell me one of yours?”
“It’s a deal.”
She hesitated.
“It doesn’t have to be the biggest or worst,” he said quietly. “Just a place to start. You can trust me.”
“I think I can,” she replied, still sounding hesitant, however.
“Shall I go first?”
“Yes, please.” She sounded so relieved that he couldn’t help smiling.
“I’m younger than most of my brothers and my mother was…as unpopular at court as she was beloved by my father, plus she died when I was born.”
“I’m sorry.” She sounded so sad for him. He loved her tender heart.
“I never knew her,” he said with a shrug that did nothing to make that truth hurt less.
“We’re alike that way, growing up without mothers,” she offered softly.
“True.” That hadn’t occurred to him before. “Anyway, my brothers would gang up on me, especially my eldest brother, Rotten Rupert.”
She giggled. “You don’t really call him that.”
“Oh no, we all call him that—just not to his face.”
She giggled again, a bubbling silvery sound, and he decided he liked it as much as her happy laugh.
“So, one day when I was about five and Rotten Rupert was twenty, he took me out to see the swans on the lake. They were beautiful, all white and graceful, with arched necks and black around their eyes like the court ladies wear.”
“You liked animals even then.”
“Yes, I hadn’t thought of it that way.” Nor had it occurred to him that Rupert, with all his keen insight into human nature and the ruthlessness to use it against others, had known it, too. He’d found the perfect lure for his foolish baby brother. “He encouraged me to go pet one. I waded in and approached this mated pair in the shallows. Have you ever encountered a swan in real life?”
“No,” she answered in a fascinated hush. “I’ve seen illustrations though and they are so beautiful.”
“Yes. And as ugly mean on the inside as they’re pretty on the outside.” He laughed ruefully, that day vivid in his mind. His first memory. “The two attacked me, buffeting me with their wings—which sounds like it shouldn’t hurt, but is like getting punched repeatedly—and bit me so I bled.”
“Swans can bite?” She sounded incredulous.
“With their beaks. No teeth, but those beaks are like knives. I nearly lost an eye.” And had run back to Ali and Dianna, sobbing, while Rupert followed after, laughing his ass off.
“Was Rotten Rupert punished?”
“No,” he answered instead. “He’s Father’s heir and favorite—and His Majesty believes his children should learn the harsh realities of life early.”
She was quiet a moment. “I always pictured court life as full of glitter and joy.”
“There’s plenty of the former but a serious dearth of the latter.” He shook off the gloom. “Your turn. Tell me a story.”
