Page 20 of A Heart Too Tender

Julian’s eyes dimmed as he nodded. “That’s understandable. But I wouldn’t worry—you’ll adjust soon enough.”

I sighed, feeling guilty for lying to a friend. “I hope so. I love my home.”

“Would you be sad to leave it?” Julian asked. “If you married the prince?”

“I would, but …” I trailed off, not knowing exactly how to put to words what I was feeling.

“But … ?” Julian prompted, as we stopped in front of the painting of Wimberley I had studied the day prior.

I clamped down on my lower lip before meeting his gaze once more. “Do you ever just feel like you were meant for more?”

Julian stared perplexed. “More?”

“Silver Hill is small, very small. I know everyone’s name, who’s related to whom, and can navigate many of their petty squabbles before lunch. But Wimberley … ” I turned back to the painting, eyeing it with a feeling akin to longing, “there’s so much work to be done, so many lives to touch, and people to help. It would be a real joy to accomplish something worthwhile there.”

Julian chuckled, “You make it sound like a job.”

“Oh, but it is! It’s a duty that should be undertaken with the utmost of care.”

He stared at me with his lips slightly parted. “And you think of your duty above all? Above love?”

It was my turn to chuckle. “Shouldn’t they go hand-in-hand? A love for your kingdom is still love. It’d be an honor to have a partner that felt the same way.”

“It would indeed … ” Julian murmured.

“And I’ve heard the Prince does admirable work. He worked—with his own hands—to build an addition to the orphanage.”

Julian snorted. “I don’t think you’d call doling out orders and supplies working⁠—”

I rolled my eyes at his response. “He was there, wasn’t he? Some Princes wouldn’t have even bothered showing up.”

“If the prince had been in Wimberley when the dragon attacked there wouldn’t have been that much damage to begin with,” Julian muttered.

A laugh bubbled out of my chest as I shook my head. “There might have been less damage, sure,” I shrugged, “but he’s still just a man.”

“We should begin with the required questions.”

“I suppose,” I muttered, thinking about what Prince August might be doing at this very moment.

Everything I had heard about him and what I truly believed to be true, would make the sleepless nights worth it. To love such a great and honorable man would be a privilege.

Julian’s had flexed against my lower back and I sucked in a breath. But there was something electrifying about his hand on me. I clenched my teeth. I should not be having these thoughts.

“Did you sleep well?” Julian asked, breaking through my inappropriate line of thinking. “Yes,” I replied.

He halted our steps and looked over at me. “But you just said⁠—”

“I know what I told you, as my friend. But princesses don’t whine. I don’t want to seem ungrateful for the hospitality of Queen Theodora and King Odo. ”

Julian heaved a sigh. “That’s akin to lying.” He mocked my comment from the other day and I giggled.

“I didn’t know we were teasing friends.”

“I tease all my friends,” Julian responded, with a rueful smile.

“All of them?”

He smiled, his eyes molten when they met mine. “Only the ones I like.” His words had my heart pounding in my ears as my attention slid from his eyes to his lips. “How many hours would you say you slept?”