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"They're not even distantly related," their father slotted in.
Tor allowed the conversation to take its course without him. He neither confirmed, nor denied any of the opinions set forth by his father or brother. He was sure one, or both, would make sure Holger knew of this supposed development as soon as the monarch returned from his honeymoon.
Later, after being pretty silent throughout dinner, Blythe grabbed Tor's arm as soon as they all stood up from the table. "I need to talk to you, Your Highness."
She then dragged him into the small library nearest the palace dining room. He let her because he was curious what had her so agitated.
"What the heck was that in there?" she demanded as soon as the door was shut, practically vibrating with anger.
Though what she had to be angry about, Tor did not know.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "I do not know what you mean."
"You aren't going to marry Else."
She was right of course, but that didn't mean he would confirm her assumption.
"Excuse me, but what business is it of yours?" he asked, letting chill seep into his tone. "This anger you are exhibiting is misplaced."
"I don't want you lying to your family."
"I have lied to no one." That his father had made the assumption Tor knew he would was beside the point.
The expression on Blythe's beautiful face said she wasn't buying it. At all. "Yes, you did. You told them you're going to marry Else Kirkson and we both know you aren't."
Tor was pretty sure Geir didn't believe that either, but he wasn't worried about whether or not his brother bought the subterfuge. The only people he needed to believe the false hope of a future between him and Else were her parents.
She was the only friend, only person, he knew he could trust implicitly and he would protect her any way he could.
"What I do in the future, or the present, for that matter, is not your concern Miss Whitney-Jones. As you said last night, you are Janice's friend. Not mine. Not a member of my family." He didn't add the last to hurt her, but to remind her of the role she'd chosen in his life.
None at all.
She'd backpedaled some after helping him get Else to bed, but he'd seen the overture for friendship for what it was. A pity offer.
And Tor did not now, and never would, need anyone's pity.
"Is this about last night? I reject your seduction overtures and you're getting back at me by pretending to get engaged to your bff?" Blythe asked like she wasn't sure she believed that scenario herself.
That was some mitigation of the accusation, but not much.
Tor shook his head firmly and pointed out the flaw in her logic. "I am not sure how you think that my announcement at dinner would be getting back at you. How could it? That only works if you wanted to date me, and you don't."
"I knew it. This is about me telling you no."
Wow. Talk about being illogical. Who was the younger one here? Because Tor had honestly never even considered any sort of aspect to this that might be showing Blythe something, or even more ludicrously getting back at her for telling him no.
"Believe what you want, Miss Whitney-Jones, but I am not trying to get back at you in some immature attempt at revenge."
"Then you're doing it to protect her," Blythe said with more astuteness than he expected. "But Tor, don't you realize Else has to stand up to her parents on her own? You can't break trust with your family to make her life easier. It's not worth it."
"I have asked you to use a more formal address with me." For some reason his name on her lips made something in his chest tighten and he didn't like it. "Please remember in future."
"Fine, Your Highness," she emphasized. "But what I said is true."
"My relationship with my family has nothing to do with you. My future has nothing to do with you." By her choice, but he didn't add that. "Please, remember those salient facts."
He didn't care if she chose to take her beliefs to Janne, or even Holger. So long as the Palace Press Office never outright denied the relationship, Else's parents would stop hounding her to quit school and get married.
