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“Exactly. The king, who is supposed to be shopping for a wife, is escorting a foreigner with dubious morals to dinner.”
“Are they dubious?”
“No, but I doubt your people will care if I’m a virgin. The appearance of impropriety is what counts.”
“None will say a word.”
“How reassuring,” I replied dryly.
“I am allowed to speak to whomever I choose. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“You’re too smart to believe that. Who you spend your time with is being scrutinized. You know this, and yet you’re purposely being seen with me. Why?” Because it made no sense. A man as important as him should have sent one of his guards to escort and keep an eye on me.
“Maybe I’m smitten.”
That got a noise from me that wasn’t flattering. “As if anyone would believe that, given I appeared as a wretched creature with a most awful stench the first time we met.”
“You clean up well.” His gaze roved over my frame and finished on my face. He caught my gaze. “I see you’ve returned to your style of clothing. Shame.”
“Did the king want me to change for him?” I batted my lashes, teasing, before I snorted. “You’re not supposed to admit you want to ogle.”
“By all accounts, you made an argument for ogling in your attire.”
“If I wasn’t supposed to wear it, I wonder how it ended up in the pile of clothing offered to me.”
“Curiosity.” The one word made me realize he’d purposely had that two-piece garment included. And I’d jumped all over it.
Clever king. I’d have to be more cautious.
“It was liberating to wear.” Not a lie.
“Then perhaps I should have more made for you.”
“I wouldn’t bother. They’ll be too drafty for where I live. And you’re doing it on purpose.”
“Doing what?”
“Keeping us here talking.”
“Where no one can see us,” he pointed out.
“But your bodyguard who went ahead has to be wondering where you are by now, meaning he’s just around the bend, listening. Another above us is making sure we’re not bothered.” I boldly relayed my guess based on Menni’s blabbing about the King and the handsome guard who acted as his shadow.
He took on a pensive expression. “You’re observant.”
“Are you that worried I’ll try and hurt you?”
“Would you?”
“I’d need a reason to kill a king, given it might make people mad at me.”
He arched a brow. “You think they’ll care?”
“Do you want to find out?” I teased with a wide smirk.
Those words must have triggered the soldier who listened. A slim fellow suddenly appeared from around the curve, hand on the hilt of his long knife. “Majesty?”
The King grimaced. “I’m fine. She’s not going to hurt me. She’s proving a point.”
