Page 58

“What about your landscapes?”

“I still enjoy them, but I think it is good to start pushing into other areas.” I shrug. “It would not do to stay in a bubble of comfort forever.”

“Indeed,” Theo replies, looking thoughtful. “There is an art dealer who visits the castle on occasion, hailing from Frostalm. I should like to introduce you to him.”

My heart skips at the mention of Frostalm.

“An art dealer?” I raise my eyebrows. “Whatever for?”

“For your paintings, of course.” He laughs before taking another sip of wine. A guard coughs behind me, and Theo’s smile immediately drops. Confused, I turn around, butthere are only the usual guards standing in position.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Nothing.” He half-smiles and continues eating.

The atmosphere shifts. I chew my lip, contemplating whether to bring the conversation back to the art dealer. Theo focusses on his food, eating quickly, so I decide to let the topic lie.

We eat in silence for the next few minutes before sitting back to allow our plates to be cleared.

“My thanks,” I tell the servant, and Theo does the same.

He fidgets with the collar of his tunic while I sit opposite him, awkwardly rigid. The usual ease of our conversation has evaporated.

“The hour is late,” I eventually say, the silence unbearable. I stand up from my seat, scraping the chair back. “I should head back to my chambers. Thank you for dinner, Your Highness.”

I curtsy and swiftly exit the dining room before he can say anything back. Tears well up, threatening to spill, but my irritation manages to hold them back. I hike up the skirt of my dress to walk quickly back to my chambers, feeling ridiculous in my frivolous outfit.

“Wait!” Theo calls behind me. I hesitate, half-turning, before deciding against it andpowering on. “Shivani, please. Wait.”

He eventually catches up to me, slightly out of breath.

“Yes?” I snap, turning on my heel to glare at him.

“I…I am sorry for the way the evening went.”

“You should be sorry. You are the one who caused it.” I ball my hands into fists, my vision starting to swim with tears. “I do not deserve to be treated like…well, I do not know. A secret? An embarrassment?”

“You are not an embarrassment,” he says firmly, reaching for my hand, but I snatch it away.

“Sweet words are meaningless when you act in total contradiction to them.”

“I know, I…I am sorry.” He glances over his shoulder, eyes wide, before turning back to me. “Please allow me to visit your chambers tonight.”

“Really?” I scoff. “Absolutely not.”

“Just so I can explain myself and…” he reaches out his hand, palm up. “Apologise properly.”

I look at his open hand, an invitation for me, and sigh. I drum up every well of trust I have in him and put my hand in his.

“Fine,” I say quietly. Theo’s shoulders sag with relief before he brings my hand up to kiss it.

“Thank you, Shivani,” he says.

I say nothing and turn, stalking back to my chambers and leaving him in the corridor.

Chapter 24

Iwish I had Aunt Meena to talk to. Or Inez. Or even Vanya.