Page 47 of Royal Icing

Emma gripped her hand. A strong maternal instinct was kicking in. “Thank you for trusting me with this information. I can’t imagine how difficult it’s been for you to feel like you can’t share your true self. How long have you known?”

“Forever.”

Emma was silent for a moment. A gay princess. She couldn’t know for sure, but she had suspicions about how the queen might react to the news.

“You can’t tell them. Not even Leo,” Ruby said with a hint of a plea in her voice.

“Oh, honey. I would never. That is your truth to share, and only you get to decide when to share it. Your secret is safe with me. I’ll give you my phone number. Call me anytime. And if you ever feel like you’re in danger, or you need somewhere to go,come to me. Especially when you’re in New York. I’m just going to be a couple subway stops away.”

“Thank you,” Ruby said quietly, then resumed walking.

The lights of the castle flickered in front of them, barely visible through the whiteout. The wind ripped through her flimsy sweater. She was going to have to slip into a scorching tub to warm back up.

“So are there any girls in your life?” Emma asked.

Ruby wiggled one hand. “Sort of. Sammy.”

“Does she treat you well?”

“She does. But we’re not serious. For obvious reasons.”

“Right.”

Her legs burned and her toes were numb by the time they passed through the gatehouse and reached the courtyard. Emma opened the servant entrance to the kitchen and peeked in. There were too many people. Someone might notice Ruby was still drunk and tip off the queen.

“Is there another way in? A back way?”

Ruby nodded and went off in another direction. Emma followed her until they came to another door along the side of the castle. Some kind of scanner blinked red at them. As Ruby dug for something in her handbag, the door flew open and Leo ran out.

“There you are,” he said, visibly relieved. “Roo, I’ve been looking all over for you. I called you nine times. Where the hell have you been?”

“Just down in town,” Ruby slurred.

“Are—are you drunk? And wearing a miniskirt in the middle of a snowstorm? Did you do this?” he fired at Emma.

Her mouth fell open. “You think I got a teenager drunk in the middle of the day? Seriously?”

She pushed him back through the door and steered Ruby into the castle. She dropped her voice. “For your information, I foundher like this and prevented her from getting assaulted. Get her some Gatorade and toast, and don’t tell your mom.”

She whirled around in a cloud of annoyance and marched back to the gatehouse. It was almost invisible thanks to the snow.

How dare he accuse her of getting Ruby drunk? The fuck?

She marched up the stairs and threw open the door to her apartment. Cooper was happy to see her, at least, and the apartment was invitingly warm. But she’d been gone all day and he needed to pee. The warm bath could wait.

She snapped a leash on him and walked him down the steps to the courtyard, still stewing about Leo’s accusation.

Cooper lifted a leg, then sniffed around frantically. He was following something out of the courtyard and around the side of the castle grounds toward the lake. Hopefully it led to a poop spot. She walked behind him, wishing she had put on another sweater before coming back outside. She’d forgotten to get her coat back from Ruby.

Cooper’s entire body perked up, and he stared into the distance. He lunged forward, and the leash ripped from her hand.

“Cooper, no!”

She ran after him, but he disappeared into the storm.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

EMMA