Surviving His Royal Highnass, Prince Ashton

Chapter Sixteen: Teaching a King about his Kingdom

      Evelyn's POV

  "Where did you two run off to last night? You practically disappeared in the middle of the ball that was thrown in your honor." Adele pried while suggestively wiggling her eyebrows.

            I choked on my bread, realizing what she implied. I immediately reached for the juice, buying myself some time to think of a politically correct answer. We were having breakfast together in her room.

            "Your brother was being a possessive prick. He wouldn't let me dance with anyone and practically carried me off to the royal chambers." I summarized.

            She gasped, "You mean the bedroom?"

            I rolled my eyes, "Yes, but only so the apothecary could come and dress my poor ankles. Nothing more."

            I could sense the disappointment in her tone, "Oh, biscuits."

           I raised an eyebrow at her, "What was that?"

            "Would you like more biscuits?" She tried to cover up her dismay.

            I laughed, "Oh please Adele, Ash will have to do much more for me if he even wants to think about taking that step."

            Or will he? 

I felt my cheeks heat up as I remembered the proximity of our bodies last night.

            She chirped up again, "Oh well, at least our plan made some progress! He obviously cares for you if he noticed your poor ankles and went through the trouble of having them fixed."

            I nodded, "I saw a side of him that I never thought existed."

            "Who knows, maybe you'll fall for him too." She shrugged.

            I gave her a thoughtful look, "Too suggests that he's already in love with me, which is false. Furthermore, I may forgive, but I never forget and your brother has done many wrongs in the past - even the recent past. Far too much to even think about forgetting."

            There was a knock on the door.

            "Come in." Adele ordered.

            The servant bowed deeply before informing me that court would be in session shortly.

            "You can expect me shortly." I replied, dabbing my mouth with a napkin.

            "Good luck!" Adele wished me with a big smile.

            An uneasy feeling filled my stomach, "Thank you, I'll need it."

            I met Ash at the entrance to the room. He greeted me with an alarmingly bright smile. 

Could mere looks change men so drastically? What easy creatures. 

            "I can't wait to see your experience firsthand." He teased, referring to my comments from last night.

            I frowned, "I wouldn't be that enthusiastic if I were you, my skills will put you to shame."

            He responded with a husky chuckle, which had the same unwanted effect on me as last night.

            Once everyone was situated in their proper seating arrangement, the squire of the court began orating the minutes from yesterday's less than productive meeting.