Oh My, I Messed Up the Story

My mouth rounded into an 'o' of surprise. Honestly, he had been so friendly and normal that I had completely forgotten he was among the throng of my admirers.

"You're different," I admitted. "You don't act like they do."

"I suppose that is a pretty high compliment coming from you."

My cheeks turned red.

"I meant no offense. It's just…you talk to me like a normal person. The rest of them either don't think I have a single thought in my head outside of ribbons and tea time or want to use me as a chess piece."

Al's gaze sharpened. "A chess piece?"

"Duke Orla," I sighed, letting my mouth run away from me again.

"He's a schoolmate of my brother Edmund's. While visiting with him a while back he caught me reading a book on foreign policy and seemed impressed with my political reasoning. I don't want him to use me to further his career. I mean, he works with the crown prince! I want nothing to do with that!"

He went silent for a moment before turning toward me with an unfathomable gaze. "Most people want to curry favor with the crown prince. Why don't you?"

He is the villain of this novel; of course I don't care about him! Ugh, how could I explain myself? A brand-new debutante from a country estate wouldn't know the intricacies of politics going on inside the castle.

I know the crown prince is a bad guy because he wants to take away the rights of the lower classes even further to consolidate his own power. But Catherine du Pont is not supposed to know that.

"I don't want to be involved in castle politics. I want to live my life in peace."

There. That was a simple enough answer without giving any real details on the depth of my information.

Al let out a heavy sigh. "So do I. Unfortunate that we were both born nobles, isn't it?"

"Very," I agreed.

Though I wasn't born a noble, I just happened to become one by some bizarre chance. I was born an ordinary middle-class girl.

What I wouldn't give to have that back. I even missed worrying about how to pay my bills!

The wind picked up and a deep shudder ran through me. The sun was starting to go down so it was much colder than it had been when I first sat on the rock.

"You're shivering," he noticed. "May I?"

I saw him holding out his cloak and nodded. He gently draped it over my shoulders.

"Lady Katie, may I buy you a cup of tea?"

I was sick to death of tea. "No, but you can buy me a cup of hot chocolate. I think that bakery I want to work at has some."

I pulled my shawl out of my pack and tied it around my head, effectively hiding my hair.

"Do you need something to cover yourself with?" I asked suddenly. I was wearing his cloak after all.

He pulled a crumpled up cap out of his pocket. "No, I've got something."

I was impressed. "You're like a Boy Scout."

"A what?"

Why did I keep tripping up in front of this guy! "I meant that you're very prepared."

Al shrugged. "I have to be. Shall we?" He held out his arm to help me down from the top of the rock.

"Thank you."

As we walked toward the bakery, Al asked me more about my interests. I couldn't exactly tell him about how I was a hopeless book and TV addict back in my world. The fiction here was severely lacking so I didn't enjoy it.

I could honestly say that I enjoyed reading non-fiction though since it was interesting, being about this fictional world and all. I also told him how I loved horseback riding, playing cards, and making up imaginary games with my little sister.

A pang hit me. I would probably never see Adele again and she had been so sweet. This would be the second time I had lost a sister.

He noticed my shift in mood. "What's wrong?"

I gave him a sad smile. "Just thinking about how I'll probably never see my sister again after this."

We ordered our hot chocolate and sat at one of the cute little tables near the front window before he got the chance to respond. Al also got us raspberry tarts. Such a good guy!

I blew on my drink as I waited for it to cool. The last thing I needed right now was a scalded tongue incapable of properly tasting the delicious tart waiting for me.

"About your sister…you could still see her if you got married."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You know why I don't want to do that. I won't throw my life away just to be able to see my siblings a few times a year."

"You asked me to run away with you. Why not just marry me?" he asked simply.

I gaped at him in shock. "You—"

Al held up his hands in defense.

"Just hear me out. My position in my family isn't all that great but money is not an issue. Your mother wouldn't give you a hard time. And you would be able to see your siblings until we figured out a proper escape plan to leave the country. You could go horseback riding every day until we leave…and I have a fairly impressive library. What do you have to lose?"

Uh, a lot of things, okay? My freedom, my innocence…being so antisocial back home I had never even kissed anyone! I turned beet red. No way would I say that out loud.

He seemed to catch on anyway and was quick to defend himself.

"I don't mean anything strange by it! To be perfectly honest, you're the first real friend I have made in a long time. You wouldn't have to worry about getting caught living on your own or being a pretty doll or anyone's pawn and I wouldn't be so bored. It would be beneficial to both of us."

I still couldn't believe what I was hearing. Boredom was not a sufficient reason to get married in my book.

"I don't even know you! We have only officially met twice!"

"But I like you and you seem to like talking to me," he said, a bit embarrassed, as he ducked his head over his hot chocolate.

"We would be partners in crime more than anything. At least think about it? Lady Katie?"

He was at it with that ridiculous rhyme again. I couldn't help but smile every time I heard it. My smile seemed to encourage him but I didn't want to give him the wrong idea. I did not like this. Hadn't I already told him I don't believe in marriages of convenience?

"I don't think I can—"

"Catherine du Pont you are in a world of trouble," Percy's deadly voice rang from behind me.

Oh no. Busted. I turned around, jumping out my seat, trying to block Al from his view.

"Percy, fancy seeing you here! I was just having a warm drink with an acquaintance. The weather is quite cool and—"

"Save it. We are going home."

He locked my elbow in his and started dragging me out the door. I struggled against him. I had barely gotten free! I couldn't go back now!

On top of all that, I hadn't even gotten to eat my raspberry tart! At least Al's cloak was draped over the back of my chair so I wouldn't accidentally be stealing that today.

Al saw what my eyes were locked onto. He hastily wrapped the raspberry tart in a napkin and tossed it at me. Miraculously, I caught it.

"Think about it," he mouthed at me very deliberately before smiling and leaning back in his chair.