“That’s a cop-out.”
“What, bowing to another queen?”
“Not giving your opinion because you feel like it doesn’t apply to you. It’s a cop-out.”
“Do you think the king should have as much power as he does?”
“Yes.”
“Yes? No hesitation?” I felt my lip turn up. “You say that because you work for them.”
“For centuries they had all the power. Now they have a little less power and it’s still running smoothly. Why change something that’s not broken?”
“You don’t think the economy is broken in its current state?” I asked. “There are doctors and lawyers getting paid wages way below the average. And that’s only a few who have suffered in the recent years since the king’s health has been on the decline. This is what started the French Revolution. They were lucky the Crown was saved all of those years ago. I don’t think they’ll get lucky again. He should’ve stepped down years ago, or let the cabinet have more power. Let the people have more power.”
“You have a lot of opinions for someone who doesn’t even care to address her prince with courtesy.” The voice was Prince Elias’s and it came from behind me.
I thought I’d already been sitting up straight, but I was wrong. At the sound of his voice, my back arched and my shoulders pushed back as my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. How long had he been standing behind me? How long had Pierre let me speak without telling me to stop? From the look on his face, he seemed like he had tried to warn me but I wouldn’t quit speaking. It was a flaw of mine. When I was passionate about something, I couldn’t stop talking about it. Slowly, I glanced over my shoulder to find Prince Elias standing in the center of the pub. Everyone around us seemed to have completely stopped what they were doing to stare at him. Some women were still curtsying. Some men still bowing. Everyone’s mouth was agape. And then there was me, whose face was aflame and wanted to die of mortification.
“You weren’t supposed to hear any of that,” I whispered.
I thought he’d glare some more, but his eyes lit, as if he was thoroughly enjoying my discomfort. He closed the distance between us and stood right beside me, setting a hand on the table, right next to my arm. We were sitting at one of the tall tables by the bar, with high barstools that, had he been a tad shorter, maybe would have given me an advantage, but even still I had to crane my neck to look at him. Not that I had any intention of looking him in the eyes right now. I mulled over what I’d been saying and was filled with horror. My father would kill me. If this got back to him, he’d kill me.
“This is your date?” He glanced at Pierre. “I thought you said you were going out with a friend.”
“I . . . am, sir.”
“So, it’s not a date,” Prince Elias stated, still looking at Pierre, who looked at me.
“It’s a date if she says it is, sir.” Pierre turned a deep shade of red as he looked over at me. “I’d like for it to be a date.”
“It is a date.” I met Prince Elias’s gaze. He was much too close to me. Way closer than Pierre. And the way he looked at me made my blood roar in my ears. “What happened to your party? Couldn’t find someone to pour drinks for you?”
“I have a full staff. Of course I found someone.” His jaw twitched. “But I got bored.”
“Bored?” I blinked. “So you left your own party?”
“I needed fresh air and someone told me Pierre was here, so I thought I’d come hang out for a bit with my old friend and meet his local friend.” His gaze slid to Pierre. “I hadn’t realized this was a date, otherwise, I would not have imposed.”
“Please. Feel free to join.” Pierre stood and rearranged the table so we had another stool.
He looked over my shoulder and pulled up another stool, and then another. I closed my eyes briefly. We’d officially been invaded by the prince and his posse. I wondered if I should stand up and excuse myself now. It seemed like a good time to do that. I’d wait though. For Pierre, because he seemed at a loss and I didn’t want to do that to him.
“So, you’re old friends,” I said, once Prince Elias and the two men he was with sat around the table.
Pierre and I were still across from each other. Prince Elias was beside me on one side, one of the men who hadn’t yet introduced himself, but looked like he was a friend, not security was on my other side, and another wearing all black was beside Pierre.