A Dove's Tale

Chapter 108

"You should probably take this," I said, shrugging out of Chevalier's coat and handing it back to him. We'd stayed outside long enough that the palace hallways were now dark and empty, so I hadn't worried too much about anybody seeing me in it. My guards were around the corner, though, and I had no valid excuse for wearing the king's ceremonial coat on a warm, clear night. Other than just wanting to. It already smelled like Chevalier.

"I wondered if you were giving it back," Chevalier teased, draping it over his arm.

"Well, you said it looks better on me," I teased back.

"But this is a nice view, too," he said, leaning over to place a quick kiss on my bare shoulder.

"Stop that!" I giggled, pushing him away. "We're almost to my room!"

"Which I'll have to check before I leave, of course."

"No," I said, struggling to hold a firm tone when I was smiling so much.

"What if Gilbert snuck in?" he asked, looping his arm around my waist and pulling me toward him.

"I think I'd be safer with Gilbert than with you right now," I replied.

He pushed me back against the wall, sealing my lips with a heated kiss that stole my breath and made my knees weak. I clutched desperately at his shirt as his fingers glided across my shoulder and around to cradle the back of my head. He left me with a last tug on my lower lip, smirking as I gasped for breath.

"You may be right."

I swallowed and nodded. He chuckled and pulled me away from the wall, resuming his walk with enviably steady legs. I was still blushing when we reached my room.

"Is Theresa here?" I asked Julius, hoping the darkness disguised my red cheeks.

"No, Princess Ivetta."

Chevalier reached past me to open my door. I turned to face him and stopped him with a hand on his chest. "No."

"Ivetta," he said, his tone serious for the first time in over an hour.

"No," I repeated. "Byron, if you could please get Theresa. Chevalier, if you want to stand here and wait for them to get back, you can do that. Otherwise, goodnight."

He sighed and removed my hand from his chest. "Goodnight, Ivetta."

I closed the door and smiled. His concern was touching, but I knew better than to expect he would behave if I let him into my room now. Not tonight. I went into the bathroom, humming as I pulled my right glove off, smiling wider as I removed the ring from my left hand and set it carefully on the edge of the sink. My left glove joined its partner on the floor, as did my shoes and stockings. I'd have to wait until Theresa got back to help me with the dress. After a moment's hesitation, I turned the sink's faucets to start the water, washing my face, shoulders, and collarbone blindly in the dark. Theresa would be excited enough without seeing traces of my smeared lipstick from Chevalier's kisses all over me. I dried myself and slid the ring back onto my finger, relishing the feel of the cool metal against my skin. It was a perfect fit. Of course. And I'd probably never know how he figured out my size. I reached back to undo the pins holding my hair and stepped out into the bedroom, looking over at the uncovered windows for the first time, and froze.

Gilbert was sitting on my sofa.

He smiled, his blood-red eye glinting in the silvery moonlight. "That was careless of you, little dove."

I took a deep breath, swallowing down the fear threatening to take over, and resumed removing the hairpins with trembling fingers. He was across the room, and I was next to the door. All I had to do was open it. Or scream. He didn't have me trapped, and he didn't have any power over me.