Evangeline

Chapter 19

**Keira**

Feeling content, I smiled and watched Evie walk out onto the balcony with Henry. I almost couldn't believe it, but if I wasn't mistaken, my daughter actually liked that boy. I'd worried for so long about her future. I always knew it would be a miracle if she were able to fall in love, even with Alex's allowances. All the pressure aside, she'd inherited my hesitancy in allowing herself to love someone and Alex's ease in manipulating situations so that she was effectively able to keep everyone at a distance if she chose to. And of course this recent fiasco had only made her more eager to do that.

But it seemed as though we might just get a miracle after all. That boy must be something special. He apparently didn't care that Evie wasn't the perfectly demure, ideal princess who would gladly sit there, looking pretty and not offering her own opinions. He knew, just as the others did, what had happened, and he had actually encouraged her to participate in their activity this afternoon. According to the guards, he'd made her laugh and smile and actually have fun. On top of that, he never seemed very concerned with impressing anyone. Alex said that Henry rarely went out of his way to speak with either himself or the king. When he did speak with them, he wasn't trying too hard like the others were. He was honestly just sociable when he conversed. I couldn't dislike him if I tried.

Alex came to stand beside me and took my hand.

"That seems positive," I said, gesturing toward the balcony.

He only had time to squeeze my hand and smile before his father joined us.

"Excellent development," he said, clapping Alex on the shoulder. "I knew I always liked that boy. I hope you're planning to speak with him soon."

I couldn't help but notice how quickly the king's allegiances changed. This morning, Sebastian had still been his first choice.

Alex laughed. "Why don't we give them some time to get to know one another before we start making arrangements."

The king chuckled goodnaturedly and I was glad that his previous bad mood had passed. Yet another reason to like Henry...

"You're much too indulgent, my boy. They obviously like one another. Isn't that enough?"

"Father, I know you're eager to have the matter settled, but Evangeline is only sixteen. I prefer she remain a child a little longer. There's time."

The king sighed. "Alright," he said. "Fair enough. I suppose I can be content for now. So long as that boy doesn't go anywhere."

"I have a feeling he won't for quite a while," Alex said.

I looked at him, wondering what he knew. He managed to wink at me while his father was turned away.

"Good, good," the king said, distractedly as he looked at something behind me. He turned his attention back to Alex and me. "We'll continue this discussion later," he said before moving to speak with someone else.

"And I'll be holding my breath," Alex said sarcastically when his father was out of earshot.

I shook my head. "What's his hurry?" I complained. "It's not as if the line of succession is in question." Glad as I was for that now, I hated to think what the king would put Philip through when he was a little older. As much as I anticipated all the pressure on myself when I married Alex, I never realized just how much worse it would be, watching it happen to my children.

Alex smiled a little sadly, no doubt remembering the nightmare of having to deal with that particular pressure before Evie came along.

"He just likes things settled," he said. "I don't really think he is eager to be rid of Evie. He just wants to be able to mend fences in the west. Especially now that Sebastian feels slighted."

"That's his own fault," I grumbled. If he wasn't so boorish, Evie might have actually tried to like him.

"True," Alex agreed. "But he'll never see it that way."

"So what do you know?" I asked, not wanting to discuss Sebastian any longer. His brother was far more interesting to me at the moment.

Alex chuckled. "Nothing concrete," he said. "Just a hunch."

"Based on...?" I pushed.

"Based on how adamant Henry was about staying when Sebastian wanted him to storm away in solidarity. And based on the way Henry was watching her when he first arrived."

I smiled. "She seems to like him too."

"Wonders never cease," Alex joked, making me laugh.

A moment later, Alex and I were approached by one of the dignitaries and his wife, and we were forced to put our conversation on hold. Thankfully, Alex took the bulk of the task, and I was free to keep an eye on the balcony. I couldn't see Evie and Henry clearly from here, but it was a good sign that they were taking their time.

Unfortunately, now that it seemed as though Evie's future might be settled, I knew that everyone's focus would shift to Gwen. People wouldn't begin to push for a few years yet, but I knew the subtle remarks would start soon.

As much as I hated watching Evie go through this, it was worse to think about Gwen having to do the same thing. Evie had always been a little independent. She rose to challenges and became stronger for them. Gwen was so much more childlike and... just happy. I hated to think of them crushing that.

Alex tossed me a meaningful glance and I sighed. He didn't know what I was thinking, of course, but he obviously understood that I was anxious. Shaking those depressing thoughts from my mind, I forced myself to focus on the conversation.

Gwen was still a child, and she would remain that way for several years yet. Alex would make sure of that.