Lucien crawled back onto his cushion. “Because you could be hurt!”
Ariane went back to staring at him once again. He cares if I’m hurt? “With the new precautionary measures, I believe both Henry and I are much safer.”
His chest puffed. “Even the slightest chance of harm is unacceptable.”
“Would you be safer with a guard?” Ariane asked.
“Not necessarily,” Lucien said. “I’m so heavily charmed and watched, I don’t think it would make much of a difference.”
“Then it doesn’t matter, does it?”
“But it does!” Lucien snapped. “And I fail to understand why you are so blasé about this ordeal!”
Ariane studied the prince with a warm smile and an equally warm heart. It seems I’m not the only one who enjoys our time together. “For the moment, I feel confident enough in my safety that I am willing to continue. But thank you for your concern.”
Lucien looked down at his cushion. “Are you sure?”
Ariane’s chest squeezed at the uncertainty in Lucien’s voice. He is selfish, arrogant, and willful…but he still has a great capacity for love. “Yes.”
The silence stretched between the two, and Ariane, aware she was wearing her heart on her sleeve, cleared her throat.
“There you are, Prince Lucien, Mademoiselle Ariane!” Colonel Friedrich grinned as he meandered in their direction, shoulder-to-shoulder with Prince Severin. “Did you see that flashy Ringsted fellow’s entrance?”
“Lord Dooley?” Lucien’s voice was back to its usual lofty tone. “Yes.”
Colonel Friedrich adjusted his eyepatch. “He’s a brave fellow.”
“I think he may be a dead fellow if Miss Cagney’s reaction was anything to go by,” Ariane said.
Colonel Friedrich laughed. “That may be.”
He looked like he wanted to say more, but Prince Severin slightly inclined his head at Ariane. “If you’ll excuse us, Ariane. Colonel Friedrich and I have military matters to discuss with Lucien. Please feel free to use this moment for yourself.”
Ariane curtsied. “Of course, Your Highness.” She walked away from the trio but paused to glance over her shoulder to watch Lucien croak as he wiggled around on his cushion and nearly made it slide off the stone bench.
Something in her heart moved. I love him. The realization felt like a ladder toppling when one was trying to clean the top shelves of a bookcase. (That was a frightening, free-fall experience Ariane had gone through more times than she cared to admit.) Shaking her head, Ariane hurried away from Lucien and his companions, following the wall of the chateau. She darted past a stone staircase that led into the building, then sat in a heap on a stone bench hidden on its other side.
I am such an idiot. I knew I needed to be careful—I knew I could get my heart hurt. Why didn’t I take more precautions?
It wasn’t the end of the world—not really. Ariane would sit on her feelings for Lucien until the Summit was over, and that would be the end of it. When they returned to Noyers, she would rarely see him, and once he was human again, he would carry on much as he had.
But I will be stuck struggling to get over my ridiculous feelings. Ariane tried not to fume, but it was a humbling experience. She had always thought people who fell in love in a matter of days were gullible—and oblivious—fools. And now I am one of them—that will teach me.
Ariane sighed and rubbed her eyes. “I am such an idiot.”
“I must disagree.”
Ariane nearly screamed at the intrusion, and she lowered her hands to find Princess Elle sitting on the bench next to her.
The princess smiled sunnily. “Having feelings for someone does not make you a fool. It’s a wonderful thing.”
Ariane felt the blood drain from her face. “I beg your pardon?”
“I have been watching you and Lucien.” Elle said as a fat, fluffy dog with furry ears came charging up to them. “I have suspected for some time that your unlikely friendship was special to Lucien, but today was the first day I saw true evidence that you had…stronger feelings.”
Ariane could not help the groan that leaked from her throat. I could die of embarrassment right now. And I wouldn’t regret it.
Princess Elle laughed and patted Ariane on the back. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Ariane. I actually find it reassuring that Lucien managed to win over a woman as clever and competent as you.”
“Your Highness…” Ariane trailed off, not knowing what she could say in this—one of the most awkward moments of her young life.
Princess Elle’s smile mellowed. “I won’t mislead you and say I know he has feelings for you. He’s had too much practice masking himself at the courts for me to know more than that you are quite special to him. But…it’s all right to love him.”
“It may be permissible,” Ariane said sourly, “but it certainly isn’t wise. There is no possible positive outcome.”
“Even if he were to have feelings for you?”
“Even then,” Ariane said. “He is the crown prince. He can’t marry a maid.”
“Severin married a Ranger,” Elle said.
Ariane shook her head.
“You think it’s not the same because Severin is illegitimate?” Elle guessed.
“No. I think it’s not the same because Severin has always proven himself competent and respectable, so no one would dare criticize his choice,” Ariane said. “Lucien is not in the same position. But it doesn’t matter—and it will do me no good to dwell upon it.”
“Because you don’t believe Lucien would come to love you?” Elle asked.
Ariane nodded.
“It’s true; he might not,” Elle said ruthlessly. “But I think you underestimate the pull you have over him.”
Ariane had to bite her cheek to keep from snorting.
Princess Elle placed her hand on top of Ariane’s. “Love is beautiful and frightening, Ariane. It’s not a tame thing, and it often catches you unaware. But you cannot fear love or consider yourself a lesser person because of it. You are not a fool—you are brave. Loving another person takes great strength, and it’s never easy. Something will always stand in the way. But that is because it is worth it.”
At the princess’s words, Ariane felt herself relaxing minutely. She’s right. I cannot regret loving Lucien. While the end to this might be painful for me, I still won’t regret the time I spent with him, and I’ll always be proud to know that he shared a hidden bit of himself with me.
She swallowed thickly. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
Princess Elle squeezed her hand and stood. “Of course. We will have to stick together, you and me. But unfortunately, I must get back to my guests. Take all the time you need. And sit—no need to curtsy.”
Ariane smiled. “You are a rare gem, Your Highness.”
Princess Elle frowned at her.
“Elle,” Ariane amended.
Elle grinned. “Of course—I’m a commoner too, after all.” She started to walk away but paused. “Ariane?”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“I wouldn’t lose all hope if I were you,” Elle said.
Ariane blinked. “Why not?”