A Spark of Storms by Susannah Welch

Author:Susannah Welch [Welch, Susannah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781958568088
Publisher: Silky Sky Publishing, LLC

22

Alanna tapped her lip as she considered the dresses Hidalsa had laid out on the bed. The dress had to be perfect for her trip to the library with the prince. Not because of any planned seduction, but because she couldn’t let her mask slip again. She needed to be firmly committed to her role as princess, get the diary, and get out.

“Your Highness, Prince Jaemin is here,” said Hidalsa.

Alanna hadn’t even heard the knock. She pointed at the delicate lace dress the color of marigolds. “That one. I’ll tell the prince he must wait for me to be ready.”

Alanna sauntered into the sitting room. The prince stood on her balcony with the same stiff posture as the Queen’s Guards. “Prince Jaemin, you should have warned me you would stop by so early. I’m not even dressed.”

Jaemin’s eyes widened, and a faint blush crept over his cheeks, even though she still wore the same fluffy pink dress from breakfast.

“You are dressed …” He looked her up and down, then his eyes shot to her face, as if concerned his statement might be incorrect.

She bit her lip on a giggle. “Yes, Prince, I am dressed. Perhaps by having only brothers, you never learned that ladies like to wear something special for dinner, especially when that dinner is with an attractive prince.”

He ducked his head. “Ah yes, about that.”

Alanna frowned and crossed her arms. Was he backing out of their trip to the library?

“I wondered if you might join me on an excursion to Ylara instead?” She blinked in surprise, but he pressed on, blurting out the words. “It’s a settlement at the base of Mount Qara. Since it’s a long trip by carriage, we’d need to leave soon and stay the night.”

“Oh … stay the night …” Alanna had told Geeni she would get the diary tonight, then deliver it in the morning. What would she do if the princess left on a sightseeing trip all the way to Mount Qara?

“Your maid will accompany us, of course!” Jaemin looked as nervous as when she made one of her flirty comments. “You will have your own room. It will be very proper.”

She knew by now not to expect any dalliances with the prince, but she still found his high regard for propriety adorable.

“It’s not that … I’m just not sure about a long trip …” She didn’t know how to get out of it. Sudden illness? That would prevent her from having a date in the palace with him as well. Traveling sickness? The princess had arrived looking healthy enough after a long voyage from Naermore. She chewed on her lip as she considered other excuses.

He stepped closer and lowered his voice, pausing all her thoughts midexcuse. “I have another reason for proposing this trip, but I don’t want to speak of it until we are on the way.”

After that, the princess’s decision was easily made. Hidalsa packed enough of the princess’s dresses for a weeklong excursion, despite the whole trip lasting only slightly more than a full day, then helped Alanna into a more comfortable dress for traveling.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.