Page 36 of Don’t Look Down

I like predictable.

I like the safety in knowing what I’m supposed to be doing.

Sometimes, I just need to remember what my purpose is. I can accomplish everything I’m meant to do at Lock’s side. We will be good together.

He’s clearly set on going forward with this courtship. And after our conversation, I am too.

Thirteen

Itake my time winding through the various paths and exploring the gardens. Bees buzz from side to side, and even a few butterflies flutter around a pocket of purple coneflowers. The gardeners went on lunch a short while ago, so there’s no more buzz of the hedge trimmers or the snipping of garden shears. Just the hot breeze rustling through the leaves. It’s so peaceful being tucked away in so much technicolor beauty that if I were one of the Caulfield’s, I think I’d spend all my days here.

Spotting a stone bench near a patch of calla lilies, I decide to sit for a moment to bask in the sun. I lean back on my palms, head upturned toward the sky, and close my eyes, thankful I remembered to put sunscreen on this morning. It feels glorious to sit here and relax for a moment.

“I thought that was you I spotted behind Edwin earlier.” I nearly jump out of my skin. Blinking against the sunlight, I find Beau standing casually, hands tucked into his pockets.

“What are you doing here?”

He cocks his head in that arrogant way of his. “I work here. What are you doing here?”

“Your brother invited me.”

“I figured as such since I doubt you came just to enjoy Edwin’s riveting company.”

I stand and brush my hands on the sides of my dress. “Am I in your spot? I can be on my way.”

“No, you can sit.” He walks closer, and I maneuver myself away from the bench, keeping our distance.

He tsks at me. “What, I can’t even be near you now?”

“It’d be improper.”

“Would it now?”

“I’m courting your brother.”

“You state that as if I do not know.”

“Maybe you need the reminder.”

“I have a perfectly fine memory. I also have perfectly fine vision, and I could see last night that you didn’t like being the docile woman at his side.”

The smell of the flowers grows overwhelming. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Did you enjoy being paraded around?”

“He was introducing me to people. People I need to know, to start connecting with.”

“He was testing you, and you failed the moment you decided to speak up.” His nostrils flare. “But you didn’t fail to me.”

I raise my chin defiantly. “As I said, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Lock and I discussed it this morning.”

He scoffs. “Yeah, I’m sure the playing field was really even during that discussion.” He puts that last word in air quotes.

“Of course it can’t be even, he’s The Crown Prince!”

“So am I,” Beau shoots back. “And I don’t consider you below me.”

Both of us are so caught up in our spat that neither notice the man approaching until he’s only a few feet away. I jump back, startled by the intrusion. Beau whips his head toward the intruder, but his shoulders relax the moment he registers who it is.