But alas, an honorable gentleman did not eavesdrop. With great reluctance he cleared his throat and inclined his head. "Ladies, a lovely afternoon, is it not?" As expected, silence erupted in an abrupt halt. Hands flew to their mouths. Whatever they'd found so humorous must have been exceptionally so. It took desperate effort to constrain their grins.
"Your Highness." This from Eptelinda.
Pricilla and Cinderella inclined their heads politely as well, amusement clearly still lighting their faces. Something was different. Prince narrowed his gaze. Erstella seemed different. Though she had managed to escape Maman's supper the evening before.
"You are enjoying your ride?" He asked.
"Immensely, merci," she said. An unflinching gaze, almost defiant, head held high, had brilliant eyes boring into him as sharp as cut emeralds.
Prince frowned, feeling as if someone had leveled a punch in his midsection. The air surrounding them was a natural breeze of the lightest wisps. And for some reason, his betrothed did not appear so unnerved as usual. Her eyes were direct, not batting with uncontrollable flurry. They were framed by dark lashes tilted up at the ends. Quite beautiful, in fact.
The thought disturbed and…well, annoyed him. Prince felt as if he'd lost personal power, somehow. It was a blessing his royal nature ran too deep in his blood to appear less than poised and self-confident, however.
"The grounds are breathtaking, Sir." Pricilla added. Her boldness glittered through eyes in what he'd previously believed plain gray. He was wrong. Confidence had turned them to a striking silver. The change was downright astonishing.
His gaze move to Cinderella's brown eyes. The soft familiar warmth from their early morning encounter reassured him. Fathomless depths he could easily drown. With her hair drawn up he could see she had less natural curl than the other girls. It was much less fashionable, and yet perfect on her. The air around him glowed with an unusual iridescence. The fickleness of his senses caught him unawares. Could he now be falling for the almost servant?
"Lovely, Sir." The object of his thoughts chimed in, startling his attention. He willed back the heat creeping up his neck. Her assurance came across more reserved but he reveled in its sweetness. Glow-like sparkles dangled in the atmosphere just out of reach. She dropped her eyes to the fingers clasped in her lap.
Pricilla's obvious delight in their shared secret did draw a quirk of a smile. It was nice to see Cinderella in a cheerful honey colored frock. A far cry from the drab brown patched gown and apron she'd donned earlier. The air bristled with mischievous caper. Either that, or he was about to faint again. Not faint. Men did not faint. Royalty did not faint.