Eavesdropping

Clara

“I’ll be there shortly,” Prince Legiere said.

He turned and stepped toward me. He paused before me, and I realized he was quite tall and lean. I could see the taut muscle in his naked chest as he brushed a stray hair away from my eyes. There was no stink of pipe smoke, but instead, I caught hints of rich woody musk and amber. It wasn’t an entirely unpleasant smell. Our eyes met, and he bent down quickly. His lips brushed against my forehead in a strangely formal kiss. I was too surprised to say anything, and he nodded at the servant.

“See you tonight,” he said. He waited for the servant to move further away, and he gave the lowest of whispers. “And don’t even think about heading out to your right, running down the corridor, heading up the southeast steps, and sliding away the false entrance tile hidden under the tapestry of a boar hunt.”

He winked at me, and then he strode off to where the servant was waiting.

I blinked and chewed my lip. Clearly, he wanted to show me someth