I was staring off over Dorian's shoulder, my eyes glazed until I realized the music had stopped and he still hadn't released me. His voice had melted into a drone I had no interest in listening to, yet he was still prattling on while the rest of the dancers milled around us, seeking new partners.

"Are you quite finished?" I asked, interrupting his monologue as I tried to pull my hands away. When I finally looked up at him in irritation, my insides squirmed at the look he was giving me. It was the same one Boy Bill had given Juniper when he'd said she'd needed to be broken.

"I do believe he is," came a familiar voice from next to me. Dorian barked a laugh.

"As always, your Highness, your timing is impeccable," he said, shooting a glare at Thomas despite the smile on his face as he bowed.

"Anything to rescue a damsel in distress," Thomas said, not a hint of laughter in his blue eyes. I'd never seen them so icy and so remarkably like his mother's.

"All I hope, Libby," Dorian said, finally releasing me and ignoring Thomas, "Is that you keep me in your thoughts if you ever grow tired of your gilded cage."

"So you can throw her in an iron one?" Thomas fired back, seizing my free hand and wheeling me around and away from him.

"You'd be free to see the world instead of the same four walls day after day!" Dorian called after us. Thomas' hand was crushing mine as he dragged us across the dance floor. It was only when I stumbled from his quick pace that he slowed.

"Why the hurry?" I asked, reaching down to adjust the heeled slipper I'd nearly lost in his haste to cross the dance floor.

"Because of all the men here, Dorian Fletcher is the one you should be giving a wide berth, not dancing with!" Thomas snapped, something ferocious in his eyes before he remembered himself, turning away with a frustrated groan, "I'm sorry. I just...he's..."

"He's a boor, Thomas," I said, "I know."

"He's far more than just a boor Libby," the younger prince said, surveying me, "He's dangerous and he's the last person whose attention you want to draw."

"I didn't want his attention! He all but trapped me into a dance!" I protested folding my arms while I cast my eyes about for Andrew. Sure enough, Adelaide was curtseying to him and as if remembering its cue, my stomach growled.

"Watch yourself around Dorian," Thomas said, following my gaze, "And if you don't believe me, ask Adelaide. She can tell you all about him."

"I'd rather not," I said flatly, scowling as I watched her waltz with Andrew, "I'm getting something to eat."

"Is that all the thank you I get for rescuing you?" Thomas asked, easily turning on his heel to catch up with me as I beelined for the buffet table.

"No, you'll get the distinct honour of holding my plate while I fill it," I said, sticking my nose in the air in my best impression of Ashley. Thomas laughed.

"A royal plate-bearer, you really are turning into a great lady of the court," Thomas said, as I shoved the plate into his hands.

"If you mind your manners perhaps I'll even share with you," I said, reaching for some queen cakes and a handful of sugared plums.

"Heaven help the man who comes between you and food," Thomas said as I crammed a shortbread into my mouth while dumping the rest on the plate.

"Indeed," I said through my mouthful. Much to my surprise, he indulged me by following me around the table and obediently holding the plate while I loaded it. I was keenly aware of the looks we were getting, but my growling stomach superseded my concern for the thoughts of others.

"Have you seen my brother?" I asked Thomas once the place was piled high and I'd snatched up two glasses of punch for us.

"He left while you were dancing with Dorian," Thomas said, gesturing for me to sit while he took the chair beside me.

"He left?" I repeated, the queen cake I'd reached for pausing on its way to my mouth.

"It appears he's not much for a ball if his fair freckled maiden isn't present," Thomas said archly, snatching up the last queen cake and shoving it into his mouth. I scowled at him, resisting the urge to throw my own cake at him.

"You really need to learn to mind your own business," I grumbled.

"You're the one who asked," Thomas shrugged, pushing the food around the plate as he searched for something else to eat, "Couldn't you have chosen at least one savoury thing? My teeth are going to ache from all these sweets."

"Hush, plate-bearer," I said, "You're ruining my appetite with all your complaints."

"How on Earth does my brother put up with you?" Thomas muttered, a barely suppressed grin on his face.

"He loves me," I said, the words tumbling from my mouth before I could stop them. When I realized what I'd said, I paused in chewing a biscuit and looked up at Thomas. His face, contrary to what I'd expected, wasn't registering shock but rather amusement.

"I know," he said, his eyes dancing.

"You knew?" I demanded, only for him to pop a sugared plum into his mouth with a self-satisfied grin.

"Silly Libby, I know everything," he said once he'd finished the plum, but there was an edge to his blue eyes, "The only thing I don't know is how he's planning to explain this to mother and father."

"Why does he have to explain anything?" I said, more defensively than I'd intended.

"Because there are now four debutantes vying for three spots, with you, the dark horse, suddenly in the lead. If you knew my parents and any of the members of the royal court, you'd know that they'll take that as a sign of Andrew's dissent," Thomas replied, depositing the now empty plate on a side table as he finished his punch.

"Well I'm sure Andrew has a plan, he always does," I said with more conviction that I felt. Thomas' words were jabbing at the same sliver of doubt that Brenna had inadvertently prodded earlier that day, when she'd listed all of Adelaide's features while describing the ideal future queen. That sliver of doubt was stirring now, slowly snaking its cold tendrils around my mind.

"He usually does," Thomas amended, "But I have yet to figure out a way that you two will escape all of this unscathed."

"Are you trying to bait me, scare me, or infuriate me?" I demanded, hopping to my feet and doing my best to look angry. I grew even more annoyed when he shot me that rakish grin of his in return, rising to offer me his arm.

"I'm trying to open your eyes because you both seem to be so blinded by each other that you don't see what's going on around you," Thomas said, with a nod to the nobles around us as he led me towards the dance floor. When I followed his gaze, it was hard not to notice how many eyes were on me. Older ladies whispered behind their fans, gathered in clusters as they looked me over with their shrewd eyes. Fellow debutantes were sulking as they looked my way, their stares alternating between me and the prince beside me.

"Well then I thank you very much for the warning," I snapped, my insides squirming under all the scrutiny I'd so easily ignored until now, "I'll be sure to keep it in mind."

"One of you should, because this is the first time in all my life that I've ever seen my brother acting reckless," Thomas said. His words sent a chill slicing through my heart, but he pressed on regardless of whatever was showing on my face.

"I'm hoping this recklessness will abate with time, for it would be a sad thing indeed if the one woman he loves turned him into the kind of king he would hate," Thomas said. I tried to pull my arm from his, but he was expecting it and held fast.

"I'm tempted to wonder whether you're being so rude because you're jealous," I snapped, aware that his words were turning my tongue to acid in retaliation. He laughed mirthlessly.

"Jealous? Don't be silly," he said, finally releasing me so he could kiss my hand, "Though I am jealous of Anne. I'd pay good money to sit through your very first queen lessons tomorrow."

"Queen lessons?" I repeated as he backed away from me.

"You didn't think my mother simply wanted a chat over tea, did you?" he said, amusement hidden beneath his smirk, "Have a nice evening, Libby."

I watched him go, rooted in place. Queen lessons. I supposed I'd been expecting something of the sort, but now that it was so imminent I felt my stomach turn once again. My eyes landed on where Andrew was bowing to Adelaide, her delicate face flushed with pleasure as she curtseyed. I watched her, wondering whether she'd be feeling the least bit anxious if she were in my shoes.

Predictably, Ashley had sauntered up behind Andrew, her face arranged in a pretty pout as he exchanged parting words with Adelaide. Thomas appeared beside her, leaning down to whisper something before he took up her hand and kissed it. Ashley hesitated, but eventually allowed Thomas to line her up for the next dance. Over Ashley's shoulder, the younger prince shot me a wink.

Andrew had excused himself from Adelaide, his eyes scanning the crowd as a ring of debutantes pressed towards him and hindered his progress from the dance floor. His eyes landed on me and he smiled, so I nodded to him while Penelope curtseyed before him. Unwilling to watch him dance with someone else yet again, I turned on my heel and decided to find Xavier.

Knowing my brother, he wouldn't retire to the torment of his own thoughts, so I made my way towards the entrance hall, hoping I could sneak away to the main library relatively unnoticed. That, however, seemed to be too much to hope for.

"Leaving so soon?" Ella asked snidely, she and Emily loitering near the doors. I ignored her, rage igniting within me as I thought about what Dorian had said. I bit my tongue to keep from lashing out at her while there were so many prying eyes following me, but the thought of what she was saying about me behind my back made my hands curl into fists in my skirts.

"She's pouting because her prince just danced with the real prize," Emily put in, her pinched little face smirking.

"At least I've done more dancing than either of you have any hopes of doing tonight," I fired back, unable to leash my temper, "Speaking of which, why haven't you danced with James yet, Ella?"

My cousin's mouth twisted into a scowl as a flush crept up her neck.

"Because that snot-nosed pri-" Emily started, only for Ella to elbow her.

"That's quite enough," Ella snapped while Emily massaged her arm with a glower towards my cousin.

"No it isn't!" Emily protested, "She's your cousin, she should be trying to help you!"

"Help you? The way you helped me last Season?" I snapped, only for Ella to flush even more.

"I'm your family! That princess is-" she started, only to bite back her words as her eyes widened.

"That princess is what?" Anne asked, coming up beside me as Emily and Ella dropped into startled curtseys.

"A very good friend with impeccable timing," I said, linking my arm with Anne's and brushing past my cousin. Anne glanced back at Ella, whose eyes were studying her slippers despite the muscle twitching in her jaw. I forced my temper down, telling myself that Ella would get her just desserts in time. As much as I would have relished humiliating Ella for daring to speak so unkindly about the princess, I didn't want to subject Anne to the unpleasant words I'd known had been on the tip of my cousin's tongue.

"I was actually just coming to tell you that you shouldn't be seen leaving so early," Anne said, stopping me at the entrance to the ballroom a few paces away from where Ella was glowering at us.

"Why? I'm only going to find my brother," I asked, shooting a glance back towards the dance floor. Across the room, the king and queen were still seated on their thrones, but I had the distinct impression that a pair of icy blue eyes were watching me.

"For appearances' sake," Anne said, "Can't you stay?"

I looked at the princess, fighting back a sigh as I pieced the puzzle together.

"What you mean to say is that I'm not to leave until the queen has left?" I asked. Anne nodded, an unspoken apology on her face.

"My brother needs me, Anne," I said, "Surely you can explain that to her for me?"

"She would view it as a slight, no matter the excuse," Anne said, seeming to shrink into herself, "Please Libby...she'll be so angry with me if you don't listen."

I felt a sudden burst of hatred towards the queen for sending her daughter after me. She knew we were friends so she knew that seeing Anne squirm would be the best way to ensure I'd comply. I debated with myself, torn between obeying and leaving. Xavier needed me, that much was clear, but I didn't want to land myself outside of the queen's good graces, especially with tomorrow's tea looming over me. Chewing my lip, I made my decision.

"Very well," I sighed. Relief flooded the princess' face and the knot of guilt twisted even tighter in my stomach as I followed her back towards the sea of swirling skirts and glittering jewels.