.....
"An old friend of my father's," he says suddenly, motioning
to the tombstone. You decide it is okay to come out from the safety of
the tree. The prince looks you in the eye.
"My brother speaks of you often," he says. You remember the
awful yellow eyes of Oliver, and shudder. Prince James laughs.
"Yes, I know," he says. You smile weakly.
"Your brother does not seem to think well of me, sir," you
say awkwardly, not knowing what to call him. He frowns.
"Yes, I gathered that also," he replies. He starts walking
toward the church, and you fall in step beside him, hoping that was
the proper thing to do. "My brother does not seem to think well
of anyone, actually." There is a silence.
"Well I don't think much of him, either, but I don't think that
really matters," you blurt. The prince looks at you sharply, and
you blush crimson. Then he starts laughing.
"A bold thing to say, Miss Baker," he says. You notice he
sounds uncomfortable calling you by a name as well. Not yet recovered
from your "bold" speaking, you blurt again.
"You may call me Kate, if it pleases, er, your, um,
highness," you say. You grind your teeth, feeling stupid. The
prince seems to be thinking.
"Well, then," he says formally. "You may call me, er,
James." You raise your eyebrows.
"Thank you, sir," you reply, not knowing what else to say.
"Thank you, James," he corrects. He smiles at you, and you
smile back.
You don't want to startle the prince, so you just stand there.
