Chapter 54
Evelyn’s POV
With dinner officially over and the guests gone, I decide to stay behind to help clean up alongside Diana, some of the other nurses, and their friends.
“You don’t have to help us,” Diana says as I carry a plate of dishes to the kitchen. “We’re happy to take care of it.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” I tell her. “I know I’ve already said it a million times, but I am truly grateful for your help. I wouldn’t have been able to pull this off if it weren’t for you.”
“We’re here to help whenever you need it,” Diana replies with a smile.
Her comment causes my heart to ache as I’m happy to hear her say. With everything going on with Kane and Bianca, I’m grateful to feel like I have someone on my side – someone I can count on. Diana is one of the first genuine people I feel like I’ve met in a long time.
Bianca had been quick to leave right after dinner had wrapped up and Kane was soon to follow. I can’t help but wonder if he went off to see her, but the thought makes me shake my head. Either way, I shouldn’t care.
We continue to clear away the table, tidying up the dining room inch by inch. It’s a nice stress reliever after such an anxiety-ridden evening. Plus, it gives me an excuse not to return to the room I share with Kane just yet.
As I start to blow out some of the lit candles, I hear the dining room door opening behind me. I turn to find Alexander walking in, causing my brows to raise.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
He offers a smirk. “Helping, of course,” he states. He then follows up his words by grabbing a broom and starting to sweep up some crumbs.
I snort as I watch him. “Princes shouldn’t be clearing dirty plates or sweeping floors,” I tell him. “You should be off getting some rest.”
“I’m not tired,” he insists. “Plus – Prince or not – none of that matters when I’m helping alongside you. My childhood friend.”
His words cause my cheeks to grow warm and I laugh before I blow out a few more candles.
“I remember when you and I used to cause our own trouble during these dinner parties,” I tell him. “We’d be ordered back to our rooms and locked away for the rest of the night.”
Alexander hums in amusement, “Are you referring to when we stole that cooked pig and hid it in your cousin’s bed?”
This time a laugh jumps from my throat as I remember my cousin screaming down the hallway. We’d probably gone a little too far, but then again, my cousin had stolen and ruined my favorite dress earlier that day.
“My mother was so mad at the time,” I told him. “But later that evening she told me she would have done the exact same thing. I think she was even proud of me.”
This makes Alexander laugh too.
“Such good times,” he says, still sweeping. “I miss those days,”
His voice sounds sad, longing. Then again, I find those are the same emotions weighing on my chest. After all, those were the days when my mother was young, healthy, and alive.
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I’d do anything to return to them, but I know that will never happen.
“Yeah,” I say softly. “I miss them too.”
We finish the rest of our cleaning mainly in silence. However, as we set aside the mop and bucket, Alexander turns to me with a gentle smile.
“Would you like to get some fresh air with me?” he asks. “I’m still not ready to head off to bed just yet. Unless you’re tired then I understand.”
“No,” I reply with a shake of my head. “I’m not tired. I’d love to catch some fresh air.
Alexander gladly offers me his arm and we walk out of the dining hall together. We make our way down the hall, soon coming to a set of french doors that lead outside. As we walk through them, the evening air is like a welcoming kiss on my cheeks.
“That feels nice,” I comment as the soft breeze brushes through my hair. Alexander gives an approving hum as we both move to sit on a nearby bench.
“Evelyn,” Alexander begins after a few moments. “I want to apologize for asking about your marriage the other day. I’ve been thinking about it ever since and Kane was right – it wasn’t appropriate.”
“Oh,” the word pops out of my mouth. “Oh, no. There’s no need to apologize. You’re welcome to ask me anything. Remember? We’re childhood friends.”
Alexander chuckles as I throw his words back at him, causing me to grin.
“The rules don’t apply to us,” I offer. “And I thought it was fine that you asked.”
He seems grateful for this, but he remains silent, studying me. It occurs to me that he may be waiting for me to address the topic then – to tell him how my marriage is going,
And yet, I still can’t bring myself to say anything. It’s clear that my lack of answer lingers heavily in the air around
Alexander and I instead turn our attention to the stars, glancing upward as we look for different constellations. At least, that’s what I’m doing but I’m having very little luck. Constellations are not my strong suit.
“It’s funny, you know,” Alexander says after a while. “I know you have Kane…but for a long time, everyone thought that you and I would end up together. Even I thought we would.”
Alexander’s gaze is on me now, and I find myself meeting his gaze, However, my heart staggers and then races with anxiety. I’m uneasy, not knowing how to respond to his comment. However, it appears that I don’t have to.
“Strange,” Kane’s voice cuts through the air, causing both of heads to turn. There, only five feet away, Kane stands with his arms crossed over his chest. “Very strange that I keep finding you two alone together.”
My heart jumps once again, but I don’t say anything as Kane approaches me. He easily takes my hand, causing me to stand as he holds my gaze. He then places a kiss against my palm, causing me to jump with surprise.
However, he remains calm, cool. He interlocks our fingers as he pulls me close to his side.
“You’ll have to excuse us, Alexander,” Kane states. “We need to be off to bed. Evelyn and I have a date planned tomorrow evening and need to get some rest.”
We have a what?
Kane and I are going on a date!?
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