Chapter 9: The Prince's Tea

Prince Leon was twenty-four, blond and tall, and he looked as if he would rather be anywhere else on earth.

He sat down at the little table in the rose pavilion and knocked a teaspoon onto the floor.

"Forgive me," he said, and went red to the ears.

The pavilion was a round white room with open arches, set in the temple garden.

A servant had laid out tea, small cakes and three chairs.

Hinata sat across from the prince with her hands folded and her saint's face on.

Mai sat at her right, with a notebook, because the prince had asked for "the Saint's apothecary" and she had decided to be one.

Under the table, Hinata's bare foot slid out of her sandal and pressed against Mai's ankle.

Mai kept her face perfectly still.

"Your Highness," Hinata said. "The Chancellor tells us you wish to meet."

"The Chancellor tells me a great many things."

Leon took a breath.

"Lady Saint, I should say this at once, before I lose my nerve. I do not want to marry you."

Hinata blinked.

Mai put down her cup.

"I'm sorry. That came out badly. You are lovely, and brave, and you saved the barley."

He twisted his napkin.

"But I do not want a wife I'm told to have. You didn't ask to come here."

He let go of the napkin.

"He is arranging it all, and neither of us has said yes."

"I haven't said yes," Hinata agreed, slowly.

"I know. I heard what you said to him in the hall. I was behind a pillar."

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