His mask was feathered, in the colors of sunset. His suit much the same. But his hair fell in loose waves to his shoulders, with strands of pearls at his throat and enormous feathered wings at his back. He felt like a peacock made of fire, and would have balked if Lord Hyacinth and his husband had not been smiling dragons, and the Countess an exquisite fae.
The third and final masked ball began at twilight, the sky still light enough to give the event a bold, daring air. It also took place outside, on the balconies and steps leading down to the gardens, as well as in the gardens themselves.
The Countess detached herself from Tu’s arm the moment they stepped out into the purple dusk, and went over to an Amazon that could only be the Lady Stephanie. The Lady Stephanie toasted Tu with her glass, then inclined her head as though Tu outranked her, making Tu freeze before he nodded awkwardly in return.
He wondered what he was, or the picture he made, until, as always, he searched for and found David and all his worries momentarily vanished from his mind.
Someone, very probably David himself, had dressed David in the clothes of a storybook prince, glittering silver mail along his arms, a thick red cloak flung over his shoulders, a silver circlet at his brow. What a test David had designed for his suitors with these masquerades, and none of them had even realized it. Asking people to wear masks was asking them to show their true selves, and David was a prince in all aspects of life, though Tu had not wanted to believe it before. David’s pretend crown was only a reflection of David’s truth, like any other ornament.
Tu was moving up the steps without thought, scared beyond measure, and yet in possession of the one thing none of the others had.Him, an older, insignificant book shop owner. It beggared belief. But David turned before Tu had reached the last stair and he smiled with such relief and joy that Tu hurried to stand in front of him as fast as he could get there without running.
It was only once there that he noticed David was not alone.
“Ah,” Tu could not help but whisper in alarm, because the royal family were dressed like illustrations of royalty in a book of romantic tales. He looked desperately at David. “Dav…Your Royal Highness.”
“Sir Tomcat,” David answered lightly. “Or is it Sir Phoenix today?”
Tu was not a remarkable creature, although he supposed hewasbeing given a second chance, making him a phoenix with gray hair that would not lie flat, and wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. Lord Hyacinth had dressed him as a harlequin, a trickster with a secret romantic agenda. Lady Stephanie had made him a prowling cat, without saying what he was prowling for, because she had already known.
“Mr. Tulip,” Tu gathered enough of his wits to answer, “Tu, to my friends. I’m… just a bookseller.”
David released a long, contented breath, then startled Tu by taking hold of his hand and turning toward his parents. “Mother. Father. May I present Mr. Tulip? Or Tu, if he prefers?”
“He has no preference,” Tu said with quiet shock, while he was studied from head to toe by his King and his Queen.
“Tu owns a bookshop near the University, and is a close friend of Lord Hyacinth and Lady Stephanie, as well as many others here tonight,” David informed them, all but telling them everything; Tu’s commoner status, how long David must have known him, possibly even that they had been lovers, and that Tu was inclined to somewhat radical friends.
A friendship with the iconoclastic Lord Hyacinth was not the recommendation David thought it was. Or it wasexactlythe recommendation David thought it was.
“My admiration for David—for His Royal Highness—has never diminished in the years I have known him.” Tu had forgotten to bow and did not know if bowing now would make up for the slip. He met the eyes of each of David’s parents, then swallowed. “I know I am no fit match for a prince.”
“Not a fit matchyet,” Flor interjected. “All of this is taught. None of it is innate.”
“Egalitarian ideas,” sighed the Queen.
The King’s stare became a little harder, but he said nothing.
David tugged Tu’s hand. “Would you care to dance, Tu?”
Tu had been supposed to ask David, but he was grateful for the rescue, and nodded. David smiled again, though his grip tightened with anxiety he did not otherwise show. For that, Tu clasped David’s hand in his and led him slowly down the many steps toward the musicians, and the empty space between rows of flowers which seemed as good a place for dancing as any.
It was easier to be bold with David’s hand in his, to think of David’s worry and not his own. Still, Tu had to apologize. “I’ve made mistakes again. I’m sorry.”
David stopped though they were on the stairs, and leaned in with his eyes closed, his breathing fast. “You came.”
“David.” Tu reached up to curl a hand to the back of David’s neck, gently bringing their foreheads together. The circlet was warmer than he’d imagined it could be. “I could not stay away, even when I tried.”
“Please,” David said as though they were alone and not watched by a crowd of confused and curious nobility. “It’s been so long. Don’t make me wait any longer.”
“I’m sorry,” Tu answered. Sorry for sending David away and for leaving him alone. He wouldn’t again, and to show it, he tipped David’s face up and kissed his parted lips once, in veneration, the way a vassal might have done in an old story. David met the kiss with a sigh and then a weary, happy smile that Tu traced with his thumb. Tu did not deserve this, but it seemed to be his. “I will strive to be worthy of you, and to make you happy, both David and prince.”
David opened his eyes.
“How very like you to think yourself unfit, then offer vows to me in front of family and friends and half of the nobility.” David inched back to consider Tu with far too much fondness. “All the grace of a courtier, and all the romance to make the people love you. Which they will.” He smiled, wider this time. “Now, will you remove your mask?” he asked. “Now, will I have your kisses again at last?”
Tu should not be kissing him at all, surely. But he already had, led into such a joyful misstep at David’s urging.
As helpless to that as ever, Tu pulled his mask away and gave himself one moment to bask in David’s pleasure and to not worry over the obstacles to come.
