Then, leaning over to her, Avery said, “He said he was taking you somewhere. Pick up your jaw from the floor. It’s highly unattractive.” Catteline blinked at the General, not quite believing her ears nor trusting her own cousin’s recap of what he had just said. Because all of it was simply impossible. Just this morning, he had been telling her that their arrangement was purely for the benefit of the crown. She thought that he meant keeping their interactions strictly at a professional level at all times. Did this excursion count as such? But Avery and his fiancée were looking at the both them as if this meant something more— something that Catt and the General had clearly barred themselves from venturing into. Those dark, silver-ringed eyes looked at her expectantly though, still waitin

