*Ella*
I look down at Perla with some dismay. “No wonder she’s so proud of herself.”
“Yes, she’s like one of those circus dancers who carry a dowry in her navel,” Gabriel says. “Obviously I truly missed an experience when Anastasia was unable to come. She and I would have so much to talk about.”
“Do you decorate your dogs as well?”
“I have no dogs, but I’m willing to consider the lion as a substitute.”
“Your lion is desperate for a larger cage,” I say, scowling at him.
“Dear me,” the prince says lazily. “I’m afraid that we’re attracting quite a bit of attention.”
I look up to discover that the lake is now positively littered with boats, and most of them seem to be filled with people craning their necks in the direction of the prince’s punt. “Damn and blast,” I mutter. I shake the wa
