Do not forget

Evie did not understand how a man like the king could spark such a reaction from someone as beautiful as her sister – or any woman for that matter. The king was not an ugly man, but he was not particularly handsome either. Not like his son. 
Thinking of Milo made her smile and she leaned back on her chair. Did he often invite women on hunts, or did this make her special? She dared not ask her father, in case he found the answer too obvious and the question thereby made her look stupid.
Andrea’s heart was not the only one bursting. Now that the prince had entered her mind, she found it difficult to rid herself of his wonderful presence. If only their moment in the tree hadn’t been cut so short, they might have shared another kiss. 
“You have to tell me all about your night together, later.” Evie finally said as her sister readied herself to leave. Her words earned her a grunt from Lucian Romano, but he said no more and Evie shot him a smile. Personally, she did not find the king particularly attractive but what woman wouldn’t be curious to know what it was like to bed a king?
“Do not forget, Andrea. You are a Romano.” Lucian said as his oldest daughter marched for the door. “For the love of god, do act like it.”
Evie stared at the table and only when her sister had left the room did she look up and face her father.
“Must you speak to her like that? She is only trying to please you.”
“And failing, greatly. As she always has.” Lucian said, his tone of voice making it painfully clear that they would continue this subject no further. 
“She has never failed me.” Evie said silently and stared at her plate, suddenly finding that she had lost her apatite.  

Luca had not dared presume that a queen would take any interest in how he spent his time with his sister. Especially since she couldn’t possibly know which sister he was referring to and one of them just so happened to be her husband’s mistress. Luca would not have been able to blame her, had she not wanted to hear any more of it. 
“There is no need for you to apologize, my queen.” He said with a smile. He found it curious that she in turn found him curious, but he wasn’t about to question it. If she had a curious heart then so be it.
He glanced down at her raised one eyebrow. Was it appropriate for her to walk the gardens with a lord? He wasn’t aware of the customs for queens but it would no doubt be judged harsher than had the king walked with a woman. The king danced with, and touched and kissed other women and no one batted an eye. 
“Having a curious heart is a good thing, is it not?” Luca could not claim that he himself shared that trait, but he respected it in others. Beautiful women, especially.