"Lovers and Beloveds" chapter 1.8 is live

The conclusion of chapter 1:

Temmin found his tea laid out on the small table in his study. "Oh thank Amma, I'm starving," he said as Jenks poured him a cup.

"When are you not starving, young sir? How did your dancing practice go?"

"Very well, actually!" said Temmin around a mouthful of ham sandwich. He swallowed. "I remember more of my dancing than I expected to, and I rather enjoyed it. And I danced with the prettiest maid."

"Stop dunking biscuits in your tea, you turn eighteen tomorrow. Miss Ellika is very lovely indeed, young sir," said Jenks as he walked back to the bedchamber.

"No, no, not Elly, though she's a very pretty maid, if you want to put it all poetically. Jenks, she was flirting with a footman!"

"Miss Ellika flirts with lampposts, Your Highness," the valet's voice floated from the other room.

"She needs to stop. She's a princess. No, I mean an actual maid, a very pretty little thing named Dannikson."

"Oh?"

"She reminds me very much of a girl I kissed at the Estate, the night before we left."

The valet's head appeared in the doorway. "You kissed a girl?"

"That's what I said, isn't it!" said Temmin, pleased with himself.

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