“You’ll have to forgive the duke,” offers King Benedict calmly. “We went to school together, and he once licked every pastry on a platter to prevent anyone else from taking one. I’m afraid you very nearly fell prey to the same tactic.” A giggle bubbles from my lips, and I find myself looking directly into his eyes as I respond, tummy fluttering with nerves as I do. “Someone should have taken one for the team and eaten one. Think of all the trouble it would have saved women everywhere if that strategy had proven ineffective early on.”
