Forty-One:
Prince Victor
Queen Giselle at me from across the parlor where we were having tea. “Is this really worth it?” she asked. “I realize I indulge you and Louis. Dear god, when your father told me he’d become a patron for the little ballerina for Louis, I thought he was insane.”
“Allegra,” I corrected, “her names Allegra, your majesty. You know that.”
“I do know that,” she said, putting her cup on the coffee table before her, “but I also know that even Louis has admitted he doesn’t know if she’s in love with him. Yet he still insists on keeping her around. Is it really worth it? I thought you said this girl was only with you keep Marlowe and Henry away from her.”
“It started out that way, yes,” I admitted, “but while she wa
