~ ZARA ~
Abigail must have realized what I was battling, because she leaned over me for a moment and met my eyes, nodding with a small smile, before going back to my hair.
"You are wise to keep any of the King's secrets," she murmured. "I will not ask you to breach his confidence. But since you are here without family… well, I feel that some woman must be there for you. And the others are… not unbiased in how they might advise you. So, if you will allow me, I'll speak to you as I would my own daughter, if I had one?"
I was so touched. "Abigail… Yes. Please. I would love that."
She nodded as if it was only what she'd expected. "Very well, then I will ask you, Zara. Where does your heart lay? If His Highness were not His Highness, but only a man… one who had expressed his interest… what would you hope for? How does your heart hold him as… a man?"
