Will you get fat?" the king blurted out at Luce,eyeing her corset-squeezed waist. "I like the way she looks now," he said to the duke. "But I don't want her to get fat."
Had she been in her own body, Luce might have told the king exactly what she thought of his unappealing physique. But Lys had perfect composure, and Luce felt herself reply, "I should hope to always please the king,with my looks and with my temperament."
"Yes,of course," the duke purred, walking a tight circle around Luce. "I'm sure His Majesty could keep the princess on the diet of his choice."
"What about hunting?" the king asked.
"Your Majesty," the duke began to say, "that isn't befitting a queen. You have plenty of other hunting companions. I,for one-"
"My father is an excellent hunter," Luce said. Her brain was whirling, working toward something-anything-that might help her escape this scene.
"Should I bed down with your father, then?" the king sneered.
"Knowing Your Majesty likes guns," Luce said, straining to keep her tone polite, "I have brought you a gift-my father's most prized hunting rifle. He'd asked me to bring it to you this evening,but I wasn't sure when I'd have the pleasure of making your acquaintance."
She had the king's full attention. He was perched on the edge of this throne.
"What's it look like? Are there jewels in its butt?"
"The...the stock is hand-carved from cherrywood," she said,feeding the king the details Bill called out from where he stood beside the king's chair. "The bore was milled by-by-"
"Oh,what would sound impressive? By a Russian metalworker who has since gone to work for the czar." Bill leaned over the king's pastries and sniffed hungrily. "These look good.

Auteur: Lauren Kate