Opal blinked when the words came at her out of the dark. Whatever she'd been expecting, it hadn't been a quiet request for aid. Because she was at heart a generous and helpful person, it was automatic for her to turn and do as she'd been requested, her hands reaching under the aprons hanging from the pegs nearby. It was only as her fingers closed around what must be the bag this man was looking for that she realized just who that man was, and she froze again.
It was not her fault that she didn't immediately recognize him. She rarely saw him, so she rarely heard him. And that soft, almost-whisper was not a tone she'd heard him use before. But a glance over her shoulder confirmed her suspicion: Yes, that was her husband. What was he going to do? Was he going to yell at her? There was no way now for her to run and make her escape, because eventually she'd have to face him again. She was married to him. They had to make an heir. It was unavoidable.
She turned, with the bag in her hand, silently offering it to him with an outstretched arm waiting for him to be done rearranging his sword. It was only then as she took in the fact that he was dressed rather plainly. Not that he generally wore fancy things, like his parents did, but he was usually dressed quite nicely. And it wasn't that he wasn't dressed nicely now, he would never be mistaken for a commoner. It was just sort of muted, somehow. Opal couldn't quite put her finger on it. Maybe it was the darker color? She didn't know. But her husband was not dressed like her husband. How very odd.
Wait.
Was he...?
No, he couldn't be. Could he?
He was, wasn't he?
He was sneaking out too? Opal blinked again, surprised by the idea, and there was an openly questioning look on her face as she regarded the prince. Utterly consumed by curiosity, she broke her rule about speaking and softly queried, "What are you doing?"
Her hand immediately moved to catch the pearl and two evening primrose blossoms that tumbled from her lips. The flowers she tucked in her hair; she got so very tired of watching the servants throw them out. The pearl was offered to her husband, and she was now holding both arms out in his direction, waiting for an answer and watching his face. She did that a lot, watched his face. He had a very handsome face.