The instant Kane’s hand touched Penelope’s back, Crow stiffened, fighting the impulse to brush the nobleman off for her. Even though he knew the other man couldn’t have known he was flirting with a taken woman, he still found the gesture surprisingly bold. From what he’d heard, it sounded like the two had only met the night before, and yet Kane already had the confidence to make a pass at her. He narrowed his eyes, watching the romantic rival discreetly. The longer the night went on, the more grateful he was that he’d chosen to stay sober. If Kane tried to push for anything more physical with the knight, he would be quick to it shut down.

As Penelope assured them both that she was fine, he gave her hand an affectionate squeeze beneath the table, trying to simmer down so that he wouldn’t snap at the other man vying for her attention. Kane’s intentions were clear, but he hadn’t yet done anything to warrant a hostile reaction. If he lost his temper over something as simple as someone touching the knight’s back, he would have been sure to raise some brows. There were too many other people around to justify causing a scene.

When Kane addressed him with a question, Crow casted him a cagey look. He wasn’t sure why the nobleman was suddenly interested in his drinking habits, or lack thereof. They didn’t need a fourth participant to play their game, and it made no difference to the other man whether he was drunk or sober. He parted his lips to say so but didn’t get the chance before Penelope’s voice made him flinch.

For a moment, he felt a flash of worry that she would accidentally let slip that he was staying alert to keep their secret, but luckily, the tipsy lieutenant seemed to forget what she was saying halfway through her sentence. Relaxing again, he smiled at her amusedly as she turned to him with a clumsy explanation for his behavior. Despite the near catastrophe, he couldn’t help but find her intoxicated expression endearing. The flush in her cheeks was cute, and her features had softened innocently. If there hadn’t been other nobles around, he would have leaned in to kiss her.

“You’re one to talk,” he teased her with a playful nudge of his shoulder. “But yes. I’ve never liked what alcohol does to me, so I just drink it for the taste.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Naida leaned forward in her seat, her eyes glittering curiously. “What’re you like when you’re drunk?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Crow winked at her, dancing around the question. Knowing how persistent his sister was in her goal to “push” him and Penelope together, he didn’t want to tell her that he had a hard time keeping his hands to himself when he had a few mugs of strong ale.

“That’s not fair,” the princess complained. “I’ve never seen you drunk before.” She turned to Penelope with a pleading look. “Tell me! Why’d you say he’s a mess?”

“Look, your next round is here,” Crow cut in abruptly, attempting to change the subject as the wench arrived with full mugs for Naida and Kane. He glanced at the knight from the corner of his eye, hoping she would get distracted before she could tell the others what he’d done before.