Hope said, "What is it, Rohbar?"
"You will join our party, little Hope?" He laid a heavy hand on her white arm. His face was turned toward me. I could not miss the gleaming look in his eyes as he regarded her.
"No," she said.
It seemed that he twitched at her, but she broke away from him.
Anger crossed his face, but the desirous look in his eyes remained.
"You are very bold, Hope, to spurn me like this." He had lowered his voice as though fearful that the king might hear him.
"Let me alone!" she said.
She darted away from him, but before she joined us she stood waiting until he turned away.
"No use," Hope whispered. "There is nothing we can do here. You heard what the king said—and the festival is already begun."