Oh…shit.
Realizing this could go south so very quickly, I sank lower in my seat and became quite fascinated with the salad a servant had just set before me.
Next to me, Allera froze solid before slowly saying, “G-gift, my lady?”
“Yes.” Vienne’s voice was filled with rueful embarrassment. “I didn’t realize our conversation about my passion for grumpackers would prompt you into leaving two heaping baskets of them outside my bedchamber, but I’m most delighted by them. Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness.”
“I…” Allera started slowly, only for Brentley to exclaim, “Oh! Is that why I had to show your brother the way to the market square earlier? So he could procure the baskets of fruit for you, my lady? Now, it makes sense.”
Allera stared at him blankly a moment before she sharply turned my way. I sent her a quick, mute—guilty—glance. The scowl she returned told me I was going to be in so much trouble as soon as she got me somewhere alone.
But then her smile bloomed, and she turned back to Vienne. “Well, I was just… I was inspired, my lady, by…by our conversation this morning. And I… I wanted to make a good impression on you.”
Vienne nodded gracefully. “Well, it worked. Thank you again.”
“Anytime.”
Under the table, Allera grabbed my leg and sunk her fingernails harshly into my thigh, warning me of what I already knew was coming.
I wasn’t wrong, either. As soon as the meal finished, and it seemed safe enough for me to leave without “offending” anyone, I rose from my chair and strode—not fled, but very masculinely strode—from the hall.
Once I found myself alone in the corridor, I picked up my pace, thinking that if only I could make it back to my room before Allera did, I could bar the door against her for the rest of the night. Because I definitely wasn’t in the mood for another lecture from my sister, again.
I hurried around one corner, and then another before I almost plowed directly into the woman who stood, waiting for me, scowl in place and arms crossed over her chest as the toe of her slipper peeked out from the hem of her dress where she tapped it ominously against the floor.
Dammit. Why did she have to learn her way around this place faster than I had?
“Sister,” I said casually, even though my breath was a bit winded from the pace I’d been keeping.
“Brother,” she bit out before she reached forward and grabbed my ear. “Have you lost your damn mind?”
Chapter 10
Vienne
After I was able to keep Nicolette and Yasmin from having a cat fight right there at the dinner table, Caulder and Soren began to discuss trading regulations with our neighbors.
“All I’m saying,” Soren argued, lifting his hands, “is that raising taxes a single pence on the pound won’t make that big of a difference.”
“Except it does when the kingdoms ordering from us are requesting thousands of pounds at a time,” Caulder shot back. “Far Shore is already complaining about the prices we do charge, and we charge them less than any other realm.”
“Pfft.” Soren shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Then I guess they can buy their clear rock from someone else. Oh, wait.” He dramatically slapped the palm of his hand against his forehead. “That’s right. No one else makes clear rock, so they’ll just have to suck it up and keep paying what we quote them if they truly want it that bad, which they do. Everyone wants what we have. We should profit from that.”
I opened my mouth to respond, only to close it again, because I didn’t figure Soren would appreciate it if I mentioned how I’d heard a rumor about the kingdom of Corandra successfully producing their own version of clear rock. My sources said it wasn’t nearly as smooth or transparent as our clear rock, but soon—within mere years—I doubted our clear rock would be any better.
If I mentioned any of this, however, Soren would only want to know where I’d heard such nonsense, and I wouldn’t be able to answer him, so he’d only shrug my concerns off as completely irrelevant. Or he’d point out that Corandra was too busy fighting off an invasion from the kingdom of Blair to even worry about them as a rival.
He never seemed to worry about other realms hating us; he only pontificated about how money was the end-all, be-all. And while, yes, a profit was nice, of course, I also thought keeping inter-kingdom relations at a good standing might suit us better for when the time came that we did have worthy, legitimate competition selling clear rock.
Caulder glanced my way as if he could hear my mental disagreement with my husband, and he must’ve seen it in my eyes as well, because his shoulders relaxed as if he were settled by the fact that he had some support in his corner for not raising our trading tariff.
Clasping his hands on the top of the table next to his finished meal, he eyed my husband solemnly before saying, “Though I appreciate your concerns for our profit margin, Cousin, I don’t wish to change the price at this time. Not until a need arises, anyway.”
“Then you’re a damn fool,” Soren growled, shoving up from his chair as he glared back at Caulder. “Mark me, this is a grave mistake.” Then he transferred his glare to me as if blaming me for the king’s decision before he marched from the dining hall.
I glanced toward Caulder, only to watch his jaw tense noticeably as he stared after Soren. His cousin was the only person he allowed to talk to him with such anger and disrespect. I wondered if that was because Soren was older. If his own father hadn’t been born mere minutes before Soren’s, then Soren would be sitting on the Donnelly throne right now.
But the king shouldn’t let such things bother him. He was the one in charge, and he needed to fulfill his duty to his people despite Soren’s blustering rants.
“You made the right decision,” I told him, thinking he needed to hear it. And when his gaze flashed to me, he nodded, looking grateful that I’d spoken up.
Between us, Yasmin sent me a sharp scowl before turning to her husband as well and stroking his arm. “Yes, of course, you did, darling. All your decisions are most wise.”
Caulder pressed his hand over hers and smiled affectionately. “Thank you, my dear.”
I glanced across the table to see if Brentley would have a say in the subject, as well. He usually put in his opinion after Caulder had made a judgment call. But I was startled to find Brentley gone. Everyone on the other side of the table—Nicolette and the two High Cliff siblings included—had already departed for the evening.
Feeling suddenly strange about being the only other person left in the room along with Caulder and Yasmin—especially when he leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips—I removed my napkin from my lap and set it quietly on the table.
When I stood, I had to push my seat way out to be able to stand without my belly hitting the edge. But the chairs were so terribly large and heavy I had trouble moving them, so a kind servant waiting against the wall hurried forward to help me.
I shot him a grateful smile, only to catch sight of one of those love marks tattooed to the corner of his eye. He must’ve recently come over with the prince and princess from High Cliff. His mark, however, was red in color, where I swear the prince’s ink was black.
Curiosity reigned, but I refrained from asking him what the difference was.
Feeling strangely restless, I decided to take some fresh air outside before retiring to my room, so I turned in the opposite direction than I usually went as I left the dining hall. But I didn’t get far before I found myself approaching lowered voices ahead, both hissed in anger.
I slowed to a stop, not wanting to intrude on what was obviously a personal conversation. Except, when I started to turn around and head back the other way, some of the words reached my ear.
“My God. You almost exposed us. I could just strangle you for this. I told you not to do anything.” While I couldn’t tell who spoke, they seemed extremely upset. “How dare you—”
“Excuse me? How dare I? I did nothing wrong.” The second voice wasn’
t so quiet and thus easier for me to recognize. Prince Urban had a very clear, distinct baritone.
Curious who he was arguing with, I set a hand against the wall and cautiously peered around the corner, only to jerk back when I caught sight of his sister’s back as she faced him, her finger pointed archly at his face. “I explicitly ordered you not to—”
“And I repeat, I did nothing wrong,” he insisted more calmly this time. “No one was hurt. It actually made her smile, if I recall, and oh… Did I mention I did absolutely nothing wrong?”
I thought maybe they were talking about his offer to teach Nicolette how to play chess, until Princess Allera hissed out an impatient sigh before answering. “You’re the one who’ll be hurt, Urban. There is no gain in this for you. I know you feel connected to—”
“Hush!” he hissed, interrupting her for the third time in a row. “Watch what you say. We’re not alone.”
“What do you mean, we’re not—oh!”
I was so busy wondering what he felt connected to and how it would hurt him even though whatever it was had made some unnamed woman smile that it took me a moment to realize he was referring to me when he’d said they weren’t alone.
Oh no! He somehow knew I’d accidentally started eavesdropping on them. I wasn’t sure if I’d made a noise, if he could see my shadow on the floor, or what, but he knew.
My heart tripping into double time, I pushed away from the wall to flee in the opposite direction, but the princess suddenly appeared around the corner, looking winded.
I gasped, not expecting her to appear so suddenly.
She gasped as well. “My lady,” she said, her voice high and breathless.
I blinked at her before glancing around the corner, only to find her brother turning away and marching stiffly down the hall away from us. There was no way to hide my curiosity or the fact that I’d heard some of their conversation. So I turned back to Princess Allera with a worried smile.
“Is everything alright, Princess?”
“Oh!” She puffed out a harried breath as if equally surprised I would address the situation as candidly as I had. “You mean…that? Yes, I… Yes, of course, my lady. My brother… He…”
She motioned after the prince with a tense laugh, only for her smile to fall and sadness to enter her eyes as she watched him retreat. When he disappeared around a corner, she turned back to me with a wave of the hand, trying to dismiss the fact that she had tears in her eyes.
“He has a good heart; he just does the stupidest, most reckless things with it sometimes. It’s exhausting. Younger siblings can be so aggravating when they deliberately ignore your wisdom and experience.” After forcing another laugh, she asked, “Do you have any younger brothers or sisters yourself, my lady?”
“Only Yasmin,” I murmured, understanding her vexation perfectly, since Yasmin had aggravated me plenty.
But my answer seemed to confuse her. “Oh, I didn’t… I mean…” She blinked at me before laughing and apologizing. “I’m sorry. I just assumed you were younger than the queen.”
I grinned. “Well, thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Princess Allera chuckled again before leaning in and setting a hand on my forearm. “I hope I don’t seem too forward by asking this. I’m just confused… Or maybe I’m too used to the customs we have at home. But where I come from, the oldest daughters usually get paired to the higher rank in an arranged marriage. Yet, here…” Blushing, she took her hand off me and stepped back. “I’m sorry. That felt unforgivably rude to even bring up.”
“No, it’s okay,” I assured her. “And you’re right. The custom is the same here. My family fully expected me to marry Caulder, but when the king arrived to meet us, he took one look at Yasmin and, well… That was that.” With a smile, I sighed and shook my head. “I assure you, I’m pleased they were actually able to find true love.”
“Yes,” the princess murmured, looking even more forlorn than she had been. “It’s such a blessing when someone can be with their one true love.”
Realizing she must be thinking of her first husband and how she was now ending up with a forced marriage, I rushed to reassure her. “Never fear, Princess. Your union with Prince Brentley will be fair. I promise you. I think he’s the kindest, gentlest soul I’ve ever met. He’ll be a good husband. I just know it.”
The princess trilled out a watery laugh and then impulsively threw her arms around me in a warm hug. “Thank you again, my lady, for your continued reassurances about him. I have a feeling you’re very right. He’s been nothing but warm and considerate since we met. And I have another feeling you’re the female version of him, too, for you also have been most kind and welcoming. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it.” When she pulled away, she gave me a nod of approval as if proud of me for my behavior.
It caused a knot of emotion to swell in my throat. Not used to such praise and a bit uncomfortable by it, yet touched beyond measure, I nodded stiffly, hoping I could make a true friend from the princess of High Cliff.
“Please, call me Vienne,” I said. “I may have been born with my title, but it’s never felt right when people refer to me as my lady.”
With a laugh, the princess nodded. “I’m the same with princess. I always search the room for my sister-in-law, Ianna, when someone says it. Which means I would be delighted for you to call me simply Allera in return.”
“It’s a deal.”
We shared a smile, and something warm flowed through my chest. A moment later, the smile on her lips fell as she glanced down the hall in the direction her brother had disappeared. After a long, draining sigh, she murmured, “If you’ll excuse me, I should probably track down my annoying little brother and make amends.”
“Good luck,” I encouraged as I stepped back to let her pass.
With a snort, she muttered, “Thank you. I’ll need it. It’s always a trial to get him to apologize to me.”
Chapter 11
Urban
The second morning I woke in the Iron Castle, I was hard and aching, much like the previous morning. But today, when I reached down to grip myself before I even opened my eyes, I tried to draw a picture of Vienne in my mind to heighten the pleasure, except I’d yet to get quite close enough to her to really capture definite details.
I’d finally gotten to hear her voice the day before, yet that barely scratched the surface of my curiosity. I wanted to know every mole, freckle, and scar on her skin. I wanted to count her eyelashes, trace her fingerprints with my own, cup the heel of her foot within my hand and slide my palm up the length of her leg. I wanted to smell her, every inch of her. I had to know everything there was to know about her body, and then I wanted inside her head and her heart until I’d inspected every molecule that made her her.
Why had the mark chosen this woman for me?
That was the biggest question.
Frustrated because there just wasn’t enough in my memory banks to form a complete picture of her in my head, I growled and gripped myself harder. It didn’t work. There was no satisfaction.
I had to know more, get closer. That’s all there was to it.
Giving up my task, I flung off my sheet and crawled out of bed. I washed my face with cold, bracing water and rinsed down the rest of me with the same. The chill killed my erection but inflamed my sour mood.
Knowing only one thing would ease my temperament, I started out the door, determined to get as close to Lady Vienne as was humanly possible…without anyone being the wiser—her included.
A servant loitered in the hallway, just outside my room. He stirred, jumping to attention when I flung the door open, and we both started, not expecting to see the other.
“My lord,” he gasped bowing low. “I just wanted to see if you needed anything. A shave? A break from your fast? A bath? Clean linens?”
My hand went to the scruff growing along my jaw. A shave did sound nice, but I’d always shaved myself. The same with baths.
“Not hungry,” I
told him. “But maybe bring some bath water to my room tonight? Sound okay?”
“Uh…oh! Yes, certainly. Whatever you wish, my—my lord?”
He blinked after me as I started down the hall away from him, so I waved over my shoulder. “Can’t talk now. But I’ll be looking forward to that bath tonight. And refresh the linens however you please. Thanks.”
I left the confused servant standing in the middle of the hall as I turned a corner and followed the draw from my mate. Many servants were already up and about, sweeping floors, dusting corners, lighting candles. When I passed a window, the amount of sunlight flooding in through the clear rock surprised me.
Damn. I’d never been a late sleeper before, but the day already seemed to be in full bloom. I swear, the times were different here, because I found myself staying up later at night than I usually did, as well. Guessing it must be mid-morning, I attempted to walk with confidence, as if I knew exactly where I was going and what my purpose was. People tended to bother you less when you didn’t look lost.
It didn’t take me long to realize where I was headed. She must be back in the East Salon again this morning.
I frowned because there weren’t a lot of inconspicuous hiding places outside the door to that room. Anyone who passed by in the hall would know I was eavesdropping.
Double damn.
I supposed I could simply just enter the room as if I had every right to be there, proclaiming that my sister had waxed poetic about the view and that I merely wanted to see it for myself. But the idea of actually talking to her intimidated the hell out of me. I worried I’d blurt out something too personal or reveal my bond. Plus, I had this awful fear that I’d try so hard to impress her that I’d come across as a total dolt, and she wouldn’t like me. I’d never been so self-conscious before, which annoyed the hell out of me and made me even more determined to avoid direct contact.