Chapter 13
Chapter
Thirteen
“Prince Cassius and his wife?” Elowen’s eyes lit up. She doubted the pair were eager to be forced into a formal gala halfway through an arduous journey, but selfishly, she was excited. She was very curious to meet them. “The famous, scandalous pair,” she said, grinning at her mother.
“There’s nothing scandalous about the heir to the Carrackian throne and his lawful wife,” the queen said sternly.
“Well, not now,” Elowen conceded. “But I remember plenty of whispers when she was serving as his bodyguard. It was quite a sensation, even here in Torrens.”
“It was a sensation in Siqual as well,” Theo interjected. “Although in our case it was largely outrage that the Carrackians had stolen away my sister’s bodyguard to protect their prince.”
Elowen stepped toward him eagerly. “Of course, you know Princess Flora well, don’t you?”
“Fairly well,” he confirmed. “She and my sister have been close since they attended the academy together.” He inclined his body in a half-bow toward the king and queen. “Here in Toledda.”
“Yes, we’re very proud that Her Highness was educated here in our capital,” Queen Lisbeth said with a regal smile.
Elowen made a scoffing noise that drew a veiled scowl from her mother. “I assume you mean Princess Miriam, because I don’t recall anyone being proud of Princess Flora studying here back when we’d never heard of her.”
“Elowen.” There wasn’t much heat in her father’s rebuke, but Elowen raised a hand in surrender. She turned to Theo. “You must be looking forward to seeing your friend again.”
The opening door made them all turn to see their visitors being ushered into the room by the king’s steward.
They’d obviously changed since their arrival, but Elowen could see the weariness of the road on both their faces.
They hid it politely, however, as they greeted their hosts with gracious manners.
“It was very kind of you to invite us to stay, Your Majesty,” Princess Flora said to Elowen’s mother. “Our suite is beautifully appointed.”
“We’re delighted to receive you back in our city,” the queen said, the emphasis on the word back not very subtle. Elowen’s eyes flew to Theo, and they both turned away quickly, hiding their smiles.
The shared moment was quickly replaced by self-consciousness for Elowen, when she looked up to see Princess Flora watching them with interest. As her husband greeted the king and queen, the princess turned to Theo.
“Theo, I’m so glad to see you!” She took the hand he offered, smiling warmly. “How’s Miriam?”
“She was well when I left Sindon,” he said. “She misses you.”
“I miss her as well,” Flora said. She sent a meaningful look toward Elowen. “Are you going to introduce me to your betrothed?”
“Elowen, Flora,” Theo said with a smile. “I’m sure you two will get along.”
“I hope so, since I’ve seated them together.” Queen Lisbeth’s interruption was their cue to move toward the banquet hall, where the other guests would be starting to gather.
Prince Cassius politely offered Elowen his arm, but he was too engrossed in a conversation with Patrick to actually speak with her.
She surveyed him surreptitiously. His hair, a lighter brown than Theo’s, was longer than was the fashion in Torrens, but it wasn’t unruly.
In fact, everything about him was ordered and powerful.
His arm was muscled under her hand as he led her into the banquet hall, and the line of his jaw was straight and a little severe.
The story she’d heard of his romance with his now wife had been dramatic and exciting, but she would never have guessed from his demeanor that he was capable of that kind of passion.
Maybe looks could be deceiving, even in stiff princes.
She resisted the urge to let her eyes follow the direction of her wistful thoughts, but her focus still shifted to Theo, walking behind her with Princess Flora.
The princess obviously didn’t realize that Elowen wasn’t immersed in the conversation between her brother and Prince Cassius, because she spoke with the humorous ease of believing her words private.
“Oh dear, Theo. It’s a bit of a problem, isn’t it?”
“What’s that?” Theo’s deep voice rumbled at a lower volume than his companion’s, but Elowen had become attuned to it and had no difficulty hearing.
“Your princess. She’s gorgeous. Possibly the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen.”
There was a moment of silence, in which Elowen’s cheeks felt warm.
“I’ve noticed.” The calm response from Theo fanned the warmth into a raging inferno. He had? “Why is that a problem?”
“Well, she’s too captivating, isn’t she? We need someone lively and enchanting like that for Xavier, but I always pictured you with a staid, serious girl, who wouldn’t mind not being swept off her feet in a whirlwind of romance.”
The words were spoken in a jesting tone, but the pause that followed them was painful, and when he finally replied, Theo’s voice was stiff.
“Well, unhappily for both her and Xavier—and you also, it seems—she’s not betrothed to Xavier. She’s betrothed to me.”
A strange sensation went over Elowen at the rumbling words. She should probably be offended by the possessive edge to his voice. But she wasn’t.
“Theo, I’ve offended you.” Princess Flora’s voice was instantly contrite.
“Truly, I was only trying to tease. Of course you and your bride will do very well together. And I wouldn’t wish Xavier on her for a moment.
We both know that as much fun as he is, the woman he marries will have all our sympathy. ”
Elowen couldn’t catch the words of Theo’s reply, but his tone had relaxed in response to the humor in Princess Flora’s voice.
They’d entered the banquet hall, and for several minutes they were all consumed by the bustle of the king’s welcome and everyone taking their seats.
When everything settled, Elowen found herself seated beside Princess Flora, as her mother had promised.
Theo’s place was on her other side, but he hadn’t taken it yet, standing for a moment in conversation with Patrick.
“I’m so glad to get the chance to meet you, Princess Elowen,” Princess Flora said.
“You as well,” said Elowen. “And please, no need for the title.”
“Likewise,” Flora said, sounding relieved.
Elowen looked her over surreptitiously. She was pretty, but in a more everyday way than she’d expected, after hearing her story.
Her hair was a similar color to her husband’s, a little too straight to be fashionable.
And while her face had a softness to it that made Elowen instantly warm to her, she held herself with a watchful, capable posture that couldn’t have been more different from the manners adopted by the women in the Torrenese court.
“I don’t claim the level of friendship with Prince Theo I’m so lucky to enjoy with Princess Miriam,” Flora went on. “But I have a very high opinion of him, and will be so glad to see him happy in marriage.”
“Let’s hope you will see that,” Elowen said lightly.
“I’m sure I will.” There was something more than politeness in Flora’s words, and Elowen found herself more invested in the stranger’s verdict than she should be. “He likes you,” Flora added. “Very much.”
“Did he confide in you so quickly?” Elowen laughed, wishing her cheeks weren’t so quick to get warm.
Flora’s smile was a little too knowing. “No, I don’t think Theo is in the habit of confiding in anyone. But I used to be a guard, you know. I’m good at noticing the little ways people give their intentions and opinions away. It’s part of the role.”
She nodded toward where Theo and Patrick were speaking, and Elowen followed her gaze.
“See how he’s angled toward you? His eyes are on your brother, but his feet are pointing toward you. He’s aware of you, every moment. If you needed him, or I suspect even wanted him, he’s unconsciously placed himself in a position to instantly respond.”
“That’s quite a conclusion from the direction of his feet,” Elowen said, although under her casual words she was fascinated.
“There are other things,” Flora said comfortably.
“As we walked in, his eyes were on you more often than anything else.” She grinned.
“He even scanned the room as we entered with a look I saw many times when guarding Princess Miriam. An ever so slight hint of jealousy as he assesses any competition.” Her expression became pained.
“Poor Mim is probably still putting up with it from every eligible nobleman in her court, since she remains unmarried. Thanks to my unplanned interference,” she added as an afterthought.
“Your story sounded very exciting,” Elowen said, her mind half on the other girl’s revelations. Was she right about Theo? Did Elowen dare ask her whether she also had some insightful answer for why he was so reluctant to show the attachment he apparently felt?
“It was certainly an adventure,” Flora said. “I confess I’m glad it’s over and everything’s settled, though. I still have too many guard-like instincts to enjoy danger, especially danger coming after Cassius.”
Her eyes drifted to where her husband had just joined Theo and Patrick, her expression somehow both softer and more fierce than before.
Elowen felt a prickle of jealousy, not over Prince Cassius, but over the intimacy of the understanding between the couple.
Her eyes drifted to Theo, and she stilled when she found his gaze on her as well.
Her heart beat a little faster as he abruptly broke off his conversation with Patrick and strode to his seat at her side.
“My apologies, Elowen,” he said, in his deep, steady voice. “I’m a poor dinner companion so far.”
She just smiled. “You did very well in your event this afternoon,” she said. “Congratulations on progressing to the next round.”
“I’m sorry we won’t be able to stay to watch the rest of the tournament,” Flora cut in. “It sounds fascinating. But we really do have to leave first thing. We’re not even going to be able to join the dancing tonight.”