Chapter 10
The Evernean Forest
Cai
We didn’t walk very far before spotting smoke in the distance. It turned out to be the estate of one of the wealthy aristocrats. The Duke of Darwick appeared very welcoming and his wife most concerned at our tale of being attacked by bandits in the forest.
We received our own chambers, and our servants and guards got rooms in the maids’ quarters.
“What have you discovered?” I found Jack in one of the empty hallways before dinner.
“She’s a closed book, I’m afraid, and there isn’t much on the cover. Her mother died after she was born, so she was raised by a nursemaid. She spends a lot of time outdoors, reading or horse-riding, and apparently she and her brother aren’t very close.”
“Well, that seems to correspond with what we’ve seen of her, at least in some ways,” I replied.
“I’ll see what else I can find out. I also sent Alastor after that head guard of hers. Rhen, I believe his name is. Something isn’t right there. I don’t trust him,” he whispered.
“Thank you, Jack. I appreciate your efforts.”
“My best advice would be to have you grow as close to her as possible. She might trust you.”
“I’m the son of one of her father’s biggest enemies — why on earth would she trust me?”
“The war between Norrandale and Everness has been cold for years. Your parents are only enemies because their forefathers were.”
“Still, the marriage could be a cover-up for something else.”
“I’m not disagreeing with you, my prince. All I’m saying is that you should try to befriend her. Apart from the fact that she’s suspiciously good with self-defence and stealing small weapons, she’s not too bad.”
“Not too bad?” I chuckled. “That’s what you’re going with?”
“Hey, I’m just thanking the heavens she’s not my future wife.” He held up his hands in defence. “There’s something off about her that kind of scares the crap out of me.”
“Some friend you are.” I snorted.
“Like I said, I just get paid to protect you. So as long as she doesn’t try to kill you... again. She’s all your problem.”
We parted and I made my way to Eloisa’s chambers, a small box clutched tightly in my fist. I stopped in front of her door and took a deep breath before knocking.
The door was flung open. “I told you I would be down in a...” She stopped mid-sentence upon seeing that it was me standing at the threshold. I watched her cheeks fill with colour. “My apologies.” She took a step back, allowing me to enter the room. “I thought you were... well, never mind. Forgive me, Your Highness.”
“Please don’t call me that, I much prefer Cai.”
“Cai.” She tested the name on her lips and I felt a tug inside my stomach. Ignoring it, I stepped forwards, holding out my hand.
“I wanted to give you this.” I offered her the small box and she cautiously accepted it. “I was told you would be wearing red tonight.”
“Where did you get them?”
She carefully took out an earring and held it up. The rubies, embedded in gold, formed a raindrop of red. They dangled, glinting in the light from the window.
“I have my ways.” They were graciously given to me by the duchess, whom I promised to repay as soon as I could.
She smiled at me before turning around and facing the mirror to put them on. After turning her head side to side, she seemed satisfied enough. Eloisa proceeded to pick up her engagement gift from me. “Would you mind? I don’t think I can manage the clasp.” She held the necklace out to me. It felt strange to think that the last time I was holding it I had no idea who the woman was that would wear it.
“Of course,” I said and she turned, facing our reflection in the mirror.
I draped the necklace around her neck and fastened the clasp. I couldn’t help but notice the goosebumps form on her skin as my fingers touched her neck. I met her eyes in the mirror and they held an expression that I couldn’t quite read.
“Allow me to escort you?” I held out my arm and she placed her hand in the crook of my elbow. Despite the winding hallways and many staircases, we quickly found ourselves in the large dining hall of the Darwick Estate House.
“Your Highness.” The duke welcomed us with a bow, offering each of us a cup of wine. The taste of it was quite vile compared to Norrandish wine, but I managed a thankful smile at him.
“It really wasn’t necessary to have a feast for us.”
“It’s our honour, my prince,” he replied, but there was a peculiar look in his eyes that provoked a feeling of distrust in my gut.
“Eloisa!”
Her grip tightened on my arm at the sound of her name and we both turned to spot the duchess approaching us.
“I haven’t seen you since you were a child. Your mother and I were very close, you know?” Which was probably why she spoke to Eloisa with such familiarity despite the fact that Eloisa had a completely blank look on her face.
“My! You’ve grown into such a beautiful young woman!”
“Thank you,” Eloisa responded, her voice higher than before. She was already taking a step back, pulling me with her, but the duchess was not finished with her conversation.
“You know, I have to say, I was surprised at the announcement of your union with the Prince of Norrandale.” She gave me a look up and down. “But seeing the two of you together now, there cannot be a more beautiful couple in the kingdom. Say, do you have dates in mind for the wedding?” No doubt she was hoping to get an invitation.
“Cai has only just arrived in Everness, so we haven’t had a chance to discuss anything with my family.”
“And such an unfortunate arrival. King Magnus really ought to do something about those bandits and rid us of them once and for all.” Eloisa tensed up next to me. “I mean his own daughter could have gotten killed today. I’m so glad you two are safe.”
“Yes, your hospitality has been most kind.” I answered before Eloisa could say anything. “But I’m afraid we must move on now as there are a few more important people we must see. Or perhaps we will just be looking for a hidden alcove where I can kiss my fiancée.” Without waiting for a response from her flabbergasted face, I grabbed Eloisa’s hand and pulled her away.
“Are you mad?” She hit my arm, but didn’t let go of my hand until we reached the other side of the room. “You can’t say things like that.”
I let out a laugh. “It was a joke. And if she doesn’t have a sense of humour, it most certainly isn’t me who is at fault.”
She shook her head in what must have been disbelief, but gave me a grin that appeared to be sincere.
The large dining hall of the Duke of Darwick had been filled with guests and food as far as the eye could see. I was surprised by how quickly he’d managed to pull together such a large party. When the orchestra started playing a new song, I held out my hand to Eloisa. “Shall we?”
She appeared hesitant. “I’m afraid I’m not a very good dancer.”
I would admit that I was slightly disappointed, but I understood. She was a princess, after all. She didn’t have the luxury of embarrassing herself in front of people. Though she must have been the first lady I’d ever met who didn’t want to dance. Most of them received lessons soon after they could walk. It was a highly admired skill. But perhaps things were different in Everness. Or perhaps no amount of lessons could teach their princess to dance. I smiled at the thought of this small flaw.
“Very well, then you owe me one. How about we get another cup of something to drink?”
Relief washed over her face and she nodded.
“There must be something you’re not good at,” she remarked on our way to one of the servants holding a tray full of wine cups.
“I can’t whistle,” I offered and she started giggling. It was a pleasant sound.
“I’m serious,” she replied.
“So am I.” I took two cups of wine, handing her one. “If I were in a situation where my life depended on whistling, I would surely be a dead man.”
“I doubt you’d ever come into such a situation, though. Perhaps we shall have to find someone who can do it for you.”
“You mean someone who follows me around everywhere and whistles at my command?”
“Yes, he shall be the royal whistler. A most esteemed job.”
I laughed then and we took a seat at one of the long tables that stretched across the room. “Is there anything else I ought to know about, that you are positively atrocious at?”
“You shall have to wait and see.” She crossed her arms, leaning back into the chair. She only held this position for a moment, before suddenly pulling herself up pin-straight as if she had forgotten she was a lady. She met my eyes with an unreadable expression, but I acted nonchalantly. She was certainly unlike any princess I had met before.
We drank and we ate and then we drank some more, and Eloisa clung to my arm for most of the night as we were introduced to the guests, moving from one lord, duke or duchess to another.
“You want to know something?” Eloisa said later in the evening as she was leaning against one of the walls of the dining hall.
“What?” I asked, finishing another cup of wine and realising I’d lost count of how many cups I’d had. Eloisa let out a hiccup and placed her hands over her mouth, eyes wide before bursting out with a laugh. Apparently I wasn’t the only one.
“I think that you walk around with those broad shoulders and pretend you’re a soldier, always ready to fight but in here—” She placed a finger on my chest. “In here is another person who you won’t show to the world because you’re afraid of what they might think.”
“I’m a prince.” I placed my hand next to her head on the wall. “I was brought up to rule a kingdom, to be a soldier, not to have a personality.”
“Humph.” She tilted her head and looked across the room.
“What about you?” I asked and her eyes met mine again. “You’re a princess who pretends to care and act proper all the time, but you’d rather be outside, you clearly hate society and you’ve got a knack for throwing knives, for crying out loud.”
She squinted. “Have you been observing me?” When I didn’t answer, she said, “I’m a princess. I was brought up to be married off, not to have a personality.”
I was a bit taken aback. “Are you very unhappy about this union?”
She must have sensed a change in my tone because she said, “No, that’s not what I meant. I’m just...” She yawned. “I’m just tired, that’s all.”
“Shall I escort you back to your room?”
“Please.”
Truth be told, it was difficult to remember where her chambers were. I’d definitely had too much wine. And I wasn’t the only one. We stumbled up the stairs, giggling like little children before stopping in front of her bedroom door. She patted her pockets as if looking for a key and then burst out laughing at the realisation she didn’t have a key or pockets... that the door wasn’t locked at all.
One of the duke’s servants approached us in the hallway and we turned, holding our hands in front of our mouths to keep from laughing, but lost our game faces as soon as he passed.
“You truly did look beautiful tonight.” I had no idea where that came from.
“Well, it’s only fair I look my best now. Soon, I’ll be married and then I won’t have all the gentlemen falling at my feet.”
“I doubt your marital status will keep them from pursuing you.”
“Jealous much?” She raised an eyebrow, swinging back and forth a bit.
“Of course not.” I saw the Duke of Darwick’s son, Edgar, in my mind once more as he scanned Eloisa up and down while we were in conversation with him and his father.
“Liar.” She jabbed a finger at my chest.
I blinked slowly, regretting the fact that I’d had so much to drink and having the sickening feeling that there was nothing to stop my mouth from spilling out my thoughts.
“So what if I was?” I challenged her.
She shook her head. “I’ve grown up surrounded by men and I will never understand them.”
“What do you mean?”
“What’s there to be jealous about?” she questioned. “I’m already yours.”
I was still processing her words when she turned to open her door, and it must have been the combination of the wine and the long hems of her skirts, but she stumbled and, without thinking, I reached out to catch her around the waist.
She swallowed hard, facing me once more. I didn’t drop my arms.
“I hate these stupid dresses. I’m always tripping over everything.” She wiped a loose strand of hair away from her face in frustration. Eloisa looked up at me then and I caught myself leaning in without meaning to. She stared at my eyes before her gaze travelled down to my lips and back up to my eyes again.
We were close enough to share a breath when the door behind us flew open.