Chapter 13
Woodsbrook Manor
Lara
I ran up the marble steps to my chambers, heat crawling up my neck. I had arranged the hunt for Cai in the hope I might earn more of his trust and his affection. Even if it didn’t aid me at the end of play, it certainly wouldn’t make things worse. It would be impossible to take the sword with his guards constantly surrounding him. They weren’t with us on the ride, but for some reason I hadn’t felt like knocking the man off his horse and leaving him unconscious in the woods.
Maybe it’s that stupid smile he keeps sending my way.
Even though I hated to admit it, some part of me would feel better if I took it from him without his knowing. Which didn’t make sense, because I had no reason to feel guilty. I was one of the best bandits in the kingdom. Bandits didn’t feel guilt.
Cordelia was already waiting in my room, ready to help me change. I told her about the hunt and shared my concerns regarding Cai’s interrogative questions, but I could tell by the look in her eyes that her mind was somewhere else completely.
“Cordelia?” I asked a few minutes after saying something and still not having received a reply from her. She looked up to meet my gaze in the mirror as she was brushing my hair.
“Yes?”
“What did you do today?” I questioned, a smirk on my face and the memory of the night I caught her up to something on my mind.
Cordelia looked abashed and it gave her away. “Oh, you know. I—” She started to fumble for words. “I just went for a little walk and got a book from the library, that sort of thing.” She went back to brushing my hair with fierce concentration.
“Where did you go for a walk?”
“Mmhhh?”
I could tell she was avoiding the question.
“You said you went for a little walk. Where did this walk take place?”
“In the rose garden,” she replied, too quickly.
“Oh, I see,” I said. “And were you alone?”
She looked up again and I grinned. “A gentleman was with you, wasn’t he?” Her eyes went wide and she began to shake her head, but I didn’t give her a chance to reply before letting out a small gasp. “Oh, Cordelia,” I teased. “Is it because he’s in fact not a gentleman that you refrain from telling me?”
Her mouth was wide open as she scrambled for something to say. I turned in my seat to face her.
“Is he a servant? Or a pirate or an outlaw that you met up with at the harbour town?”
She looked about ready to jump out of the window if that was what it took to get away from this conversation.
I held her by her wrists. “Or is he married? Or a romancer that your father would disapprove of?”
She said nothing but her face was an open book. “Ah, so that’s it.”
“Is there anything else I can help you with?” She put the brush down on the dresser.
“Yes, actually.” I turned back to face the mirror. “I need a big favour from you. Tonight I’m going to meet Prince Cai in the rose garden.”
“Alone?”
We both knew it was inappropriate according to the rules of polite society and the monarchy, but that was exactly what I would be counting on.
“Yes, alone, and then I need you to sneak up to his chambers and steal his sword while I keep him distracted.”
“Have you gone mad? I can’t do that.”
“Please, Cordelia, you have to. Lance is pressuring me and I’m afraid I shall have to suffer consequences if I don’t get this over with soon.”
She didn’t seem convinced, but agreed anyway.
I waited in my chambers for the sun to set before putting on my cloak Pulling the door open, I was a little surprised to find Rhen there, clearly standing guard.
“Don’t you have anything better to do?” I asked. “Like an assigned duty?”
“This is my assigned duty. I am to keep watch at your door.”
“You say it as if it means keeping someone unwanted from coming in. But you and I both know it’s to keep me from going out.” I smirked.
“Where exactly are you going?”
“For a walk.” I shrugged. “I need some fresh air.”
“Lara.”
I turned to face him.
“Princesses don’t sneak out of their rooms at night,” he warned, as if he could read my mind.
I squared my shoulders. “Well, it’s a good thing I’m not a real princess, then.”
The evening air created a chill down my spine as I stepped into the garden and I pulled my cloak closer to my neck. I rushed down the steps that led into the large gardens of the manor house. Cordelia had informed me that Cai’s chamber windows looked over the west side of the garden. Hiding my head beneath the hood, I strode past the large hedges and berry bushes.
I hoped that this absurd plan would work out. There was no guarantee that anything would go the way I wanted. In fact this whole plan was based on my gut instinct about Cai’s character. And I’d been wrong about character before.
I walked slowly, in the shimmer of the moonlight, my figure visible between the splashes of flowery colour hidden in the night shadows. Cordelia had pulled out a beautiful dress. It was simpler than my other gowns but just as elegant. The material was white and light blue, my sleeves long and flowing. Every fibre of my being yearned to look back and up at his window to see if he was looking outside, if he had noticed my movement. But it was too risky. He shouldn’t for one second consider this was planned.
I allowed my fingers to run over the nearby leaves when I heard footsteps on the marble steps of the back porch. A rhythm I had become all too familiar with.
I smiled, although pretending I had heard nothing, and stalked among the tall thorny rose hedges until I could no longer hear his steps. But I knew he would find me still.
This part of the garden was a maze, turning to the left and right. With only the moonlight as a guide, you could barely see where you were going. The green hedges allowed for plenty of dark, secluded corners. It was a good thing I wasn’t a real princess with an actual reputation to be concerned about. This would be considered positively scandalous.
“You’re out late, Your Highness.” The sound of Cai’s voice forced me to stop at the entrance to the maze.
“So are you.” I picked one of the white roses and held it up to my nose, still not having turned to face him. I feared my expression would give me away.
“Well, I am a gentleman, if nothing else. It wouldn’t be right to leave a lady wandering outside alone at night.”
I faked surprise in my voice. “You followed me?”
“The more important question is what are you doing out here alone at this hour?”
I looked at him over my shoulder for a moment, pretending to hide a grin.
“I needed some fresh air,” I stated nonchalantly as Cai fell into step beside me. I couldn’t help but feel a certain tension between us. Something I’d only felt that night at the Darwick estate when we’d had too much wine. I used to think it was my strong dislike for him. Now I was no longer sure.
“And an open window wouldn’t suffice?”
I stopped again, forcing him to face me. There was a hint of a sparkle in his eyes, and I wasn’t sure if it was the starlight or the fact that he knew exactly what I was trying to do. Cai was a prince. He’d be no stranger to women trying to flirt with him. I simply wished I was more of an expert at the skill, but despite Cordelia’s advice, the mere way he looked at me caused my stomach to tighten.
“Are you accusing me of something?”
Cai surprised me by leaning in so that the space between us became minimal. “Is there something to be accused of?”
A lump formed in my throat. A thought that perhaps I hadn’t given Prince Cai enough credit all along, that maybe, just maybe, he had figured it all out. There were, after all, a great many things to be accused of.
“Whatever can you mean?” I attempted to keep up the act. I had to distract him at all costs, and if I were lucky, Cordelia would be successful in her task and I wouldn’t have to spend another minute in this place. But this meant I had to keep him busy for a while.
“Who is to say you weren’t meeting a man here in the garden at night? A secret lover whom you can’t marry because you’re promised to the Prince of Norrandale.”
I let out a chuckle. “You think I have the time and the will for secret lovers too?” We hadn’t moved from our proximity.
“I think you have the will for a great many things.”
I wasn’t sure what to make of his words. And I believed him. So I gave the Prince of Norrandale my best attempt at a seductive smile and turned away before taking the first left turn in the maze. He was quick to catch up with me.
“So are you going to tell me what you’re actually doing out here in the gardens?”
“I told you.” I twirled the rose I’d picked earlier between my fingers. “I needed some fresh air.”
“Liar,” Cai replied, but he wore a smile.
“Maybe I am planning to meet someone out here, in which case I must ask you to leave,” I teased.
“I’ll only leave in order to go and retrieve my sword.”
His words made me halt.
“What for?” My voice was more strained than I would have liked.
“I must duel with him for your hand, of course.”
Of course.
I had to force myself to take a steady breath. “There will be no sword fighting.”
“Would you prefer if I used my bare hands?”
“Cai.” I couldn’t help but let out a laugh until I saw his expression. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No reason. I just don’t think I’ve ever heard you say my name like that.”
I wasn’t sure exactly what he meant but it felt personal and borderline intimate. I found myself feeling shy, so before things got awkward, I tucked the rose behind his ear. “I think you’re ready for a portrait painting, Your Highness.”
Cai adopted a faraway gaze as many royals had in the paintings I’d seen. “Like this?”
“Yes, that looks perfect.”
“You reckon?”
I nodded with sincerity.
But his witty smile gave way and he took the rose to place it behind my ear. “I think it is much better suited to you.”
I could barely move. When did he get this close again? Cai’s hand trailed from the rose down my cheek and to my jawline. My breath got caught in my throat. When he pulled his hand away, I could still feel his touch lingering on my skin.
Cai cleared his throat before stepping back. “It’s getting quite late, I—”
“I wonder about mazes sometimes,” I blurted out. It was a ridiculous topic but the first thing that came to mind. Pretty soon I was going to run out of things to say.
“You wonder about mazes?” he asked in confusion.
“Yes.” I gestured to the hedges around us. “I think one has to be awfully clever to design a maze like this.”
Cai scratched the back of his neck. “I suppose.”
I started walking backwards. “Do you want to know what else I think?”
“What?”
“I think that if I hide, you won’t be able to find me.” Before he had a chance to reply, I turned and made a run for it. Unfortunately, I was quick to step on the hems of my dress and nearly toppled over. I grabbed the fabric, thankful not to hear a ripping sound, and veered left and then right. I had no idea which way I was going but I hoped it would keep Cai out here just a little longer. When I reckoned I was far enough from where I’d left him, I stopped to catch my breath.
I listened intently for him calling my name but there were only the sounds of the night. Where could he be? I continued walking, figuring I would reach the end of the maze at some point.
After a few minutes of walking alone in silence, I began to grow worried that perhaps Cai had abandoned our little game. Maybe he’d gone back to his chambers, having had enough of the awkward princess and her strange topics of conversation.
“Cai?” I called out hesitantly, but there was no response.
What if he’d gone back and caught Cordelia red-handed? Lance certainly wasn’t going to defend her. She’d find herself in endless trouble and it would be all my fault. How did I ever think this was a good idea?
“Cai?” I said again, a little more uncertainty in my voice this time.
I peered around one of the hedges when an arm wrapped around my waist and gently pulled me back.
“Got you,” a breathy voice whispered near my ear, causing shivers to run down my spine.
I turned to face the prince with emerald eyes. “You scared me.”
“That was not my intention.” His voice was low and the hedges hid him from the moonlight, casting a shadow across his face.
I swallowed. We were very close again... and it wasn’t entirely unpleasant. In fact, it was kind of nice.
Nice and nerve-wracking and what was happening to my pulse?
Cai’s eyes softened as he looked at me and I found myself unable to look away.
“What was your intention?” I dared to ask, wondering where my breath had gone.
Cai’s mouth began to form a grin when an owl hooted in the distance and I stepped back.
“Any idea how we get out of here?” I looked left and right but I had no idea which direction I’d come from. It couldn’t have been that complicated a maze, but the darkness of the evening certainly didn’t help.
“I think I can find my way.”
I contemplated holding on to his arm as we continued our walk in the garden but I feared there had been more than enough touching for one evening. I tried to remember all of Cordelia’s lessons in flattery and charm. Although I suspected I was the one being charmed.
“Norrandale has a wonderful library, you know? I should think you would take quite a liking to it.” Why would he bring up a library? Perhaps neither of us were very good conversationalists when nervous. Could he tell I was nervous? My mind replayed our earlier moment repeatedly.
“And why is that?”
Cai cocked his head to the side. “I was told that you loved to read. Was I misinformed?”
Of course, damn it. Princess Eloisa was very fond of books while I, on the other hand, didn’t take very much pleasure in reading. I could read but I wouldn’t unless it was a necessity. I’d slipped up, yet again.
“Of course I love to read.” I attempted to recover from my blunder. “I only meant, why would you presume your library to be superior to the one I have at home?” Better.
The corner of Cai’s mouth jerked, but he pulled a straight face again as if the action was involuntary.
“I never said you would find it superior to your own library. I simply said I think you would like it.”
“Are you fond of reading?” We’d made our way out of the maze and back around the rose garden.
“Sometimes. Though I haven’t had much time for reading at leisure lately.” The rose that he had placed behind my ear earlier fell to the ground and I reached down to pick it up. But those bloody hems wouldn’t allow me that simple task and I lost my footing. In a moment, Cai was holding my arms, keeping me from falling.
“Careful now.”
I was thankful the darkness wouldn’t allow him to see the flush in my cheeks.
Cai bent down to his knees, picking up the rose.
“Your Highness.” He held it out to me.
“There’s no need to get down on one knee.” I took the rose and placed it in my hair. “We’re already engaged.”
My words made Cai smirk.
I hoped that Cordelia had finished her job and that I had managed to keep Cai away from his chambers long enough.
“You were right, you know.” We walked up the steps of the porch and he held open the door for me before we entered.
“Right about what?” I asked.
“You’re not like any princess I have met before.” His words managed to put a smile on my face, though I wasn’t entirely sure what I was satisfied about.
“Well, I never lie.” And I turned and headed for my room.
* * *
“You what?”
Cordelia motioned for me to be quiet. “It wasn’t my fault! How was I to know he would be there?”
All my hopes had come crashing down when I stepped into my bedroom and found Cordelia standing empty-handed with a disappointed look on her face.
Apparently Cordelia had run into Jack as she was entering Cai’s room.
“What did you do?”
“I told him I got lost and then we walked back to this side of the manor.”
I huffed in frustration. “I tell you to steal a sword and you end up strolling with the enemy.”
“I didn’t have a choice. You know I didn’t.” Which was true. I hadn’t taken Cai’s guards into account and, once again, I had not got Lance what he wanted. I fell onto my bed with a groan.
“I’m never going to pull this off.” The bed dipped as Cordelia sat beside me.
“You will. You’re not thinking straight, that’s all.” Taking my palms away from my face, I peered at her in confusion.
“What do you mean?”
Cordelia wore the strangest of smiles on her face. “You know exactly what I mean.”
“I do not,” I replied in earnest.
“Obviously you are completely besotted with Prince Cai.”
My eyes grew wide and I flew up into a sitting position. “I am not!”
Cordelia let out a giggle. “I can’t very well say I blame you. He is very handsome and charming, is he not?”
I stood up and started pacing in front of her. “Did you hit your head on the way here, or something?”
“You cannot deny it,” she persisted. “I see the way you look at him.” I met her eyes from across the room. “You’ve taken a liking to him, haven’t you?”
“ Like is a very strong word.”
“But?” She urged me on.
“But I’ll admit he isn’t quite what I expected him to be.”
“You mean he isn’t arrogant, selfish and spoiled?”
I didn’t reply.
“But you cannot deny he is very handsome.” She swooned slightly, repositioning herself more comfortably.
“Then you should have been the one to pretend you were going to marry him.” I stopped pacing.
She laughed again. “That would never have worked.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “And why ever not?”
The look Cordelia gave me suggested she knew something that I did not. “Because, my dear friend, I see the way he looks at you as well. And he has taken quite a liking to you too.” I snorted and she stood up, taking my shoulders from behind and urging me to face the mirror. The reflection looked so unlike the girl I was used to. “Don’t be upset. It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
Which was true. With all Cordelia’s lessons and my attempted flirting, the goal had been for Cai to like me, but to trust me most of all.
“I understand why you do what you do. I know you see it as justice. And I don’t think you’re entirely wrong. But this,” she said, “this is more personal. You will have to decide if the gold you’re being paid is worth his life.”
My chest tightened a little. Lance wouldn’t kill Cai.
Would he?
I turned to face Cordelia. “What about you? You said Lance had his way of getting what he wanted.” She hadn’t given me an answer the last time.
She sighed and looked away. “You mean, how did I get myself into this mess?”
I didn’t answer.
Cordelia stepped away from me. “My parents, though happily married, didn’t always make good choices. They married me off to a terrible man for money.”
“I’m sorry.” And I did feel some remorse for her.
She slowly paced up and down the room. “When he tried to hurt me, Rhen went at him, but he fought back and, well, Rhen killed him while defending himself. Instead of hanging him as a murderer, Lance gave Rhen a chance to redeem himself by working for him.”
“But this also means that he can blackmail you into doing anything he wants?”
She nodded.
I walked over to her and placed my hands on her upper arms. “When this is over, we’re going to get you out of this. I’m not sure how, yet, but I’ll figure it out.”
Her eyes brightened up a little. “You know, if it wasn’t for your stubborn attitude, you would have made a good royal.”
A laugh erupted from the back of my throat.
* * *
I was already in my nightdress, covered by my sleeping gown, when a thought occurred to me. The best bandit in Levernia and I’d failed twice to steal a sword.
Uncle Arthur would be disappointed. I threaded my fingers through my hair. It couldn’t be that difficult. It wasn’t that difficult. I’d just been approaching the matter wrong. I burst out of my bedroom before I had time to change my mind. Damon was standing guard outside.
There would be no question about Damon’s loyalty to Lance. He reminded me of a hawk, always looking for something innocent to prey on.
“What are you looking at?” I mumbled, storming past him down the hall. I had a reputation to uphold and I would not be a failure. I’d already made the mistake of getting caught, and look where it had got me. It was a simple sword.
Yes, it was out of my usual line of work. I went for smaller things, like jewellery or coins, which could easily be hidden, and my targets were never surrounded by their own group of guards. This was unlike anything I’d attempted before. I ran along the manor corridors, my bare feet noisy on the tiled floors. Rhen rounded the corner ahead of me and I stopped, catching my breath.
“Finally decided to run away have you?”
“Where’s Cai?” I was heaving, already becoming unfit from not running for the past few days.
“He’s in the study with Lance.”
“And his men?”
“In their chambers I believe.” Perfect. “What are you...?” I didn’t give him time to finish his question.
“Thank you!” And I was running again. I stopped for a second at the door of Cai’s bedroom, listening for any movement or voices inside.
Once I was sure there was only silence, I pushed open the door with the palm of my hand. The door creaked and I peeked inside. Empty. I slipped through the opening and carefully shut the door behind me. I quickly scanned the room, looking for the sword. It wasn’t lying around in plain sight — that was certain. Did Cai have it on him, perhaps? No, it had to be here. I looked around, under the pillows, inside cabinets.
My eyes landed on the trunk at the foot of his bed. I hurried over and pulled it open. And sure enough, there it was. The sword lay on top of his other weapons and clothes, and I reached to pick it up.
Footsteps echoed from the hallway outside. Someone was coming. Cai was coming. I slammed the trunk shut and looked around the room. Where could I hide? Under the bed? And then what, wait till Cai fell asleep and risk him waking up when I tried to leave? How would I explain that? The footsteps became louder. There was always the window. But it was too high and I didn’t have anything to help me on the way down. I didn’t have time.
The door opened and I spun around. At first, Cai didn’t see me, with the room being dark and him looking at the floor. But when his eyes did land on me, his expression was one of shock, and I could have been wrong but... also intrigue.
Panic. Pure panic rushed through my whole body.
“What are you doing here?”
Nothing. I couldn’t think up a single excuse. The silence in the room became awkward and I felt my heart beat inside my throat. Something. I just had to say something.
“I...” I came here to steal your family’s heirloom. I doubted the truth would go down well. “I... uh... I forgot something.” I stuttered. “In the garden. I forgot something in the garden.” I wasn’t making even the slightest bit of sense. “I forgot to give you something.” I rephrased. No, that wasn’t any better.
Cai cocked his head sideways as his look of confusion remained. “You forgot to give me something?”
“Yes,” I replied, too fast. Why was I out of breath? Why was I so nervous? I rubbed my hands together, glancing around the room to see if I could spot anything to help me talk my way out of this.
“What did you forget?”
I met his eyes again, those wild green eyes.
“I forgot to give you this.” I walked over and grabbed his face, pressing my lips to his in a chaste kiss. It lasted only a moment before I pulled away. I didn’t give Cai a chance to say anything before I ran out of the room.
What had just happened? I was pretty sure Cai was wondering the exact same thing but thankfully he didn’t follow me to ask any questions. The door slammed shut behind me as soon as I entered my chambers. I pressed the back of my hand against my mouth.
What the hell did I just do? I’d just kissed a prince. That... that was the only solution I could come up with? If it hadn’t made me appear less suspicious, he probably thought I was insane. My heart was still hammering when I got under the covers of the plush bed and pulled the blanket over my head. I did nothing to erase the image in my mind. Nor the feeling of his lips, which I could still taste. Maybe what bothered me most of all wasn’t the fact that I’d kissed Cai, it was the fact that I wouldn’t mind doing it again.
* * *
Lance caught me by one of the doors the next morning. “I need to speak with you.”
“With regards to what?” I frowned.
“Goodness, you even sound like her.” He rolled his eyes and pulled my arm in the direction of the door before letting go. I followed him out on to the porch.
“Like who?”
Lance shook his head. “Nothing, it doesn’t matter. When did you start talking like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you weren’t born in a barn.”
“I’ve never talked like I was born in a barn. Cordelia simply helped me improve my vocabulary a little. That and the tone I talk in. Apparently my regular voice is ‘too harsh’, whatever that means. I’m trying to convince His Royal Highness that I’m a princess, remember?”
“You won’t have to worry about that for much longer.” We walked past the entrance to the gardens, in the direction of the stables. “Have you made any progress?”
“I took him on a hunt yesterday in the hopes I might be able to take his sword if he were distracted. Maybe even knock him out and leave him in the woods. But we couldn’t find anything and he’s so bloody attached to that thing.” I mentioned nothing about our scandalous meeting in the rose garden.
“That’s rather cruel, wouldn’t you say? You’ve probably managed to make him half fall in love with you by now and yet you’d leave him lying cold on the forest floor.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s rich, coming from you.”
“Me?” He placed a hand on his chest. “Cruel? Never.”
“What do you want me to do, ask him to hand it over nicely?”
“You’re running out of time. And you are the bandit, not I. Out of everything, this is supposed to be the easiest part for you. I hired you because of your reputation. Don’t tell me I’ve hired the only bandit in the kingdom who can’t steal a bloody thing.”
I stepped in front of him, making him stop abruptly. “Don’t underestimate me,” I said in a low voice. “That would be a mistake.”
He bent his head slightly. “Then prove me wrong.”
* * *
Lance made the formal announcement for dinner to be later that evening.
My first destination was the kitchen. I ordered all of the servants to take a long lunch outside. They stared at me with surprise and confusion, but there was no refusal. I started gathering herbs and crushing them before pouring boiling water onto the mixture. Daggers and knives weren’t my only skill, but this would be my last attempt at stealing Cai’s sword. I couldn’t afford the risk of being unsuccessful again. There was simply too much at stake.
I poured the tonic into two small bottles and placed them in the hidden pocket of my dress. I spotted Rhen in one of the hallways on my way to my chambers. “Good, I’ve found you. I need to ask you a favour.”
Rhen snorted. “I don’t believe you’re in a position to be asking any favours.”
“It’s not for me, it’s for Lance.” I took out one of the small bottles. “I need you to get rid of Cai’s guards.”
His eyes widened. “I can’t just kill all of them.”
“Not kill.” I took his hand and placed the bottle in his palm. “This is a sleeping tonic.”
He frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“Look, I don’t have time to explain but please make sure they get it.” It was the first time Rhen had heard me say the word please, so he knew I was desperate enough.
“Very well,” he agreed. I headed in the direction of my chambers.
Cordelia helped me get dressed for dinner a few hours later. I hurried down the stairs, towards the dining room, hoping to arrive before Cai and Lance. Upon entering, I found the room empty, and let out a sigh of relief. The table was beautifully set with lavish cutlery and golden cups. I took out the little bottle and poured some of the tonic into Cai’s cup. The healer of our clan, Benette, had taught me how to mix such tonics as a young girl, and with the correct dose, this one could knock a man out cold for hours.
I had barely put the bottle away when Cai entered the dining room.
“There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”
“Well, where else would I be, than at the dinner table, where we’ll be having dinner... at dinner time.”
Cai gave me a look of slight confusion before shaking it off. I hadn’t meant to stumble over my words, but along with the fear of being caught and his charming face, which I had momentarily forgotten was kind of dashing, I hardly knew what to say.
“I must speak with you most urgently.”
“Cai,” I started in protest, but he sensed what I was about to say.
“It cannot wait anymore.”
“Surely there can be nothing of such importance...” I moved away, but he wrapped his fingers around my upper arm and turned me to face him.
“I know,” he said, his face completely expressionless and awaiting a reaction from mine.
“What?” I decided that acting ignorant was my last option until I could buy myself some time.
“I know.” He placed so much emphasis on the word know , eliminating any conviction in my mind that he was lying. “I know you’re not Eloisa.”
My mouth opened, but no words came out. It was at that moment the dining-room doors burst open and Cai and I sprang five feet apart. Lance sauntered in with his usual swagger and strutted over to his seat at the head of the table.
“Why the sour faces?” he joked, falling into his seat. “It is a joyous occasion we are celebrating, is it not?” I reached for my chair, but Cai beat me to it, pulling it out and waiting for me to sit.
“What do you mean?” I asked Lance, who had already started pouring himself some more wine, despite the fact that his cup was almost full.
“Well, your wedding, of course.”
Cai took a seat across from me, but wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“Cai and I had a very pleasant discussion about all the big wedding arrangements, didn’t we, Cai?”
Cai nodded, taking a sip of his wine, and my stomach dropped.
I glanced at the two of them nervously. Clearly Cai didn’t plan on sharing his newfound knowledge with Lance, yet. I could handle one unpredictable prince, but two was a completely different story.
“And would you mind sharing what you have discussed or am I to be left in the dark?” I took a large gulp of my wine.
“Cai signed the marital agreement that he will marry the eldest daughter of King Magnus and we settled that the wedding would take place in Everness, after which you will travel to Norrandale.”
Why was Lance making Cai sign agreements if we weren’t going to marry anyway? Did he still plan for Eloisa to marry Cai after this? It didn’t make sense. And if Cai knew I wasn’t Eloisa, why did he sign the agreement? How did he see all of this ending? Perhaps I had underestimated his character and the boyish charm was all an act, similar to mine.
What if he had planned something far worse? The thought made me slightly nauseous and I took another big gulp of wine.
The courses were carried out on silver platters and served one by one, while we spent the whole dinner in the most unnerving silence. Cai excused himself after we’d eaten, claiming he was tired, which meant the tonic was working. I could see it in the way his eyes started drooping.
“What have you done to the poor prince?” Lance asked once he was out of earshot.
“A sleeping tonic.”
“I didn’t know you could make tonics.”
I shrugged. “It was a last resort.”
“You and I aren’t all that different, you know.”
I laughed. “You and I are different in every way possible.”
He leaned forwards, holding my gaze. “You would like to believe that, wouldn’t you? But you and I both know we do what we have to do for survival. Even if it makes us cruel sometimes.”
I looked at him in dismay. “I’m cruel when I have no other choice. You are cruel because you like to see others suffer.”
“You really do think the worst of me, don’t you?”
“You have given me nothing to prove otherwise.”
“All in good time.” He leaned back in his chair again. “Now go.” Lance gestured with his cup. “I believe you have work to do.”
I left the table without another word.