Chapter 14
Callum
When I return from La Puissance, I move through the hallways in a daze, brushing off a request from Dom for a sparring session in favor of locking myself up in my room with a bottle of whisky.
I sink into the armchair in front of the stone fireplace, my body satiated but heavy.
I pour myself a drink, leaving the bottle within easy reach on the low wooden table beside me.
But I can’t even enjoy the fine liquor; too many thoughts and feelings whirl through my mind.
I can’t believe I lost control with Lady Caterine. I could barely make it a few days before giving in and losing myself in front of her. She promised not to take advantage of me, but I don’t know if her word can be trusted.
No. That’s not quite true. Things may be tenuous between us, but I don’t think she would manipulate me without my consent.
The more I think about her, the more I trust her, find myself wanting to open up to her. Those feelings alone could indicate that she’s already been twisting my emotions.
But she didn’t twist anything at that orphanage. To think, what I saw today was the best of it. Caterine’s childhood was spent in an even more dangerous situation. I cannot even imagine the horrors she hinted at for the Gifted children living in the other provinces.
I toss back the whisky I filled my glass with, pushing the bottle to the side.
Perhaps I have been wrong about the Gifted. Perhaps I have been wrong about everything.
Perhaps Lady Caterine is messing with my head.
Perhaps I’m letting her.
I roll the empty glass between my fingers, the raised edges of the crystal cutting into my palm when my grip tightens.
Am I really going to let the words of one woman deter me from what I have always known to be right?
It isn’t just her words, an internal voice protests.
It’s the words of my uncle and of my sister.
It’s the words of my mother. It’s what I saw with my own eyes today at that orphanage.
Children who had been abandoned by their parents.
An orphanage forced to rely on the kindness of its former charges in order to feed and educate children who have done nothing wrong.
I push out of the armchair and stride to my bathing chambers, running the tub full of cold water. A few hours remain before I need to return to La Puissance. And in those few hours, I need to decide what kind of ruler I am going to be. I need to decide what kind of man I want to be.
—
I arrive back at the club later than I intended. I’ve been warring with myself, trying to find a single scenario where I don’t come out of this completely fucked.
It’s clearer now than ever that I must be the one to kill my father and represent the Scotan province in this election. Never did I imagine that decision would be the easiest one I would have to make.
Lady Caterine opens the door for me, dressed in nothing but a few scraps of lace, her silk robe tied loosely around her curves. Her face is painted, and I almost wish she’d left it bare. Something tells me it’s more to her than just makeup.
Perhaps she has spent the hours we’ve been apart arguing with herself as well.
She guides me into the room, to a chair at the dining table, handing me a glass of whisky as I sit. “I want to hear more about you, Your Highness. I feel like you got to see a part of my history today. Now I want to have the chance to see part of yours. What is your father like, Callum?”
I nearly choke on the caramel-colored liquid, the question is so unexpected, her tone so cold and detached. “I’m sorry?”
“You’ve told me about your sister, even a little bit about your mother, but I haven’t heard you mention your father much.
What is life like under Scotan rule, from a royal’s perspective?
What is he like as a father, and a ruler?
” She arches her eyebrow like the question is playful, though we both know it’s anything but.
I know the shifts that have taken place in my mind over the past several hours; maybe her thoughts have shifted as well.
“Have you been to many of the other provinces, my lady?”
She sits back in her chair, leaving space between us. “I have been everywhere, though never for more than a couple of days. When I venture to other provinces, it is usually to drop off supplies and money for the Gifted children. But I spend most of my time here in Stratford City.”
I nod, not surprised. Most people don’t travel between the provinces of Avon.
One of the main reasons why it took so long for a revolution to succeed.
One of the main reasons why Gifted are killed in some provinces but not in others.
“I know you will think me biased, and I realize you faced some special circumstances, but life in Scota is not like what you may have seen in the other provinces.”
“All provinces have their areas of peace and prosperity.” She eyes me over the rim of her glass, as if she can discern my honesty with a simple gaze. “Special circumstances aside.”
“True. And Scota certainly has some citizens who are wealthier than others. The difference is that those wealthy citizens take care of the poor.”
“Take care of them? What does that mean to you? They provide them with a hot meal every once in a while? Toss a gold coin out the window of their fancy carriages?” Hostility laces through her voice, and I can’t even blame her.
After the things I witnessed today, the things she told me about, I would understand if Lady Caterine detested me.
But I don’t think hate is behind her line of questioning.
“No, my lady. The wealthy pay a hefty tax, and those funds are used to make sure all people of Scota are housed, fed, and provided medical care when needed.”
She stares at me for a long second, a war waging in the depths of her amber eyes. “All people but the Gifted, you mean.”
I turn my attention to the remaining liquor in my glass so I don’t shrink under her honey gaze. “I will not pretend everything is perfect in Scota. Clearly we still have work to do. But I will stand by the fact that we approach the issues with the best of intentions.”
“And yet plenty of Scotans were members of the Uprising, plenty of them support this new government.”
“Did you talk with many of them?”
“Did you?” she challenges.
I study her for a moment, wondering if something greater happened while we were apart.
Lady Caterine has always been sharp, but she has never before seemed angry.
Is this simply lingering resentment from the cruelty she faced as a child, or is it a sign of something more?
“I did. As a leader of Scota, I found it important for me to know why some of my people would want to fight for an organization set on disrupting life as we know it.”
She sips her drink, her eyes still narrowed on me. “And what did they say?”
“That they wished for all people of Avon to have the freedoms and basic necessities we in Scota believe in.”
She scoffs. “Do you disagree with them, with the Uprising and your citizens who joined it?”
I put down my drink and reach across the table, taking one of her hands in mine.
The simple touch soothes my racing mind, steadies my pounding heart.
“I don’t. The Uprising has taken more from me than you might understand, Lady Caterine.
” I choke back the emotions rising in my throat as I think about what I still stand to lose.
“But that doesn’t mean I disagree with their most basic of principles.
I hope for a future of peace and unity.”
“And continued restrictions against the Gifted.”
“I am beginning to rethink my position.” I squeeze her fingers before pulling away. “Why are you set on thinking the worst of me, my lady?”
She throws back the rest of her whisky. “I’m not sure. Might make things easier, I suppose.”
I don’t ask for clarification, because I think I know all too well what she means.
She pushes back from the table with a sigh. “You didn’t come here to talk. Let’s get to tonight’s lesson, shall we?”
I stay seated. “I enjoy talking with you, Lady Caterine. And if you prefer, we do not have to partake in a lesson tonight.”
She bristles. “I plan on fulfilling my end of our deal.”
“Your feelings are more important than any deal, my lady.”
“Some of us do not have the luxury of feelings, Your Highness.” She spits out my former title like it’s sour.
I stand, crossing to her so only a few inches of space remain between us, my heart aching for the sadness—no, the indifference—of her sentiment.
I cup her cheek in my hand, letting my thumb stroke her soft skin.
Her lips part as I reach for her hip, tugging her closer.
She might talk a good game, but we both know there are feelings here, lodged in this silent space between us.
But if staying focused on the physical is what she needs, I’m happy to oblige.
“What do you plan to teach me tonight, my lady?”
Her chest flutters, her breasts straining at the bounds of the lace encasing them.
There’s a quiet moment before she answers me.
“Not so much a lesson tonight, as a test.” She unties her robe, letting the silky fabric drop to the floor.
“Earlier you watched me find pleasure at my own touch. Let’s see how closely you were paying attention. ”
My eyes travel over the length of her body. Her lacy undergarment is cut high on her hips, cinching her waist and pushing up her glorious breasts. My cock starts to harden as I lean down, my mouth brushing the shell of her ear. “You know how closely I was paying attention, Caterine.”
“Good.” She swallows and I fight the urge to let my lips trace her neck, though I do give in to the temptation to brush them over the trio of freckles on her shoulder. “Then make me come, Your Highness.”