Chapter 47
Forty-seven
James
For once, I was doing something without Edwin.
On purpose, I should say.
After the dinner date with Lucien, I felt compelled to do this now.
I wanted all to know my heart, and there shouldn’t be any doubt about who I’d choose as my life partner.
Seeing how well Edwin got along with my nearest and dearest made me think now was the best time to make a move.
Besides, he was doing very sweet things like reuniting me with Titan.
How could I not act upon his open generosity and try to keep this man properly at my side?
Captain Rowan rode with me today, along with Dame Temperance. I wanted this to be a surprise, so I had to make my custom order outside palace grounds. Otherwise Edwin would hear of it. Edwin heard of everything.
I was pleased to see both my knights on their new horses.
All my knights had taken time to get to know the horses, and from what I’d heard, the horses had more or less chosen their riders.
Which was by far the easier way to work that out.
Both steeds stayed perfectly in step with Titan, almost prancing under their riders.
I could tell both people and beasts were pleased.
Dame Temperance cleared her throat while steering her horse up next to mine, giving me this arch look women seemed born knowing how to do. “So, Your Highness, what are we buying Edwin today?”
I considered her question and all its nuances for a full second. “I can’t be so predictable.”
“You are.” Captain Rowan’s almost bored sounding drawl was utterly belied by the mischief dancing in his dark brown eyes.
Not even bothered by this, I mused aloud, “I knew I was bad about spoiling him, but apparently I have depths here I didn’t realize. Thankfully, Edwin was distracted today. Otherwise I might have inadvertently given myself away.”
“Are you doing special spoiling today?”
I felt a bit shy answering her for some reason. “I’m ordering an engagement ring.”
Both of them sucked in startled breaths.
I wasn’t sure why. Could be any number of reasons. Valid reasons, for that matter. To their eyes, I hadn’t known or dated Edwin for long. It seemed rushed to even think of proposing now, even though it would take weeks for the ring to be made.
To me, though, this wasn’t weeks or months in the making.
It was years. I’d yearned, dreamed, and desired this man for nine years.
After all the missed, fumbled moments of my past life, I wasn’t about to repeat my mistakes.
I wouldn’t let an opportunity pass by just because it didn’t seem like the right moment.
That said, I did worry if I was rushing things a mite.
Edwin had no memory of our first life, after all.
He made incredible allowances for me, knowing all I had lived through, but this might well be too much.
His emotions might not run as strong or as deep for me yet.
His soul may remember, but his heart hadn’t had the time to catch up.
I did believe, strongly, that he cared for me very much and desired me above all others. Surely, hopefully, he wanted me enough to agree to be engaged.
Could be wishful thinking, admittedly; I just longed to be married to him above all else.
“I might be rushing things a tad,” I told them both. “I want to propose by end of summer, you see.”
“You might be,” Captain Rowan allowed, studying me carefully as he spoke. “But I think I see why you’re so anxious, too. Before you entered the scene, no one really paid much romantic attention to Edwin.”
Yes, someone explain why. Even in our previous life together, Edwin hadn’t dated anyone after I met him. Which made no damn sense.
Captain Rowan’s frown deepened some more. “But now, all the maids and some of the squires suddenly are aflutter when talking to him. I’m not quite sure why.”
Dame Temperance rolled her eyes expressively. “You two need to pay better attention. Edwin kept to himself before you came along, Your Highness. He did his work, kept his head down, and read novels when on break. He didn’t really engage with anyone.”
Ah. True. I forgot how much of an introvert he was at times.
“Now that you’re dating, people suddenly realize he’s cute in his own way, and attentive.
We’ve all seen him bring you tea or force you to sit still for a moment so he can rub your hands when they start cramping.
We’ve seen him do an insane amount of work to keep the burden from falling too much onto your own shoulders.
He’s loyal, affectionate, and doesn’t shy from commitment.
Do you not know how rare those three qualities are in men? ”
Part of me puffed up in pride. Finally, people saw Edwin’s true worth. The other part of me worried, because I didn’t actually want people realizing all that before I married Edwin. After we were safely married, yes; before marriage, absolutely not.
“I think most of the hopefuls are waiting in the wings and biding their time,” Dame Temperance continued with a snort.
“They seem to think you’ll behave like the rest of the nobles, dallying among the servants when it suits your fancy and discarding them later.
There’s already talk of a political marriage for you, so they’re quite poised to leap in once you let go of Edwin. ”
My blood rushed out of my head and out through my asshole.
“Why”—my choked horror shot up into the range of strangled opera singers—“would anyone think I’d set Edwin to the side?! It’s ludicrous!”
“Those of us who have an up-close seat to the show realize you’re not the type,” she assured me, seemingly amused by my reaction.
“You’re quite clear you want Edwin, and only Edwin, to the point that even your royal siblings regard the two of you as a package deal.
That said, Your Highness? I do suggest putting a ring on it. Before someone else tries to do so.”
Clearly, I must up my public affection for Edwin to squash the hopefuls, because Zinos damn them, I’d not give anyone else an opening.
“Dame Temperance, your advice is good, and I’ll take it.” I hesitated a second before confessing, “I’m not sure if he’s willing to marry me now. I might be rushing things. I can’t seem to help myself.”
“If he’s unsure, long engagement,” Captain Rowan advised. “But still get a ring on his finger if you can. I truly think it’ll do you both good in the long run. If nothing else, it might stop your royal mother from trying to matchmake you. I’ve heard rumors of her nosing about for a good candidate.”
I groaned and slouched farther in my seat. Titan flicked an ear back at me, as if sensing my mood, and I gave him a pat. “I do not understand her. She just suffered through the embarrassment of a horrible engagement breaking up and she turns around and does it again not even a month later?”
“An addict cannot help their addiction,” Dame Temperance muttered. “Or she’s trying to prove she is good at it, that the last one was just a mistake. Or perhaps it’s a mix of both. Either way, Your Highness, we will support you if you need to flee the palace for a while.”
“She can’t actually make me do anything,” I said, straightening back up in my seat. “I have it in legal writ. And she signed it. She cannot even suggest a spouse to me. That said, I think you’re both wise. I’ll propose to Edwin and hope for the best.”
We arrived at the jeweler’s and I dismounted, Dame Temperance moving ahead of me as was her wont, Captain Rowan on my tail.
They’d become unobtrusive statues in a minute, after they deemed the area safe, but until then they were almost physically attached to me.
I paused to give Titan a stern look. Behave.
Titan blew out a weary breath, as if tired of my demands already, but did stay calm and planted. Good.
The custom jeweler here had a very old shop, one lovingly kept up with fresh paint. Prescott’s was a family business going back at least three generations, and it was one I trusted above all others when I wanted something exactly.
I’d made an appointment ahead of time, so I was the only customer, with Nora Prescott rising from her chair to give me a curtsey.
“Your Highness, you’re as punctual as usual. Do sit. Tell me what I’m designing.”
Nora Prescott was a grandmother as of this year, with a single grandson to her name, and she wore her age gracefully. Her greying hair was up in a bun on the top of her head, a white apron stretching from wrist to collarbones tied in place with nary a stain to be seen.
I’d known her since I was knee high to my mother, so I greeted her warmly. “Nora. How are you?”
“I’d be a sight better if my grandson wasn’t pickpocketing me.” She rolled her eyes, laughing softly. “Anything shiny goes into his fist and, unfortunately, everything here is shiny.”
“Just shows he’s got good taste already.”
“Ha! He has that, all right—took off with my finest ruby first. The scamp. Anyway, sit, tell me more about this ring I’m doing for you.”
“Not for me,” I corrected. “For my Edwin. I want a customized engagement ring for him.”
“Oh-ho.” She sat in her chair, eyeing me with delight. “So you finally found yourself someone. Edwin…?”
“Edwin Grantham.” I watched her blink when she realized he wasn’t a lord or of nobility in any fashion. “You know the Grantham family, surely; they’re the ones who run the architect office on this street.”
“Oh! I do, yes.” Her smile turned dazzling. “I always knew you weren’t the type to judge people’s worth by their pedigree. Thank you for proving me right. Now I’m truly excited to design this. Ring size?”
“A ten. Keep in mind this ring will be enchanted, so use a perfect stone for the setting. His favorite color is green, so I thought an emerald?”
“You thought emerald because it matches your eyes and will remind him of you,” Nora rebutted without fuss, already lifting her sketchbook. “Don’t hoodwink me, young man. I’m nearly three times your age.”
I honestly wasn’t sure why I’d even tried. Grinning, I let her have the victory. “I’ve seen him pick out jewelry, and he never goes for anything with much filigree. A straightforward, striking design is more his taste.”
“You do know him well.” Her charcoal lifted, and she sketched out two quick designs in bold lines. While she drew, she asked, “And yours? Surely you’ll get a ring too.”
“Should I? I’ve gone back and forth.”
“You’re getting engaged too, aren’t you?”
She had me there. It made no sense for him to wear a ring and me not to. I glanced at Captain Rowan and Dame Temperance, both flanking the doorway, for a second opinion. “Would it be wise to drive the message home with my own ring? Or would it be too blunt of a hint?”
“You’re overthinking,” Dame Temperance said. “Also, I think Edwin would feel better if you’re clearly marked as taken, off limits.”
“Ah. You’re smart, he would. Thank you.” I was overthinking things, even I could admit that, but it was easy to do with Edwin.
Nora peeked up at me even as she drew. “I insist upon meeting this man. I owe it to your late mother.”
“I quite assure you, I’m the one not worthy of him.”
“I still want to meet him. All right, here’s three options.” She flipped the sketchbook around.
They were all good, of course; she was a master craftsman. Still, I was quite taken by the first option—a slender, bold design unapologetically unadorned, showcasing the jewel seated in the middle. I imagined the ring on his finger and felt instantly taken with it.
“I like the first design. What emeralds do you have?”
Pleased, she rose and pulled out a drawer of select emeralds, then pointed to three in turn. “Each of these would resonate well with the design. They’re also perfect for enchantments.”
I liked all three gems, the cut and clarity, and shrugged. “Pick the one you think suits it best. I like them all.”
“Then this middle one, here.”
“Okay then.”
“As for yours…” She put the drawer back into her row of gems, coming back with a different selection, this time of sapphires. “Pick the gem, I’ll base the design around it.”
She’d done this with me many times, so I had every reason to trust her. I let my eyes rove over them, and when I saw one I particularly liked, I pointed. “That one.”
“I somehow knew you’d pick that one. You like the radiant cuts.”
I shrugged, no apology on my lips.
“It’ll be a rush job to have them done by the Founder’s Ball, but I can manage,” she said over her shoulder as she put the drawer back. “I’ll send word when I’m finished.”
I stared at her, nonplussed for a moment. “Did I mention I wanted to propose by then?”
She gave me a long, speaking look. “James. I am not an idiot.”
Apparently, I was predictable. “Thank you, Nora.”
“And bring him by so I can meet him!”
“You’ll design our wedding rings,” I promised her with a light chuckle. “Assuming I can convince the man to take temporary leave of his senses and marry me.”
She patted my cheek before shooing me out the door. “It’ll be fine.”
Why was no one else worried? Dammit, thinking about it too long terrified me. Perhaps because his answer meant the world to me, literally, and no one else was as invested?
Or I was overthinking. Probably because I was overthinking.
My knights ushered me back home, and by now it was well into evening.
We caught a quick bite at a fish-and-chips street vendor on the way back, so I had nothing else to do this evening but relax and indulge in Edwin’s company.
He’d already promised to meet me in our rooms tonight, and upon my entry, he greeted me with a kiss.
Then gave me this Look like he knew I’d spent the better part of the day overthinking things, and I was silly, but he knew precisely what to do about it.
In short order, without any discussion, I was stripped of boots and laid out on the sofa with my head pillowed on his thighs, a book propped open on my chest.
“I believe,” he stated in that quiet way of his, “we left off on chapter three.”
I listened with eyes closed as he read, his fingers lightly carding through my hair, and felt every worry and tension riding in me slowly escape. I smiled and basked in his affection. I might have fallen in love with the man all over again.
Those other people who’d only belatedly realized his worth could go rot.
Edwin was mine and I wasn’t sharing.