Chapter Twenty-six #2
For the next thirty minutes, the three of us bent and stretched and held positions and breathed together.
It wasn’t nearly as relaxing doing the moves in the fancy dress I’d been poured into, but some of the tension in my body sifted out.
We ended with a short meditation and I longed for my singing bowls to bring us some extra peace, but alas, those were sitting in their cases back at Hank’s cabin.
I certainly had no hope of getting another set here in Verdalach.
“I’ll bet your clients were delighted with your services,” Orla said after we wrapped up our impromptu session. “It’s so unfortunate they won’t be able to receive the benefits of your work anymore. It sounded as if your new business was what many people needed.”
“There is definitely a great deal of stress out there in the big, wide world.” I stood and looked out the window. The view was of one of the many gardens on the palace grounds, but all I could see now was darkness.
How fitting. My world would be eternally dark now.
“Are you hungry?” Orla asked as she stood. “I can get you something to eat.”
“I should be famished,” I said. “I didn’t eat lunch in anticipation of eating with Beckett later today and I’m certain it’s long past dinner time, but the thought of eating anything right now turns my stomach.”
“That’s too bad.”
All three of us turned our heads to the open door of my chambers where Cian leaned against the doorframe. His posture attempted a casual air, but his eyes were calculating. How long had he been standing there? I’d have to take care to lock that door from now on.
He strode in. Uninvited.
“I came here to tell you a special, albeit late, dinner has been prepared in your honor, Princess Aislinn.” The way he emphasized my title and true name got on my nerves. As far as I was concerned, I was still Sadie Rodgers. I always would be.
“I’m skipping dinner,” I said.
Cian came to a stop a few steps in front of me. “You’ll do no such thing, Your Highness. We need to welcome you home properly.”
“This isn’t my home.” I squared my shoulders. “This has never been my home.” And now that I knew what a real home was like, this palace, this country could never be that.
“Whether you see it as your home or not doesn’t negate the fact that it is where you will be living for the remainder of your life, Princess Aislinn.
” The words slipped between Cian’s teeth as if he was losing his patience with me.
Why did that bring me such pleasure? Irritating him would at least give me something to do with my time.
“I’d prefer to be called Sadie,” I said, enjoying how Cian’s jaw ticked as he stared at me.
“That’s a commoner’s name,” he said, “and you are no commoner.” He turned and walked to the door. “If I don’t find you in the dining hall in fifteen minutes, I’m sending royal guards up here to get you.” With a brief glare over his shoulder, he strode out of the room.
“He’s under the impression that he already has some status,” I said, “but we’re not married yet.”
“But he’s got your father wrapped around his finger somehow,” Fionn said, his voice noticeably quieter now that he was worried about spies and listening devices.
“It was upon Cian’s insistence that Fionn and I got arrested,” Orla added. “Your father is giving him power to make decisions.”
I didn’t like the sound of that at all. My father made poor decisions as it was. Having Cian counsel him wouldn’t improve things.
“You should go to dinner,” Fionn said, ushering Orla toward the door. “The less you make waves, the better things will be.”
I didn’t agree with that, but the fear in my friends’ eyes had me acquiescing. “All right. I’ll go to dinner if you two promise that you’ll come up here tomorrow. We’ll go riding together.”
An anxious look passed between them.
“Look, being with you two is the only thing—and I mean the only thing—that will allow me to survive this place.”
“We’ll come.” Orla elbowed Fionn. “Won’t we?”
“We will.” His lips turned up in the hint of a grin. “If only to keep her out of trouble.”
“Or get her into it,” Orla said with a matching little grin. “Our history together implies the latter is the most likely.”
Laughing, I hugged them both and walked them to the door. We parted ways as they headed for the kitchen and I journeyed to the dining hall.
Where my parents, Cian, and a host of dignitaries were seated at what had to be a ridiculous hour.
I searched for a clock, but the dining hall didn’t have one.
The wall of windows on one side of the hall, however, showed the darkness of night.
Or was it early morning? In all likelihood, these dignitaries had been hauled from their beds to attend this dinner that was nothing more than a facade.
All because Cian and my parents had insisted.
Cian rose from his seat when he saw me and pulled out the chair beside his. “Your Highness.” He motioned for me to sit.
I lowered, wishing with every part of me that the table in front of me was the long, wooden one in Mrs. Hartley’s farmhouse, or the sleek countertop of Beckett’s kitchen island, or the knotted pine table in the kitchen of Hank’s cabin, or the slated tile tabletop of a booth at Bear Belly Tavern.
Anything besides the ornate, mile-long, exotic wood table heaped with food I didn’t want in the palace dining hall.
I also wanted the faces around the table to be different. I wanted the Hartleys and their mates and their children. I wanted Hank and Sarah. I wanted Jimmy. I wanted Patty. I wanted everyone who had been so kind to me in Greenridge.
I wanted the man I loved.
Cian stayed standing beside me as he raised his wine glass in salute. “To the safe return of Princess Aislinn Síomóin of Verdalach.”
Everyone lifted their own glasses in toast to me. I had no idea what the dignitaries had been told about my absence, but they all smiled at me, seemingly genuine in their welcome back.
I picked up my own glass and returned their salute. “Thank you.” I could play the game in front of others. In private, however, Cian would get the absolute worst of me.
I expected Cian to sit and for the meal to begin. Instead, he kept his glass raised.
“If you’ll indulge me in one more toast.” He clasped my upper arm, gently at first then with more pressure when I didn’t automatically stand. Once I was on my feet beside him, however, he said, “A toast to our wedding, which you’re all invited to.”
Demure applause sounded from the dinner guests. One of them, an earl, asked, “When is the wedding?”
Cian waited for me to look up at him. “Why, tomorrow, of course.”