“She’s that beautiful,” George was remarking thoughtfully.
“One of your tall and shapely blondes,” Marek’s voice replied with enthusiasm. “Queenly, with lips a man would think were on the Goddess herself.”
“Ye’re certain the Prince returns her regard?” The low rumble was Coram’s, making Alanna start with surprise. Why was Coram sitting in on a conference between George and Marek?
“Why, man, he’s with her every moment of the day, treatin’ her like they was betrothed,” was Marek’s reply. Realizing what they must be talking about, Alanna put her hand to her suddenly painful throat. “And their Majesties seem to approve. When Princess Josiane’s not with him, she’s got her head together with the Queen, plannin’ the weddin’, doubtless.”
“But he hasn’t asked her yet,” George pointed out.
“The betting went from even odds to her favor the day I returned here,” Marek answered. “Stefan at the palace stables says she couldn’t’ve laid siege to him better if he was a castle and she the General of all the King’s armies. The minute he returned from that mysterious trip away he had, they was introduced; and he’s not left Josiane’s side since.”
“We’ll want to keep this from the lass,” Coram said worriedly. “She’s been half-crazy since their fight; I don’t want to think of what she’d do if she heard this.”
Alanna slipped away from the door, biting a trembling lip. So Jonathan had found a replacement for her, and fairly quickly. She ran out onto the terrace, staring at the sea below. While she had been moping and making her friends unhappy and considering an apology, he had been dancing and flirting with an unknown but beautiful princess. He had not been serious about marrying her after all, and she had been acting the fool.
“How much did you hear?” George stepped onto the terrace, his eyes serious.
Alanna flashed a falsely bright smile at him. “Hear? Was I supposed to have heard something?”
He put an arm around her shoulders. “Lass, I’m not blind or stupid. You overheard Coram an’ Marek an’ me talkin’ about Jon’s latest conquest. I can tell when you’re about, did you know that? It’s the only glimpse the Sight gives me of you.”
Alanna started, surprised out of her misery. “I forgot you had the Sight.”
“When it comes to you or anyone else with the Gift, it’s well-nigh useless, since those with the Gift are veiled from those with the Sight. In any case, it’s not as strong with me as it is with my mother. Still, I can feel you near me, and so I know you were eavesdroppin’.” When she said nothing, he went on, “Will you tell me now what passed between you and Jon in the desert?”
Alanna’s shoulders drooped, and she let him steer her to a seat on the terrace wall. He sat beside her, hugging her shoulders as she said quietly, “We had a fight.” Slowly, haltingly, she told him all the details, not sparing herself. “Perhaps I was being falsely proud,” she admitted when she was done. “Perhaps it wouldn’t have done me any harm to go along with him and not make a fuss about asking me first. I didn’t like the things he was saying, but I didn’t want to chase him away, either.”
“You’re askin’ the wrong man.” George’s voice was oddly hoarse. For the first time since she had begun talking, Alanna looked up and met his eyes. The thief swung her around to face him, resting his large hands on her shoulders. “I’m glad he showed you that nobles are a proud, ungrateful lot, thinkin’ of no one but themselves.”
“I’m a noble,” she whispered, unable to look away from his hungry eyes.
“No. You’re my own sweet lass, and all the woman I could ever want.” He kissed her, pulling her close. Alanna struggled for a second, surprised, then relaxed, enjoying the kiss and the feeling of being held tightly and protectively. George pulled away, watching her face closely. “There’s plenty more fish in the sea than Prince Jonathan,” he told her softly. “And this particular fish loves you with all his crooked heart.”
Alanna snuggled close, lifting her face to his again. “I’m glad,” she said honestly. “I need to be loved right now. Kiss me again, please.”
“Oh, no,” George said, drawing in a ragged breath. “If I kiss you again now, one thing will lead to another, and this isn’t the proper place for that sort of carryin’-on.”
“Then take me to a place that is,” she suggested. When he hesitated, she added, “I know what I’m doing, George. And it’s not just because Jon found someone else. This should’ve happened between us a long time ago.”