“Vixie . . .” Aerity whispered. The rest of the words eluded her. It was time to go.
A hush settled over the entire commons and men began to raise their heads to the balcony, shielding their eyes against the bright sun. Aerity’s father stood there, flanked by guards as he stared down at his three children. He found Aerity and with two fingers beckoned her to him. He appeared unamused.
“Good day to you,” Aerity said to the Seabolt brothers. She grabbed her brother and sister, looking around for Wyneth.
She found her cousin standing over by a table talking to none other than Lord Lief Alvi. They kept a respectable distance, Lief full of grinning confidence and Wyneth smiling shyly. Harrison stood with them, his arms crossed in silence as he watched the two of them converse. Wyneth’s eyes met Aerity’s and she said good-bye to the Ascomannian lord and Harrison before gathering her skirts and rushing to meet her cousins at the gates. Aerity sent a wave to Harrison, who only nodded. He seemed in a strange mood all of a sudden.
Donubhan and Vixie walked ahead of them, following two guards. Aerity sidled close to her cousin and they synchronized their steps.
“What were you and Lord Alvi chatting about?” Aerity whispered.
Wyneth kept her eyes on the stone walkway. “Nothing of importance. He was asking if I could do the trick as well. I had to explain that I’m not inclined toward physical talents.”
True. Wyneth’s primary talents were the arts, something Aerity wished she could do.
“And what about Harrison? He seemed off.”
Wyneth’s eyebrows scrunched. “Aye. He didn’t say much, but I had the distinct feeling he doesn’t care much for Lord Alvi.”
“I wonder why?”
“Protective of me, maybe. Bit of a flirt, that coldman.”
“Indeed. Lord Alvi seems . . . keen,” Aerity murmured. She wondered if the man knew Wyneth had just lost her beloved to the very beast he was hunting.
“He’s agreeable for an Ascomannian,” Wyneth said diplomatically.
Under other circumstances Aerity would have probed for more, even joked about the man’s “agreeable” muscled arms, but it was simply too soon to speak of other men to Wyneth, even in jest. And given that Lief was in the running for Aerity’s hand in marriage it seemed uncouth.
Aerity wondered if the days of comfortable, easy conversation would ever return.
“Do you think Uncle Charles is angry?” Wyneth asked.
“Who cares?” Vixie scoffed.
“I’m sure he wasn’t happy seeing Vixie and Donny out there,” Aerity answered. “Probably thinks they’re being a nuisance and bothering the men. Doesn’t want anyone making jesters of the kingdom.”
“I’m not a nuisance!” Vixie’s scoffing continued.
Aerity recalled the conversation they’d just had with the hunters, and her sister’s unfiltered questions. “You have to be careful what you say to these men, Vixie. It’s all very . . . touchy. And personal.” To her, as well.
Vixie rolled her eyes. “You know I’m not one to hold my tongue.”
“Aye, I know.” Aerity sighed.
“Well, all three of you were well received, I thought,” Wyneth said. “The men needed a break.”
“Agreed.” Aerity linked her arm with her cousin, then her sister. “You’ll join us so you can tell him that yourself?”
Wyneth sighed. “Oh, fine. I’m not afraid of Uncle Charles. Your mother, on the other hand . . .”
The girls giggled quietly as they entered the castle.
Chapter
14
“Must you always have something snide to say in the princess’s company?” Tiern asked as he followed his brother to the sharpening post.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Paxton removed his quiver and began taking out his arrows, examining the head of each.
Tiern stopped in front of him. “You needn’t be so gruff with her. It’s embarrassing.”
“Deep seas, Tiern,” Paxton muttered. “Men don’t embarrass.”
“You don’t embarrass, Pax. Sometimes I wonder if you feel anything at all.” Tiern dropped his quiver with a clatter and sat, draping his arms across his bent knees.
Paxton ran his thumb over the tip of an arrow. Just a fraction more pressure and it would cut through the tough pad of skin. Tiern knew nothing of what he felt, and he planned to keep it that way.
“All I’m saying is that it wouldn’t kill you to show a bit of kindness to Princess Aerity. She’s been nothing but pleasant to us.”
“It’s all an act.” Paxton slid the sharpened arrow back into the quiver.
“Must you always be so cynical? Can you not acknowledge genuine kindness and beauty when it’s right in front of you?”
Paxton grunted. He didn’t want to think about her. Aerity.
How she’d controlled her body so fluidly as she’d flipped and landed with complete grace, her hair fanning out like a sunset.
Or that she’d focused on the target and owned it—an action that spoke to Paxton in a language he could understand.
He’d never in all his days seen a lass do something like that. It made him wish he could dive into the deep, dark ocean afar to cool himself. He longed to rid his mind of these unwelcome thoughts.