“Spanking?” He shrugged, pushed up his sleeves, and crossed his arms. “You seem like a very good lass, though, Princess. I’m sure you have nothing to worry about. And from what I hear, some of the wives quite enjoy—”
The princess let out a growl like an adorably angry cub, jumping swiftly to her feet. Paxton couldn’t hold it in any longer.
He began to laugh, something he hadn’t done in ages.
Aerity’s eyes bulged. “What is so funny?”
Deep seas, she was angry. Her tiny hands were in fists and her cheeks were apple red. It made him laugh even harder. He could only shake his head as he clutched his side.
“You—Did you make that up?” She put her hands on her hips. “Are you teasing me?”
It was too much. He could scarcely breathe. The princess let out an exasperated grunt.
“You are a complete cad, and you should be ashamed of yourself!” A mottled shade of pink had worked its way down her neck, onto the smooth skin over her collarbones, and down the few inches of her chest before the material of her dress ruined the view. He wondered just how far that blush reached.
He fell back on the dock and sent his chuckles up the sky as Princess Aerity stomped away in her soft leather boots.
Good, he thought. Go live your perfect life. He hadn’t planned on turning it into a joke, yet it still had the desired result.
As he lay there, the laughter eventually replaced by fatigue, he found himself wondering which man would have that final blow at the beast. Which man would get to feel Aerity’s hands through his hair. He wondered which of the men, if any, could make her blush as he had.
His stomach soured, and he suddenly felt no satisfaction.
Chapter
25
Aerity, flushed and angry, poked her head into every room as she passed, searching for her cousin.
“There you are, Princess!” Caitrin said when she caught sight of Aerity bustling down the hall. “I’ve a message for you.”
The maid rushed to keep up when the princess didn’t stop.
“Have you seen Lady Wyneth?” Aerity asked.
“Er, no, Your Highness. But I’m to tell you the royal family is to sup together this afternoon in the formal dining room.”
At this, Aerity halted, causing the bright tapestry beside her to stir. “Is everything all right?”
“As far as I know. Other than the Zandalee being ill.”
“Yes, of course.” Both girls stood in solemn silence for a moment.
Caitrin touched the princess’s arm. “Are you well, my lady?”
“Oh . . . aye.” Aerity forced a quick smile.
“May I brush out your hair before the early supper?” Caitrin eyed the tangles caused by wind. Aerity absently nodded and followed her maid to her chambers. To her surprise, Lady Wyneth was sitting on Aerity’s window seat with a book open on the gray skirts of her lap, looking out over the west commons.
“Cousin!” Aerity rushed over and slid onto the window seat with her, grasping her hands. “I’ve been searching for you. You’ll never believe what has just happened.”
Wyneth’s eyes narrowed with interest. “Why are your cheeks so red?”
“Well, partly because I’ve run from the docks all through the castle searching for you. And partly because of that rogue Paxton Seabolt!”
“Ooh . . .” Wyneth straightened. The light from the window brought out her soft freckles. “What did the scoundrel do?”
Aerity huffed, relishing her cousin’s full attention. Behind her, Caitrin set to work brushing out her hair, starting at the bottom and working her way up.
“It’s more of what he said.” Aerity rehashed the conversation, eliciting all sorts of gasping and tutting and mouth covering from her cousin. She left out the bit about telling Paxton she wanted him to kill the beast, because that was simply humiliating in hindsight. At the end, both Wyneth and Caitrin broke into fits of giggles.
Aerity gaped at them. “Must everyone laugh at my expense today?”
“I’m sorry,” Wyneth told her, pulling her in for a quick hug. Aerity caught sight of her cousin’s red knuckles.
“What happened to your hands?”
Wyneth’s eyebrows scrunched as she pulled her hands back. “Nothing. Just chapped.”
“You’re too trusting, Princess,” said Caitrin, shifting Aerity’s attention off her cousin. “And Paxton Seabolt is likely not accustomed to sweet lasses such as yourself. His reputation precedes him.”
The princess nearly gave herself whiplash turning to her maid. “You’ve heard of him? What is his reputation?”
Caitrin’s eyes sparkled with gossip. “Well, it’s said that he’s known in Cape Creek for being the most eligible bachelor, but to everyone’s dismay he’s sworn off marriage.”
Had he? Curiosity and reservation swirled inside Aerity.
“Whatever for?” asked Wyneth.
Caitrin shrugged. “Nobody knows. He’s simply not the marrying type. The women he’s been known to fraternize with are . . . well . . .” She looked back and forth between the royal girls’ waiting faces. “Not exactly innocents. An unsavory crowd of friends, you might say. And yet, he and his family are well respected.”