I had been surprised to learn my future husband was not nearly as old as I thought he was. If I had to guess, I would put him at eight and thirty, or, at the very oldest, two and forty. His hair was dark and short, and he had deep green eyes, a hawkish nose, and thin lips that seemed frozen in a perpetual scowl. Standing at a little over six feet, King Cathal was lean but obviously muscular. Yes, he was handsome, but the cold, detached look in his eyes ruined any favor I might have felt for him.
“Do you think it hurts to hold his face like that?” Dayna asked.
I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing. “Perhaps he was just born that way.”
“Tis a shame to be so handsome and yet such a pompous ass.”
“Hush.” I chastised. “That pompous ass could have your head if he felt your offense warranted it.”
“Father would not allow it, Allete.” Dayna assured me. “I am his favorite.”
I made a motion with my hand to quiet her so we could hear what our father was saying to the king of Tara.
“She has to know by now that I have arrived,” King Cathal said, his words clipped.
“Allete tends to have her own mind about things. I am sure she will join us when she is ready,” Father replied, attempting to placate our irritated guest.
“And who allows such independent thinking?” Cathal challenged. “A woman should know her place.” His pointed look was aimed at the queen, who stood quietly next to King Albric.
I was sure my mother was going to smack the rude man, but a subtle touch to her wrist from my father held her in place.
“I understand your frustration, Cathal, but please be considerate of Allete’s situation. She is to be courted by a man she has never met and is expected to leave in a month’s time and travel to a place that is not her home, where she has no friends—no family. She deserves time to adjust.” King Albric, ever the diplomat, attempted to ease the king of Tara’s temper, but judging by Cathal’s pinched lips, his efforts were wasted.
“Could you at least send for her,” King Cathal asked in a more civil tone, “Please?” He added, albeit a bit begrudgingly.
I gently tugged Dayna’s sleeve, indicating it was time for us to go. Like mice being hunted by a cat, we scurried from our hiding place and snuck to my bedchamber. We had barely made it inside when there was a knock at the door.
“Enter,” I said, attempting to keep from sounding breathless.
Lidia entered, the look on her face one of trepidation.
“The king requests your presence,” my handmaiden said softly.
I smiled at the girl. “Chin up, Lidia. All is well.”
Lidia let out a huff, her manners momentarily forgotten. “You have not met the man. He is positively awful.” Her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes widened. “Forgive my frankness.”
Dayna laughed. “Allete would never punish you, especially not when you’ve told the truth.” She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “We already saw him—we spied on them.” Dayna winked, completely unrepentant.
Lidia lowered her hand and made an O shape with her mouth.
I straightened my dress and pulled my shoulders back. “Might as well face the music. I doubt he is going to turn around and sail back home without me.”
“We could make him go away.” Dayna offered. “I am sure we could afford an assassin.”
Lidia gasped, and I shot my sister a warning look. “Bite your tongue. The walls have ears. Words like that would make it impossible for Father to protect you.”
Dayna shrugged. Petulant child. I worried my sister’s mouth would get her in more trouble than she thought possible. Our father’s crown could only protect her so much.
I made a motion for Lidia to lead the way. The atmosphere turned somber, as if we were headed to a funeral instead of an introduction to my future husband. Imagining how we must have looked made my mouth twitch upward just a smidge.
As we approached the sitting room, I could feel tension rolling in not so subtle waves. I took a deep breath, and then I walked past my sister and Lidia. As I entered the room, my eyes met my father’s first. My heart broke at the look of regret I found there. I gave him a small smile, hoping to assure him I would be fine. I understood my duty to the kingdom and stood ready and willing to do it. At least that’s what I told myself. The truth was much more complicated.
“King Cathal,” my father said loudly, stepping forward and reaching for my hand, “this is my daughter, Princess Allete.”
I turned to the king and curtsied, though I really wanted to stomp on his foot—behavior that was oh so befitting of a future queen.
“My Lord,” I said as I rose and looked up at him. It took everything in me not to take a step back at the look of lust and longing in his eyes. I had never been in a relationship, or even fancied a man, but I was no stranger to the attention Cathal was giving me. It made my skin crawl, feeling as though I was covered in a thousand ants.
He reached for my hand, and, after the briefest hesitation, I complied. When his large hand closed around mine, I felt like an animal caught in a hunter’s trap and I struggled to suppress the violent urge to riot against my restraints. He leaned down and placed a kiss on the back of my hand, lingering a little too long. When he rose, I attempted to pull my hand away, but he only tightened his grasp.
“You are more beautiful than I expected,” he said, his deep voice sending a chill down my spine.
“Thank you,” I responded, earning a toothy smile in return.
“I wonder if you would join me for a walk before the banquet?” Cathal requested.
I looked at my father, hoping he could see the pleading in my eyes to refuse the king’s request. I knew it would be an insult to refuse, but I could not help but hope.
“I can’t think of anyone better to show you around the castle, King Cathal,” my father replied in my stead, “with a chaperone, of course.”
Cathal looked irritated at the caveat, but there was no way King Albric would allow me to be alone with any man before I wed, regardless of his status.
“Of course,” Cathal said.
“Lidia,” King Albric called, knowing she would not be far from me. The young girl hurried in, followed by Dayna. “You and Dayna please accompany King Cathal and Allete on a walk of the grounds.”
Lidia curtsied and came to stand behind me. Dayna quickly joined her, not bothering to introduce herself to the king.
Cathal took my hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm, effectively drawing me closer to him. Our shoulders brushed, and I wanted to gag from the proximity. I let him lead me from the room, wishing an opening in the floor would suddenly swallow me whole.
“You seem nervous.” Cathal pointed out.
Really? Because I feel so incredibly comfortable.
“I apologize, my Lord. I admit, the idea of becoming the queen of a kingdom I am not familiar with and marrying a man I do not know is a bit daunting.”
“Surely you were prepared for such a fate from an early age.”
“I was, but preparation and experience are vastly different from each other.”
He seemed to consider my words before he spoke. “I suppose, but you will have to learn to adapt. Being a queen is not easy. My people will look to you as an example. You must not show weakness.”