Brant reached out and clapped me on the shoulder. “Do not worry. I do not want to bed a host of them. Just that one.” He nodded his head toward the door where the woman in question had disappeared.
“Did you notice the likeness? And the clothes? She is probably Allete’s younger sister,” I said, crossing my arms and giving him my best do as I tell you glare.
“Relax, Torben. I will not jeopardize the mission for a gown…even if it is royal and encasing such a beauty.”
I rolled my eyes. “Bloody hell, when did you become such a wielder of words?” Footsteps moving quickly from the right side of the corridor caused us both straighten and slip into the roles we were playing.
Under the pretense of acting as a watchful guard, I jerked my head to the side to look at the approaching man who was striding toward us. He was tall, though still a few inches shorter than myself. I imagined the women probably classified him as handsome, though there was a cruelty that danced in his narrowed eyes. His mouth was thin and tightly stretched across his face, as though he was perpetually offended by everything around him. The man stunk of wealth and entitlement. He was the type of man who believed everyone to be beneath him, and he proved it when he opened his mouth to speak.
“Are you going to open the door, or do you need a heralding trumpet to prompt you to do your job?”
My jaw tightened, and I was sure I was going to break some teeth. “Forgive me, my lord,”
The man interrupted me. “Your Highness,” he snapped.
“No, I am simply the guard,” I retorted. Brant attempted to cover his laugh with a cough.
The man in front of me was seething, which only made me want to laugh.
“Not you, you idiot. I was speaking of me. You do not address me as ‘my lord,’ you address me as ‘Your Highness.’ I am Cathal, the king of Tara.”
He paused, looking expectantly at me as though I was going to break out into applause. I simply returned his stare.
“Now, open the door,” Cathal ordered.
“I cannot,” I said. “The lady is still dressing. I am sure you would want to protect her reputation and virtue, seeing as how you are to wed her.” I knew I was walking a fine line with the king, but it was so easy to bait the man, which might have been the only thing that kept me from punching him.
I turned, pushing my body in between his and the door, and knocked gently. As soon as the door opened, I stepped quickly inside, gently moving the woman in front of me aside and shutting the door behind me. When I looked up, I saw three sets of eyes staring at me. One set was quite appreciative, one set was clearly confused and shocked, and the third set was curious. I dismissed the appreciative and curious pair and looked at the woman who was staring at me with her mouth opening and closing, unsure of what to say. Butterflies assaulted my stomach as I took in her beautiful form, followed by a roaring dragon that threatened to consume me as I realized what she was wearing. I clenched my fist, pushing down the rage, and taking a deep breath, steadied myself.
“Forgive the intrusion, my lady, and my also impertinence, but where the hell is the rest of your dress?” I said, bowing my head slightly though my eyes never left her. “King Cathal is waiting for you, and I did not want to let him enter until I knew you were appropriate. It was a good thing I did not let him in, considering that …” I could not even call it a dress. There was practically no top half; I would be more apt to call it a skirt with suspenders. Allete stood and stalked toward me, stopping when she was a few feet away.
“And what about you?”
“Excuse me?”
“Do you think you can come into my chambers any time you like? You are a guard, not my nursemaid. My life is yours to protect, not my honor. And what if I wasn’t decent? I could have your head for storming in here.” She was angry that I had called her out on the scrap of material she was pretending was a dress. But she had a point. I had no right to enter her room, of course. Perhaps I should not have acted so hastily. The idea of Cathal alone with her, however, twisted in my gut like rotten meat and spurned on my rash behavior.
“You are right, my lady. I should not have intruded, but I did not know how else to keep him from entering. I know that your father would not wish the man in your bedchamber before the wedding.” I fought to keep my eyes on her face, though I was man enough to admit that they did drop to the ample bust that was threatening to make a full appearance. I wanted to throw a blanket over her so that no other would ever see her in such a state. Why in the gods would she put on something so revealing?
Allete held my gaze a moment longer but did not acknowledge my words. Instead she turned to one of the other women in the room. “Dayna, this is Torben, the new guard I was telling you about. Torben, this is my sister, Dayna. And the beauty who answered the door is Lidia, my handmaiden.”
I bowed to each of them. “Ladies.” It did not escape my notice that Dayna was clothed much more appropriately than her older sister.
“Please allow the king to enter,” Allete commanded. She pulled her shoulders back and raised her chin slightly.
My blood boiled, and it wasn’t because she had given me, a clan general, an order. Rather, I was incensed she was going to let that slime into her chambers. “Perhaps you should meet him in the dining hall after you have put on something more akin to what your lovely sister is wearing,” I suggested through clenched teeth.
Her eyes snapped to mine quick as lightning. “My attire is not your concern.”
“I am your guard, Your Highness. Anything involving your person is my concern.”
“I think you mean anything involving my safety,” she attempted to correct me. “My choice of gown does not affect my safety.”
“Forgive me if I disagree. I will have to fight off every male in the castle if you parade around looking like—”
“Be very careful how you end that sentence, Torben,” she seethed.
“Every man’s desire,” I bit out.
“Every man?” she asked coyly, her demeanor changing without warning.
“Do you really want to play with me, Princess?” I challenged as I took a step toward her. My six and a half foot frame towered over her diminutive form. She tilted her head back to look up at me. Apprehension filled her light brown eyes, but no fear, for which I was glad. I did not want her to fear me, just follow my instructions regarded her safety. I nearly laughed to myself. It was apparent that Princess Allete was not about to turn belly up and submit.
Smothered laughter reminded me that we were not alone. Allete seemed to draw my attention so completely that everyone else faded into the background while in her presence—a dangerous weakness to have.
“Open the door,” she all but growled at me.
“I will not,” I refused. “He has no business being in your chambers.”
“I have chaperones.” She pointed to her sister and Lidia.