I shot a look at Dayna. “Yes, they had the same source you did.”
Thomas looked at my sister and a small smile appeared. “At least one of you was using her brain.”
“I understand that you are worried for me, but please keep your insults to yourself. I have no need of another man treating me like I am a dullard.”
Thomas’s eyes widened. “I don’t think you are a dullard, and I did not mean to imply that. You are correct. I am worried about you. You are my dearest cousin, and I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you.”
I stepped toward him and wrapped my arms around him. “I know that. But I need you to trust me. I have agreed with Father that I will not be alone with Cathal again. I will always have my own guards with me, not just his. But we must be careful. Cathal can never know that my parents are aware of his behavior. I fear what he would do to those I love. He has already threatened to hurt my family.”
“Why can’t we just kill him and make it look like an accident?” Thomas asked.
Dayna laughed. “I knew I loved you for a reason.”
“I’m your cousin,” Thomas said dryly. “Isn’t that reason enough?”
Dayna shook her head. “Just because you’re family does not make you worthy of my love.”
“Good to know,” Thomas laughed.
“You two cannot go around speaking about killing a king. That is treason, and the penalty is death. I don’t even know if Father could keep you from being executed, so mind your tongues,” I practically barked.
“You have turned into quite the little mama bear,” Thomas chuckled.
I shrugged. “I’m just telling you what you already know. You are blinded by your hate, and that can cause you to act rashly.”
“I suppose you are right, but sometimes acting rashly is needed.”
I groaned. There was no point in arguing with him. When he’d made up his mind about something, there was rarely any way to change it. “So, did you only come here to scold me, or have you actually missed me? I have only seen you a handful of times in the past two weeks. Where have you been hiding?”
Thomas grinned and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know what you mean. I’ve been around.”
“No, you haven’t,” I argued. “You have been noticeable scarce. Have you found a girl or something?”
Dayna’s eyes widened. “Have you finally found someone who will put up with you?”
I laughed. It was true. It would take a woman with great patience to handle the likes of Thomas. Though I was sure he would make a wonderful husband. He had a kind soul and playful nature. He was sure to be a most delightful father, too because of his childlike nature. His children would never lack for adventures.
“Why on earth would I tell you two wenches if I’d found the woman of my dreams? You would just run off to warn her away from me. No.” He shook his head. “I think it better to keep that secret to myself.”
“You have to tell us,” Dayna said as she stomped her foot. “We’re your favorite cousins.”
“You’re my only cousins,” Thomas pointed out.
“That’s beside the point.”
“No, I think it is the entire point. How can I have favorites when there is no one to compete for my affection?”
Dayna picked up the nearest thing she could grab, a shoe I’d discarded on the floor, and threw it at him. “Do not play games with me, Thomas Mathew. You will tell us if you have found a potential bride. We have to approve of her. That is the way of it.”
He laughed, and his eyes sparkled in that joyful way that I loved. “No, Dayna, that is your way of it. Not everything revolves around you and your ways.”
“Allete, tell him he is wrong,” she pleaded.
It was my turn to laugh. Thomas had a point. Dayna was by no means a selfish person, but she could tend to be a tad self-centered at times. “Dayna, you can’t force someone to tell you something that he does not wish to share.”
“Why not?”
“Because it is his right to keep things to himself.”
She sat down on the end of my bed with a plop and crossed her arms in front of her chest. She looked like a scolded child. It only made me want to laugh more, but I bit my tongue to keep from doing so.
“But…” I turned back to Thomas. “She isn’t entirely wrong. A second and third opinion might be in order. After all, you can’t hide her away from us forever.”
“Well, look at the time. I must be on my way.” Thomas ignored my statement as he walked over to Dayna and gave her a quick hug and kiss on the forehead.
“Thomas,” she practically whined.
He was undeterred as he came back to me and wrapped his arms around me. “You stay safe. Promise?”
I nodded. “I promise.”
He stepped back and gave me a playful tap on the nose and then headed to the door. He pulled it open and just before he closed it behind him, he said over his shoulder, “Just to drive you both bat crazy, yes, there is a woman in my life. But I will reveal nothing further.” He closed the door quickly behind him.
I saw the look on Dayna’s face and chuckled. “You really hate not knowing, don’t you?”
“It’s not fair that he won’t tell us. If we had found suitors, he would demand to know who they were, and then he would want to meet them.”
She was right, he would. But then, we were female and whether we liked it or not, there was a double standard when it came to male and females and courting. “We should be happy for him and wait until he is ready to tell us more,” I offered.
“Fine,” Dayna huffed. “I’ll wait, but I won’t be happy about it.”
“I said you should be happy for him, not happy about waiting.”
“I’ll consider your counsel.”
I smiled at her. “I look forward to the day you find your match. He will have to have a backbone of steel to stand up to you.”
“I’ve already met him.” She pointed at the door. “He’s on the other side of that door, and everything about him calls out to me.”
“A guard, Dayna?” I asked, even though I knew the answer. “You cannot marry a guard. No matter how kind he is or how good a warrior, he is beneath your station.”
“That doesn’t make him less than me. Just because I was born a princess does not make me worthier or in any way better than him,” she argued.
“I agree with you, but it is the way of our society. You must marry within your own class. It’s the way it has always been.” I didn’t agree with it either, but I understood that anyone of noble birth who married a commoner would be shunned and treated with disdain. I did not want that for my sister.
“And how will that ever change if we aren’t willing to take the first step?”
I returned to the chair I’d been sitting in before Thomas had arrived and looked at my younger sister. “In so many ways, you are wise beyond your years. I wish I had an answer for you. You are right, we should set the example for change. But any time there is change, there is trouble. I don’t want you to have to be the one who bears that burden.”
“You cannot protect me from everything, Allete.”