Lost Princess (12 page)

I was quiet during dinner, and Callista, who had joined us after we’d sat, knew the cause and didn’t press me. I was roused from my thoughts when Max turned to Callista. “You turn eighteen in mere days, do you not?’

She nodded slowly, giving me a glance.

Max caught it and frowned at me. “I have decided that you will go to Aldovia, to Gregory.”

Callista said slowly, “I—” she paused, licking her lips and then losing her nerve. “Yes, my lord,” she said miserably.

Max again glanced at her. “You have something to say?” His voice was sharp, and I knew he would never get Callista to speak if he tried to bully her.

“My lord, I think my cousin is unhappy to be leaving her home here. I know that I will miss her greatly, and view her betrothal with a heavy heart.” I hoped that would provide Callie with the opening she needed if she wanted to protest. I didn’t know anything about Gregory, but Callista looked a little green at the thought.

Max looked unmoved. “She is of age. Would you have me deny her a husband and family simply to keep her close to you?” There was sarcasm in his tone as he looked at me.

“No, my lord,” I said. I added in a quieter voice, trying to make him understand,  “Perhaps she already has someone she has feelings for.”

Max said bluntly, “So?“I blinked, unable to go further without either Callista’s help or Devlin’s absence. Devlin didn’t seem to be paying any attention. As an end to the conversation, Max’s ‘so’ seemed rather final. And I suppose in his mind, it didn’t matter what feelings there were. What mattered was power.

Callista said, “When will I leave, my lord?”

“Three days hence,” he said. “I’ve already contacted Gregory, and he will be here then to claim you.”

I looked at Callista but she avoided my gaze. Max turned to me now. “Since Callista will be leaving, Kasta has offered to resume the duties she took over when Wenda died.”

I bit my lip. When had he talked to her?

He frowned and said impatiently, “Did you not tell me you wished to be relieved of those tasks?”

I nodded slowly. “I simply hadn’t realized you’d spoken to her about it,” I said.

He shrugged and turned away at a question from Devlin. I used the excuse to hiss at Callista. “You have to say something. You can’t just let him send you away.”

Callista sighed. “I’d like to, but it will do no good.“I leaned close enough to almost touch her ear. “And Devlin?“She gave a half-hearted shrug. “You never told me how to win his heart. He sat there and heard I was to be betrothed. If he cared at all, I’m sure he would have said something.”

“But….”

“No, Kat. Let it go. Let’s try to enjoy the time we have left.”

I let it go then, at least with her. After we were finished, though, I watched as Devlin went a different way than Max and rose and followed Devlin. I had to search for him some, but finally found him limping down the hall towards his room from wherever he’d gone.

He stopped when he saw me. “My lady, I doubt my brother would be happy to see you off on your own.”

I gritted my teeth. “I forgot again,” I admitted. “Max has told me nothing of what happened this morning. Will you tell me?”

“If you’ll allow me to escort you to wherever it is you were headed, I will share some of what I know,” Devlin said.

I nodded, trying to think of where I might go that was in this direction. Finally I gave up and told the truth. “Actually, I was looking for you.”

“I see,” Devlin said. He gestured to the greenhouse annex. “Would you like to sit? I think it may still be warm in there.”

We went into the greenhouse, and I breathed deeply of the smell of growing things. When I’d first come to the castle, I’d spent a lot of time in here. Something in here made Callista sneeze, however, so I hadn’t been here as much lately. I sat on one backless bench and Devlin lowered himself somewhat heavily to the other.

“This morning, one of our men was found dead—killed by another man-at-arms, who has since fled. The question we are asking ourselves is
why
he killed him. If it was an accident, or a fight of some kind, why would the man flee? Perhaps he is frightened of Max’s retribution. But perhaps this man was caught doing something he shouldn’t have been doing, and killed the man who caught him. We’ve had some signs there is an informer among us.”

“What signs?” I asked, intrigued.

“Max would already treat me to a long rant if he knew what I’ve told you. I’m afraid you must be content with what I’ve divulged.” His eyes challenged me merrily. “Unless you wish to press Max for more information.”

I shook my head definitely. “I think not.”

Devlin nodded in agreement. “Was there something else you wanted?“Instead of answering his question, I said, “You said you think of me like a sister, right?”

He nodded, looking a little wary. “Yes.”

“Well, good.” I took a deep breath. “I’m not very good at asking things in a roundabout way, so I’ll simply ask. “Why is it you haven’t married?”

He blinked at me, surprised at my blunt personal question. “That’s difficult to explain,” he hedged.

“I’m quite quick. I’m sure I’ll understand if you tell me,” I said.

Devlin said, “May I ask why you want to know?”

I bit my lip, thinking. “Because I…can you just tell me first?”

He was silent for some minutes, looking off into the plants. “Katrina, I don’t wish to insult you, but if you’re thinking that you and I—”

“No!” I said, standing up. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Devlin. I didn’t mean that at all! I—Max keeps me quite busy…not that I should tell you that. Even if you were my brother. Which you aren’t.” I gave up and put my face in my hands, wondering if there was a way of dying from embarrassment.

Devlin chuckled. “Please be at ease, Katrina, little sister. I apologize for making the assumption. Will you forgive me?”

“Of course!” I cleared my throat. “Max told me what his second wife did—that she…well, I should have remembered that.”

“It was not a good situation.” Devlin said with a quirk of his eyebrow. “I wasn’t sure Max would even believe me. At the time he knew nothing of her activities. Nor did I. Thankfully he did trust me to that degree.”

“Devlin, will you tell me?”

He sighed. “Why I haven’t married?”

I nodded. “Please Devlin.  It’s important.”

Devlin said, “If I do, can I trust you to keep it to yourself? I don’t know you all that well, but you don’t seem like the kind of lady to spread rumors.”

“Never,” I said resolutely. “There is only one person I would ever tell, and if you wish it, I won’t even tell her.”

He nodded slowly. “It’s funny, but even Maximus doesn’t know why I refused the ladies he brought for me. I wonder if you’ll tell him. He is your husband.”

“True, he is. But I take a promise very seriously. And since I make him angry nearly every day anyway, I can’t imagine keeping your secret would even make him blink.”

Devlin nodded again. “Because, you see if he knew…he would make some poor woman marry me, and that wouldn’t be fair.”

I didn’t say anything, just waited, my eyes on him.

He rose and limped away from me to the wall where ivy was trying to creep up the stones.  He pulled it up and showed it to me. “These will ruin the stone,” he said.

I nodded and waited, my eyes steady on him.

He laughed harshly suddenly and shook his head. “Isn’t it obvious?” he asked. “Look at me!”

I looked at him. “Do you mean your limp?” I asked, confused.

“It’s everything,” he said, limping back, almost seeming angry now. “Do you think I’m blind as well as crippled? That I don’t see how people look at me? With pity or disgust? I want neither, and I wouldn’t force myself on some poor girl simply because Max wants me wed.”

I was nonplussed. This explanation hadn’t entered my mind. “But my lord—”

“No,” Devlin said, shaking his head and sitting back down hard. “No.”

“But you’re—”

“What?” he snapped at me. “Weak? Crippled? Unable to even walk right? I am all those things, and denying it is ridiculous.“He rose to his feet with some effort. “You promised not to give it away. I know it’s obvious, but Max doesn’t see me like that, so it isn’t obvious to him.”

“Devlin, please stop,” I said, rising and taking his arm. He flinched away from me, and I realized I’d taken his weaker arm. “Please!” I looked down at his arm. To all appearances it was just as his other arm—simply mildly weaker. “Devlin, I don’t understand this, how could this bother you? You’re just as other men.”

He shook his head. “You try to be kind, but—”

My temper suddenly broke. “You are just as damned stubborn as your brother!” I said loudly. “I am not worried for you, but for Callista, who fancies you! But do you even consider her? No, you are too busy feeling sorry for yourself!”

Devlin gaped at me. “What did you say?”

I backed away, sitting back down. “I take it back, I am not good at keeping secrets. I certainly didn’t keep Callie’s very well.” I smiled wanly.

“Callista?” he said as if he’d never heard of her. “You jest.”

“Right, certainly, because that would be so very funny. Ha ha!” I said sarcastically.   He sat back down, thinking so hard that he almost seemed in a daze. “Callista?” he asked again.

“Yes, my lord. Callista, my cousin. The one who is supposed to leave with her betrothed in three days.”

He shook his head. “You do this so she’ll stay here if Max forces her to wed me,” he stated.

“No, I don’t. And if you don’t believe me then open your eyes and watch her. She is always watching you. She has asked me several times how she can gain your attention, but I’m no good at that sort of thing, so I don’t know what to tell her.”

“She said she’d wed Gregory,” Devlin said.

“What other choice does she have?”

Devlin said, “And you swear to me that you aren’t doing this simply to keep her here at the castle?”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” I took a deep breath and tried to calm, finally smiling at him. “She likes you, Devlin. And I like you. There aren’t many men I’d probably think are good enough for my cousin, but you…I think you would make her happy.”

Devlin couldn’t seem to make himself believe it. Perhaps his beliefs about himself were too deeply rooted.

“Look, if you aren’t interested in her, then at least I tried to help her get the man she wants. She wouldn’t want you to take her just because she fancies you if you don’t feel the same.”

Devlin laughed and shook his head again. “This is ridiculous,” he said.

I smiled. “I agree.”

He mumbled something about a beauty and a beast, but I didn’t completely catch it. He reached out and touched the back of my hand. “I don’t quite know whether to thank you or curse you, but you certainly have given me a lot to think about.” He gave me a gentle smile that held sadness. “I don’t know if I can be what you want me to be.”

I nodded. “I’ve done my part. Now it’s up to you.” I rose and was to the door when I stopped, turning back to him. “Devlin, even if it isn’t Callista, don’t just assume that everyone sees you the same way as you apparently see yourself. I see a kind, funny, handsome man who any woman would be lucky to have. Maybe other people see you that way too.” I nodded to him and left.

Both of us forgot that Max didn’t want me to be alone. I was nearly to our room when he caught me.  “Katrina!” he said, exasperation in his voice. He seemed about to speak then threw up his arms in frustration. “Go in the room,” he said.

I bit my lip and went inside. He followed me in and barred the door. “I’ve had your cousin moved down so she is in a more occupied area. She leaves soon anyway, so it didn’t seem worth the effort to repair the door.” He walked around me, shaking his head. “Where were you? I looked for you for a long time.”

“I was with Devlin, my lord, in the greenhouse.“Max stopped in his tracks.

“With Devlin? Why?”

“I needed to ask him something, but we sort of got in an argument, and we both forgot that he was going to escort me here.”

“What would the two of you have to argue about?” Max asked curiously.

I shrugged, uncomfortable now. “We disagreed about something.”

“What?” Max asked, standing closer now.

I looked up at him. “I promised not to tell you,” I said softly.  I’d wanted to lie but nothing else came to me but the truth.

Max’s face slowly darkened. “You promised my brother to keep a secret from me?” With each word he was exponentially angrier.

I bit my lip and nodded, backing away. “Please, Max,” I started, but he wouldn’t listen.

His hands snaked out and took me by the shoulders. “You will tell me,” he said softly, each word menacing.

I looked at him. “Please, my lord, please don’t make me! He said he considers me like his sister! I’ve never had a sibling, and if I tell you…I promised!”

He shook me, but it wasn’t hard. “Damn it, Katrina—” he began.

“Wait!” I said, not wanting him to say another word that would probably spell doom for me. “I can tell you what it was about, just not what it was.”

“You speak in riddles,” Max snapped. “Talk quickly, wife.”

“I asked him to tell me why he won’t wed,” I blurted.

Max frowned. “You did?”

“Yes.” I nodded vigorously. “Have you never asked him?”

Max’s hands dropped from my shoulders. He walked over to the window and looked out at the night. “I don’t know that I’ve ever asked him outright. I’ve attempted to find a lady he would favor, but he would have none of it.” He turned just his head to look at me. “And yet he told you?”

I looked down at my feet. “I had to be quite insistent,” I admitted.

Max gave a short laugh. “I don’t doubt it. One characteristic he and I have in common is our stubbornness.”

I looked up at him and grinned. “That’s what I told him,” I said.

“You told him we shared stubbornness?” Max asked, somewhat amazed.

“I think what I said was he was as damned stubborn as you are.”

Max began to chuckle, then he laughed full out. “You swore at Devlin.” He grinned. “I would have liked to see that.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Everyone loves Devlin. He’s kind to a fault. I think only you would swear at him.”