Lost Princess (3 page)

Callista said, “Kat only wanted to keep me from marrying that old lecher. She knew I couldn’t bear it if I was given to him, and she always watches out for me.” Callista’s chin rose as she defended me.

“It’s all right, Callie,” I said. “My lord Devlin is correct. I didn’t think this through.”

Devlin’s eyes were shrewd as he looked at me. “I feared he might just kill you in his anger over your betrayal.”

“But we didn’t…I mean, it wasn’t a betrayal. I just couldn’t marry Simon!” Callista said.

Devlin said, “I know, Callista, but my brother sees loyalty in a more black and white manner. If he didn’t kill you, Katrina, and you stand in front of me unharmed…” he gestured to my arm and amended, “Mostly unharmed, I am forced to wonder what sort of retribution he has planned for you.”

Callista again proved she was as loyal as anyone. “Whatever it is, I should get the same. I was with her.”

Devlin shook his head. “Nay, Callista, he gave your punishment over to me and it is done.”

Callista wasn’t listening. She was talking herself up for what she thought her punishment would be. “What did he decide? If it’s a whipping I’ve been whipped before. I can manage again.”

Again Devlin said, “No, Callista. I can’t do anything about Kat’s punishment, as you know, but yours is done and over.” He saw my face and added in a softer voice that seemed to break through to Callista, “And I don’t think he has ordered Katrina whipped, has he, Katrina?“I shook my head mutely.

Callista’s eyes widened. “Oh no!” She slowly crumpled to the ground, her skirts billowing out around her to make her look like a flower on the floor. “He’s not going to have you executed? No!” She put her hands to her face in horror.

“No. Callista, listen to me—he hasn’t ordered my execution!” I said.

She looked up. “Then what? He let you off without punishment? Really?”

Devlin shook his head. “Callista, my lady, let Katrina talk and we’ll both know.”

I bit my lip. “I’m to be his wife. Tomorrow we wed.“Both of them stared at me. I felt like I should add more, but couldn’t think of another thing to say.

Devlin spoke first, “His wife? He asked you to be his wife?”

I said slowly, “Not asked, not really. He gave me a choice of being his wife or…something I truly couldn’t live with.” Yeah, I couldn’t live with execution. Literally couldn’t live with it. But Callista was upset enough without knowing that, I decided. 

Callista blinked at me, slowly rising gracefully to her feet. “You will be the third to feed the curse,” she said dully. While I wasn’t usually one to believe in ghosts and curses, Callista did. I’d had to nearly drag her into the haunted city, and now you would think I already had Death standing behind me waiting impatiently to take me.

Devlin said in an uncharacteristically sharp voice, “There is no curse. The entire idea is ridiculous! My brother has had misfortune in wives, true, but there is no reason to think that it will continue.” He resumed his appraisal of me. “You know, my brother just might not be as foolish as I sometimes worry he is.”

Callista was still looking at me in something like horrified pity. “I’m so very sorry, Kat,” she said.

Devlin gave her a severe look. “Callista, I’ll thank you to remember that you speak of my brother. The only family I have.”

“But you said…” Callista began.

“He’s my brother. If I think he’s a fool, I’ll say so. But family sticks together, and no one else gets to castigate him in my presence.” His voice softened. “Even you, my lady.”

Callista hung her head. “I’m sorry, my lord Devlin. Please accept my apology.”

He smiled at her. “Completely forgiven and forgotten, Callista.” He turned to me. “I suppose we’ll be having a party tomorrow if my brother plans a wedding. I have to say, I didn’t think he was angry enough with you to issue such a dire punishment,” he said, his voice teasing.

In spite of my reservations, I couldn’t very well complain to Devlin. “Nor did I, my lord,” I said, trying to tease back.

Devlin said his good-byes and left us. Callista turned to me. “You’re getting married. Tomorrow.” She thought for a moment. “I should have known he’d do something like that. I do not mean to offend again, but it seems that it could be a frightening thing, becoming that man’s wife.”

I nodded, swallowing. “I might need you to bar the door tomorrow, so I do not break and run.” Yes, my voice was light, but the sentiment was not. I’d survived this long with Max as my guardian only because he’d never paid enough attention to notice my sassiness and unfeminine ways. Now I would be his wife. What would he do once he realized what I was really like? I shuddered to consider it.

.

Chapter Two

Maximus was down in the hall for dinner that night. I’d tried to plead tiredness and take my meal in my room, but Callista had called me a coward who was afraid to face my husband-to-be. She was right, of course, but that didn’t stop the comment from rankling, and I allowed myself to be gently dragged down.

The entire house, minus servants, dined together in the large room. Other than Max’s table, everyone simply sat where he or she wished. At the Regent’s table sat Devlin, and the other four places were empty. When Max had a wife she had sat there as well. I suppose others could sit there if Max would allow it. I’d never been sure if the table was empty because of Max’s reputation or because he allowed no one else to sit there. I tried to unobtrusively sit at the table farthest from Max’s.

Callista followed me, frowning over at the table where Max and Devlin would sit. Neither was present yet—they usually arrived last, and once they arrived, so did the food. I sat so that Raymone, a large hulk of a man, was shielding me to the point that I doubted Max would even be able to see me unless he stood on a chair to do it. I just wasn’t sure if I could eat if I thought I had Max’s attention. This did not speak well for tomorrow, when I’d have his attention and a whole lot more.

I heard the murmurs that meant Max and Devlin had arrived. I didn’t try to see around Raymone, in fact I huddled down in my seat to make myself even less easy to spot. Callista was seated to my left, and she had a decent view of the Regent’s table from her place.

She leaned towards me. “He’s here,” she said unnecessarily. “I think he might be looking for you.” Her gaze dropped to the table in front of her. “Oh God, he’s looking over here! Why did I let you talk me into coming down here for dinner?” she moaned.

I gaped at her. She had the world’s most convenient memory when she chose. “You called me a coward when I suggested I stay away!”

“You are a coward, but I forgot that I’m an even bigger coward,” she said in a whisper. “Look and see if he’s still looking.”

“Me?” I hissed in a whisper. “I’m hiding from him you dolt!” Callista rolled her eyes and slowly peeked up through her lashes. She raised her head slightly to see and immediately put it back down. “He must be looking for you. And of course you’d be with me. What if he decides I haven’t suffered enough for my crime? What if he wants to beat me?” Callista was becoming more upset by the second.

“He gave that task to Devlin, and Devlin will protect you,” I said without thinking. I was busy hoping that I’d escape his attention for tonight at least. I’d have never come down had I thought he’d care one way or the other.Callista gave me a long, slow, look. She seemed bemused. “You’re right,” she said. She was still staring at me when we both froze.

“Katrina, you will thus forth sit with me at my table,” Max said with his usual blunt severity. He seemed to just now notice Callista. “And Callista?” He asked this of Callista as if he was unsure of her name.

Callista, wide-eyed and looking like she might bolt for the stairs, nodded.

Max said, “You may come as well.” He sounded as though he was inviting her to put her head in the guillotine. His voice was almost challenging.

I considered, briefly, rebellion. I wasn’t his wife yet, after all. But it didn’t really matter. As my guardian and lord of not only the castle, but the land for many miles beyond, he could order me to do just about anything and I’d have no choice but to do it. I rose to my feet woodenly as Callista threw me a panicked look. I took pity on her, saying to Max, “Callie is not feeling well, my lord, and was just about to ask for a plate to be sent up to our room.“Max shrugged and turned, assuming I would follow. I whispered to Callista, “You owe me.” She nodded vigorously as she watched me turn and walk slowly to the Regent’s table.

Devlin gave me an encouraging smile as I sat at the far side of the table, as far from my husband-to-be as possible. Max didn’t seem to notice my presence, turning to talk to his brother as he ate. I slowly relaxed as he continued to ignore me, and managed to eat some while I listened to the conversation between the brothers. It was surprisingly normal, not what I would expect between a lord and his brother. It was about doings about the land and the castle, and I became lulled until I heard him say, “Callista had to go to her room for her dinner. What did you decide for her punishment, Devlin?”

My eyes were now on Devlin who said thoughtfully, “Why do you ask?”

“I am curious,” Max admitted. He now looked directly at me. I thought he’d forgotten I was there. I certainly had tried to make myself as inconspicuous as possible. “It was clear to me where the idea to leave had come.” I looked at my empty plate. I couldn’t very well argue since he was completely correct. But how had he known that? Had he simply assumed that beautiful Callista would never leave unless forced to do so by me, the freakish giantess?

Devlin said, “Do you know why they left, brother?”

Max gave a one-shouldered shrug. “Does it matter?”

“Perhaps it does,” Devlin said.

Max waited, but Devlin said no more. “Well?” Max finally barked. “Why was it?”

Devlin calmly nodded to me. “Why ask me when the source sits here in front of you?”

Max turned to me, irritated. “Why did you flee?“I tried to find my voice. “My lord, you are right, the fault was mine.” I tried to hurry on as his countenance darkened further. “I was mistaken, however, and must ask your forgiveness. I thought—we thought—you intended to betroth Callista to Simon of Sabuque.”

Max ignored my plea for forgiveness and zeroed in on the error I’d made. “And?” he asked harshly.

I swallowed, wishing I’d been born a seagull, or even a snake. Life might not be so bad if I was a snake. I could be in hibernation right now. I had no clue what to say. So I did what I so often did, I opened my mouth and waited to see what would come out. “And it was wrong of me to think you’d ever betroth sweet Callista to such a monster.”

Devlin dropped his fork and stared at me. He picked his fork back up with a muttered comment to Max that I didn’t catch. Never taking his sharp eyes off me, Max said slowly, “I don’t see what business it would be of yours if I betrothed Callista,
my ward,
to Satan himself.”

Ohh. Touché. Nice comeback. I looked at Max in wide-eyed innocence, “Do you have a close acquaintance with Satan, my lord? That he would come to you looking for a bride?“Devlin turned a laugh into a cough, and Max glared at him.

Max turned back to me. “Careful, Katrina, or you will see him far before I do.“I gave a quick, scared nod, realizing what I had seen as amusing, he’d seen as defiance.
Great. Add more punishment to the list.
I thought.

Max turned back to Devlin, seeming to completely forget my presence again. They spoke of mundane issues again, until they rose and finally, finally, I was free to leave. Devlin bade me ‘good night,’ but Max simply left without even a glance.

Once back in my room, I was bombarded by Callista to tell her everything we’d said, and she’d hardly believe me when I told her my conversation with either brother was severely limited. She gasped when I told her what I’d said to Max. “Kat, you amaze me! I know you were raised without the benefit of a female to guide you, but you cannot continue to speak your mind! Tomorrow you wed the Regent, and if the curse doesn’t get you, your irreverent words will!”

“Callie, he wouldn’t kill me for saying something he didn’t like,” I said, waving a hand.

Callista burst into tears, shocking me since I thought she’d simply been teasing or chiding me. She was serious and truly worried. “Stop it!” She wiped at her tears and glared at me. “You don’t know! A man might just kill his wife if she embarrassed him publicly, and the Regent? Well, he doesn’t even need a reason to harm someone. You must promise me not to say anything unless he demands an answer. You must keep your mouth shut always!”

I put my arm around her shoulders. “Callie, I’m sorry. Don’t be upset. I promise I’ll watch my tongue around him. I won’t tease him, I swear.”

“No, no! It’s not the teasing, it’s the way you engage men as if you equal them! You have to understand we don’t equal men.”

And there she had it. In true Callista fashion, she’d cut through everything and zeroed in on the real problem. Because I did, in fact, believe men were no better than women. As I said before, I hadn’t come to be Max’s ward until my father had died. I wasn’t exactly sure what the connection was between them, but Max had taken me in without question. He had sent someone to my small home that I’d shared with my father where I was alone after his death. My father had been sick for months, and I had planned to simply stay on there in the house. I could take care of myself quite well, and Papa had enough money put by that I could manage for a few years at least, more if I was frugal.

But apparently Papa had, without consulting me, contacted the Regent to watch over me when he died. I hadn’t wanted to go, and the men Max sent had to take me by force. I’d fought them, and I think the only reason Max had been lenient that time was he assumed my mind had been clouded by grief.  Once I’d arrived here in his guardianship, he’d seemed to forget I existed.

Papa hadn’t prepared me for life in Max’s home. Papa had treated me more as a friend than a servant, as most women were treated. He’d encouraged my learning, and helped me when he could. He’d been proud of my verbal arguments and delighted in my wit. He’d told me more times than I could count that I was every bit as smart, talented and treasured as any son could be.