Chapter 3

Abigail

King Hayden’s comments about my father only believing women to be equal because he had no sons bothered me. I knew it wasn’t true – my father had always loved us deeply and treated us well, and women were treated as equals in Alderei. I knew it wasn’t that way everywhere, but I didn’t remember this side of the king.

“I wonder what the queen was thinking when she agreed to the betrothal,” Rose muttered, as if reading my mind.

“Alliances and security, most likely,” I replied, just loud enough for my sister to hear. “It was 14 years ago. Let’s hope the prince has remained more charming than his father.”

Rose poked me in the ribs. “You and the prince seemed to be very taken with each other. He didn’t want to let you go once he hugged you.”

I blushed, but poked Rose back, and she giggled. “We’ve always been friends,” I countered, then admitted, “He has grown to be very handsome…”

“You can have him then,” Cat said, walking up to us. “Did you hear what his father said to me about his son not standing for a ‘willful’ wife? He’s in for quite a shock if that’s true.”

“I don’t get the feeling the prince shares his father’s beliefs,” Rose observed. “I was watching him when his father was speaking, and he seemed genuinely embarrassed by what was being said.”

“He was never like his father when we were children,” I assured her. “He’s always been very kind.”

Before Cat could grumble a reply, I spotted our father making his way over to us. He had missed the greetings because he was overseeing the security details around the arrival of our guests. As the head of the Queen’s forces, and her champion, he took his job very seriously. I pointed him out to Rose, and Cat wandered away, still mumbling to herself.

“Hello, Father,” I said as I curtsied to him. Rose did the same, and he placed a hand on our heads as his blessing before embracing us both, one in each arm.

“Are you two behaving?” he asked playfully, letting us go. He reached out and put a lock of my hair behind my ear before giving Rose a kiss on the head.

“Yes, Father,” Rose replied. “We were just discussing the prince.” She glanced at me sideways. “Abby thinks he’s grown handsome.”

I reached over, blushing deeply, and swatted at my sister, who laughed as she ducked out of the way. My father raised an eyebrow. “Funny you should say that. His father’s original plan was to betroth Grayson to you when you were both very young.”

“Oh.” My stomach sank – my father had never mentioned that before, not to me. “Well, I just hope he’s good to the princess.”

“I’m sure he will be. He was a very sweet boy – the two of you got along amazingly well throughout your childhood, if memory serves. It would have been a good match, but you were far too young at the time to discuss marriage.” He kissed my forehead. “You will find someone, my love. You’re only 18 – you’re no spinster yet.” He winked at me, and I smiled back. Father was right.

He let out a deep breath. “Well, I should go greet our guests,” he sighed. “Remember, I love you both. You are my pride,” he kissed my forehead, “and you are my joy,” he said, turning to Rose and kissing hers.

We both told Father we loved him too, and he went off to direct the others in the room to move toward the Hall. He approached King Hayden and greeted him as an old friend. I watched as they laughed loudly about something and clapped each other on the back before moving into the Hall.

Shaking my head, I turned to find Rose no longer by my side. A quick scan of the room showed she had made her way over to Cat and they were deep in conversation, glancing furtively around the Great Hall.

Oh gods, I hope they aren’t making another escape plan.

I decided to go out to the gardens for some air. There was still some time before dinner.

The gardens were the pride of the castle, having been lovingly designed by King Marcus for his bride. He had cared for them personally until his disappearance ten years ago. Since then, the queen had done her best to maintain them, but they had lost the king’s touch. Still, you could get lost in the garden if you were so inclined. It stretched around three of the four sides of the castle.

I walked out and admired the colors within the raised flowerbeds. The night air felt nice on my skin after the stuffiness of the entrance chamber. I thought about how it had felt when the Prince had embraced me, and I felt my face flush. I had always thought he was handsome, but never had the courage to tell him. Now it was too late.

I remembered the last evening we had spent together, the Sunswell we were 14. Did he remember our kiss? Is that why he stopped writing? He seemed happy when they left that day.

I wasn’t out there long when I heard someone walk up behind me. I turned and saw Grayson, who jumped in surprise at my sudden movement.

“Oh! I’m sorry, Abby! I didn’t mean to startle you.” He reached out and touched my arm. I felt pleasurable sparks where his hand touched my bare skin. I shivered.

“Are you cold?” he asked. Without waiting for an answer, he took off his surcoat and placed it over my shoulders.

Blushing profusely, I thanked him. He was standing close enough to me that I had to look up at him to do so, and I found myself looking into his beautiful, kind eyes. I had missed those eyes.

“You still have such pretty eyes,” he said, just loud enough for me to hear.

“So do you,” I said just as softly.

“Will you show me around the garden? It looks lovely.” His voice was still barely above a whisper, like he was afraid someone would hear us.

“Of course,” I said, taking his arm and leading him deeper into the garden. We walked in comfortable silence for a few moments, before he stopped.

He turned to look at me, and I did the same. “Abby… I need to ask you something.”

“I have something I’d like to ask you, as well,” I said, “but you go first.”

He nodded, then swallowed hard. “Why did you stop writing to me?”

There was so much pain in his eyes, I felt my heart break, before replying. “I didn’t stop writing to you. You stopped writing to me. I was going to ask you the same thing.”

“I didn’t stop writing to you!” he exclaimed. “I wrote you once a week for years. I even wrote to tell you I was coming to Alderei to marry Catherine.”

“I wrote you weekly, as well!” I countered. “I stopped writing last year, when you didn’t write me back when I told you of my mother’s death.” I looked to the ground, tears in my eyes.

“I never got your letters,” he said softly. “I didn’t even know about your mother until we arrived.”

“I didn’t get your letters, either,” I sniffled. “I thought you hated me. I didn’t know what I might have done.”

“Oh Abby,” I felt his arms go around me again, and I let him hold me as the tears fell from my eyes. “I have never and could never hate you.” He pulled back to look at me and I raised my eyes to meet his. “I thought you hated me.” He wiped the tears from my face.

“Never,” I whispered.

“I wonder what happened to our letters?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” I replied. “I’m just glad we got all that out of the way.” I sniffled and took a step back, wiping my nose with a handkerchief.

He looked disappointed that I had pulled away. “Me too,” he agreed. He took my hands in his. “Now tell me everything that has happened in the last four years.”

I laughed and we started walking again through the labyrinth of the garden. I told him about the last few years – our permanent move to court, my mother’s death, the fact that we almost lost Rose at the same time, inheriting my mother’s land and titles.

He told me about Dupont’s death, what he remembered of it anyway, and how he had had to take over Dupont’s duties. He didn’t enjoy it, and I remembered he had wanted to become a healer. Eventually, we settled on a flowerbed wall, sitting next to each other.

“I don’t want to rule,” he lamented. “Especially not two countries.”

“Cat doesn’t want to rule either,” I said.

“Well, we will make a fine pair,” he said sarcastically.

“Mmm,” I said, wrapping both of my arms around his right one. I laid my head on his shoulder. “I’m just glad you’re here,” I said happily. “I’ve missed you so much and now that you will be here all the time –“

“Abby, I don’t want to marry Catherine,” he blurted out. “And I can tell she doesn’t want to marry me.”

I couldn’t deny it. “Well, I know the circumstances aren’t the best…”

“I don’t want to marry a stranger. I want to marry someone I know – someone I love and who loves me.” He looked up, tears in his eyes, like he wanted to say something more. I felt my heart break for him. “Is that so wrong?” he finished.

“No, Grayson,” I said, taking his hand. “There is nothing wrong with wanting to be loved.”

Something unsaid hung in the air between us. After a few seconds, I looked away awkwardly. “You’ll always have me,” I said quietly. “I’ll always be here for you.”

“That means a lot to me, Abby. Thank you.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the bell announcing dinner. The moment was gone.

“Come,” he said standing up and offering me his arm. “Let me escort you inside.”