That was when he wasn’t quite sure what he was seeing. An exquisite creature with long blonde hair floated into the room, wearing a dress of red silk that emphasized a figure the curves of which Roi had never seen before. She evidently hadn’t known her father was in the chamber, along with his guest, and she quickly dropped into a low curtsy. Roi had no idea who she was until Robin extended his hand to pull her to her feet.
“My lord,” he said to Roi. “You remember my daughter, do you not? This is Lady Diara, my daughter. Diara, this is Sir Richard de Lohr, Beckett’s father. You have met him once before, at his home of Pembridge Castle. He has come to Cicadia because he has graciously agreed to fulfill the marriage contract and marry you in the place of his son.”
Diara dropped into a curtsy again before their eyes even met. “My lord,” she said. “You honor us with your presence. Welcome to Cicadia.”
Now, Roi was starting to realize what he was seeing. His bride. The truth was that he didn’t remember Diara le Bec looking like this. He wouldn’t have been able to pick her up out of a crowd. Somehow, in the past year or so, the lady had grown up and matured into magnificence he’d never seen in his entire life. And her voice… soft, gentle, soothing. He could have listened to her all day.
Stunned, he set his cup down.
“This is your daughter?” he said to Robin. “Thisis Diara?”
Robin nodded proudly. “This is.”
Roi looked between Robin and Diara, clearly baffled. “This is the same young woman you brought to Pembridge last year?”
“The same,” Robin said, though he was starting to think that something was wrong. “Why? What is amiss that you should ask that question?”
Roi shook his head. “Nothing is amiss,” he said, his focus fully on Diara. “I was simply… I will admit that I did not remember her well because she spent all of her time with Beckett, but this glorious young woman is not whom I remember. My lady, you honor me.”
Robin was back to beaming, looking at his daughter, who smiled timidly at the compliment. “I should like to, my lord, very much,” she said. “But before we speak further, I should like to extend my condolences on Beckett’s passing. I was so very sorry to hear of his loss. I was wondering… mayhap it is too much to ask, but I was wondering if it would be appropriate for me to attend his funeral. I should like to pay my respects to him and to your family, if I should be permitted.”
Roi stood there a moment, rubbing his hands together, unsure how to respond to her very polite request. He realized he was stunned rather speechless by the whole thing, but there was something he knew for certain—he wanted to speak with her without her father hanging over them. He had a feeling their conversation would be stilted and superficial with Robin around because he had, from the beginning, gripped the reins of control tightly in this situation. He’d worked very hard to manipulate everyone into doing what he wanted them to do, Roi included.
He finally turned to Robin.
“Would you permit your daughter and I to have a few moments alone?” he asked. “I swear upon my oath I shall not take any liberties that I am not yet legally entitled to take. I simply wish to speak with her, if I may. I believe that is my right.”
Robin nodded quickly, before the words were even out of Roi’s mouth. “Of course,” he said. “I will leave you, but Ishall remain right outside the door. Summon me when you are finished.”
With that, he darted out of the chamber, shutting the door behind him. Roi waited until he was gone before returning his attention to Diara. There were two big chairs before the hearth, which was burning weakly with a flickering flame, and he indicated the cushioned seats upon the elaborate wood frames.
“Will you sit and be comfortable, my lady?” he said. “I am sorry if my request was bold, but given these peculiar circumstances, it is probably best that we have some time to speak alone.”
Diara quickly moved to one of the chairs, perching on the end of it and sitting straight because she didn’t want to wrinkle the silk by sitting back. Roi took the other chair, finally lifting his head to look at her.
He couldn’t seem to stop staring at her.
“It was not bold, my lord,” she said. “I am glad you asked. Otherwise, my father might not allow me to get a word in.”
“I was afraid of that.”
“Then you know him well.”
“Unfortunately.”
He saw her fight off a smile, an utterly charming gesture, and it bolstered his courage. Oddly enough, he felt as if he’d never been alone with a woman in his life, and it was a struggle not to laugh at himself for it. Sitting with this magnificent creature made him feel the least bit giddy.
“I am not sure how to start, so forgive me if I am tactless,” he said. “Do you know why your father went to Lioncross Abbey?”
Diara could see that he was nervous. Perhaps even on edge. He’d done nothing but stare at her with big blue eyes since she entered the chamber, so she was starting to feel uneasy. She sensed that perhaps her appearance did not impress him. In fact, she thought that he may have wanted to tell her that hewanted nothing to do with this marriage and simply couldn’t. She knew very well why her father had gone to Lioncross.
There was no use playing stupid.
“I am very sorry, my lord,” she said, sounding deeply sincere. “He told me he was going there to offer his condolences on Beckett’s loss, but I know he did more than that.”
“You do?”
“Aye.” She nodded. “He wanted the marriage with Beckett badly, you see. My mother could never have more children, so he was stuck with a daughter when he desperately wanted a son. I am very sorry if he went to Lioncross and forced you into assuming your son’s place. It was a terrible thing for him to do, so please know that I had nothing to do with it. I did not tell him to go.”
