“If I travel with him, will I find myself naked and disheveled by the time we reach Melsint’s village? Because that would be hard to explain.”
Evston chuckled. “No. He was just giving me an opportunity to enjoy you a little longer since I’ll likely be gone for a few days. It’s what he would want with Melsint if she was here and he was the one leaving.”
“Ah.”
“Behave yourself on this trip, Brandese.”
“You’re instructing me to behave? After the past few days?”
“I mean stay out of sight and don’t wander,” he said seriously.
She nodded.
“I’d like your promise.”
She took a deep breath in and exhaled audibly. “You have it. I promise.”
“Thank you.” He moved toward the door and then stopped. He returned to her and leaned down. “I love you.” His kiss was a mere brush against her mouth, but it filled her with tenderness.
“And I you,” she said.
Then he was gone.
* * *
She showered and dressedin a simple gown, which she covered with her hooded cloak. She kept her head lowered until she and the commander were safely in the private glider carriage.
“What shall we do about Melsint?” she asked. “Should I find the first opportunity to tell her the truth of what’s gone on? Or should I wait until we are back at the castle to broach such a delicate subject?” She clasped her hands tightly. “I don’t think she’ll be permanently vexed. I hope she won’t think—”
“She knows everything,” Rocurt said, stretching his long legs and glancing out the window at the passing sand dunes.
“Everything? About the party?”
He nodded.
“When did you tell her?”
“The next time I spoke to her by com.”
“About the three of us? How—how did she take it?”
“She wanted to know how you were and whether we were hugging you enough.”
“What? Oh, to give me physical comfort, in case I was having trouble coping?”
He nodded with a small smile. “I told her you don’t seem to be in need of it. She wants to see for herself. That’s why you’re here.”
She laughed softly. “Ah, so I’m traveling at Melsint’s request. I should have known. I’m relieved she’s so kind and thoughtful and not prone to jealousy. She has me beaten in that regard. I could not stand the thought of Evston going to the party without me. I suppose a girl of her station and with her history as a pet has different expectations.”
He shook his head. “Pets can get jealous. Village girls can get jealous.”
“Then I wonder why she doesn’t?”
“She’s not threatened by party games. She knows my heart. She holds it.”
Brandese blinked and then slowly nodded. It touched her to hear him speak the words. To see them interact, it seemed that Rocurt commanded his young wife in all things. But it couldn’t be denied that the girl had great influence over one of the most powerful men on the planet.
“She is a lovely girl and a remarkable one,” Brande said.
