* * *
We dock by midmorn.
Chance is as beautiful as Lucky promised, white rock rising triumphant from the blazing blue sea.The city climbs the land surrounding the cove.It’s vibrant, an explosion of color and culture and life.
He calls out greetings to the workers who meet us, and they laugh and call back.The sun bathes Lucky in its glow, doing its best to make him even handsomer.It barely needs to try.
At its peak stands the castle.On the way here, Lucky explained that though he retains his royal title, it’s an honorary one, as the city governs itself.The castle itself has been turned into communal housing, but he was gifted the highest floor of the east wing for himself, including three bedrooms, two sitting rooms, and a study.
“Although the study is off-limits for now,” he says as he waves us past the closed door.“A little light remodeling I’m doing, but it will be ready soon.”
We end the tour at my bedroom, a bright, airy room that faces his own.A vase of yellow blossoms sits by my bedside, and I don’t know how he did it, but it had to have been Lucky.
Sterling’s room is one door down—awfully convenient for my plans.
Sterling says nothing as he leaves.It’s clear his intent is to hurt Lucky, and Sterling might not see the attack land, but I do.
I lay my hand on Lucky’s arm.“I wanted to thank you.I know the situation isn’t … ideal, but I want us to be friends.”All of us.“You know, I’ve never been married before, but so far, I like it.You make it something to look forward to.”
We are both still caked in layers of salt and dirt and days at sea, but none of it dulls the fire in his touch as he takes my hand in his and presses a tender kiss to my knuckles.“It is I who needs to thank you.I’d accepted that love was a thing of my past, and I left it there, content to give my all to my work.But then I met you, and I see that love is not so far out of reach.It is surprising and unpredictable, and I mean to cherish it.”
I know now how Sterling fell for him.It’s easy.Lucky makes it easy.
My motivations for being here have not changed, but there are new motivations now, layered overtop or perhaps weaved underneath.A history I have stumbled upon and now play part in crushing beneath my feet.
It is too late to salvage my own heartbreak, but that does not mean there is no hope to restore the love Lucky and Sterling once had and will have again.
* * *
The next morning, Lucky greets me with flowers.“These are only one of the blooms local to this area.They are a family emblem.”
“Sweet Williams,” I answer, recognizing them from my research.“They’re beautiful.Thank you.I have nothing to gift you in return.”
“Your company is gift enough.”
There’s a disgruntled sound from the door, revealed to be Sterling when Lucky turns.He stares at the flowers in Lucky’s hands, averting his eyes when I take them from him and set them by the window.
“I was hoping you’d like to walk with me.”
“Very much so.”
No one asks Sterling if he’d like to come, but we don’t need to; he follows anyway, keeping close enough that he must overhear every word we share, although he never offers anything of his own.
I’m set to finally confront his childishness when a much older man calls out to him from a large drawing room.
“Emile Jackson,” Lucky whispers in my ear.
Ah.Emile is dressed impeccably, his beard a shock of white against his navy tunic.
“Sterling!I thought that was you.Come, come.I need to borrow your brain.”
Nothing happens for a moment.I know Sterling heard him, but he isn’t moving.Well, unless you count the glare he’s directing toward Lucky and me.I say nothing, but I hook my hand into the crook of Lucky’s arm and smile sweetly.
Sterling’s eyes flare in frustration.Then I blink, and he’s gone, following the voice into the drawing room, leaving silence in his wake.
“Finally, we’re alone,” Lucky whispers conspiratorially.“Shall we get up to mischief now that we are unsupervised?”
It sends a giddy warmth through me, and I find it’s easy to agree.Lucky’s idea of mischief is little more than entering the kitchen in search of cake, but it’s rich with cinnamon and absolutely heavenly.
