This morning, six days after she’d returned the puppy, Gabriella couldn’t stand it anymore. She broke down and sought out Ryllian Ocea to find out where Dilys had gone. She’d tried to be subtle about her inquiry, sneaking in the question between morning pleasantries, but she could have sworn she saw a glint of something—relief? Satisfaction?—in Ryll’s golden eyes when he told her, “Ono, Myerialanna.The prince has not left Wintercraig. Well, he has, but only temporarily. There were matters demanding his attention, so he swam out to meet one of our ships at sea.”
“Nothing serious, I hope?”
“Nothing theMyerieluacannot handle.” Ryll smiled. “He should be back soon. I will tell him you were looking for him.”
“Oh... erm... no, that’s not necessary. I’m not. Looking for him, that is.” She gave a small, nervous laugh and tucked her hair behind her ears. “I just wanted to make sure he was here—I meanwell! Make sure he was well. That he wasn’t suffering any sort of lingering ailment from... um... the thing with Lily’s father...” She could feel herself sinking in a pit of her own making, so she said, “I’m glad he’s in good health,” clamped her mouth shut before she could make a bigger fool of herself, and hurried away.
She should have known Ryll would tattle on her, and that Dilys would take it as an invitation to resume his courtship. Which was exactly what must have happened, because that evening, just as Gabriella finished dressing for dinner, there was a knock on the door to her room. Amaryllis went to answer it and returned carrying a sealed vellum envelope.
“For you, ma’am,” Amaryllis said, holding out the envelope and fighting a smile.
For almost a week now, Gabriella had been telling herself that the termination of Dilys Merimydion’s courtship was the right and necessary thing, but the instant she recognized the same bold, masculine hand that had written, “Claim me as thine” on hundreds of cards, her traitorous heart did a giddy little dance.He hadn’t given up!
She took the envelope, which Dilys had addressed using her full, formal title:To Her Royal Highness, Gabriella Aretta Rosadora Liliana Elaine Coruscate, Princess of Summerlea, Duchess of the Vale.Around her name swirled an intricate design of decorative loops and whorls, a pattern of growing vines decorated with dots of tiny, colorfully inked flowers. A beautiful design. One that must have taken him hours to complete.
A drop of ocean-blue wax stamped with the trident of House Merimydion sealed the back of the envelope. It popped free easily at the press of a fingernail. Inside, nestled in gold foil, a card written in a less elaborate version of court script announced:
Sealord Dilys Merimydion requests the honor of your presence at dinner in the Southeastern Garden Arbor. Seven o’clock in the evening. Follow the path of flowers.
“The path of flowers?” Gabriella murmured aloud.
“Out in the hall, Your Highness.”
Curious, Gabriella headed for the door of her suite and pulled it open. Two parallel rows of potted and arranged flowers led from her door all the way down the hallway and disappeared around the corner. The space between the rows was strewn with a thick carpet of loose petals and whole plucked blooms.
“Did he denude every flower garden from here to Summerlea?” He probably had, damn him. She scowled at the resulting shivery thrill that shot through her at the romantic extravagance. “What time is it, Amaryllis?”
“Ten minutes ’til seven, ma’am.”
She should refuse. The flowered path that led to Dilys Merimydion also led to immeasurable danger.
And yet, Summer found herself handing the invitation to Amaryllis and saying, “Please put this on my dressing table. And don’t touch the ink.”
“Yes, ma’am.” No longer succeeding in hiding her smile, the maid curtsied and carried the salver into Summer’s chambers.
Summer stood in the hallway for a long moment, breathing deeply, trying to quell the nervous knots tangling and twisting in her belly. “Oh, I am so going to regret this,” she muttered.
And with that, Summer Coruscate put out her right foot and began walking down the flowered path that led to Dilys Merimydion.
Word of Summer’s approach reached Dilys long before the woman he intended claim as his own came into view.
He stood in the dappled shade of the vine-covered arbor. The evening sunlight shone coolly upon him as a gentle breeze whispered across his skin, carrying the scent of the sea and the perfumed beauty of the garden.
Behind him, awaiting his lady’s pleasure, sat a small, cozy dining table covered with pristine white linen, two comfortable, cushioned chairs, and a silver bucket freshly filled with ice to chill an uncorked bottle of the finest sparkling sweet wine from the cellars of Cali Va’Lua.
He’d sent for the wine the day he’d realized Summer’s coldness towards him had nothing to do with lack of interest, and picked it up this week while planning the next stage of his siege to conquer the fortress that was Gabriella Coruscate’s heart.
Now, as he stood awaiting her arrival, Dilys was aware of a strange tightness in his chest, an uncomfortable twisting disquiet in his belly. His hands, which should have been resting loosely at his sides, were opening and closing in fists.
Nerves, he realized.
He was nervous.
The was the first time she’d made the choice to come to him. The first time she’d indicated her willingness to consider his suit.
She might think she was coming to put him off. Knowing his skittish little honeyrose, that was exactly what she had in mind. But regardless of her intentions, she had made the decision to come to him. She had accepted his invitation and followed the path he’d laid out for her...
Keeping her here once she arrived would be entirely up to him.
