“The bank at Frost Hills holds the deeds, but sold the mortgages to Mr. Nemo when father defaulted on a payment last year after my mother broke her wrist. ”
“I will buy the deeds, pay them, and have them put in their names. I will go and ask for your father’s blessing. Will they journey with you or—”
“I will stay with them and hire the help you spoke of.”
Girion nodded and reached into his cloak. He pulled out a bag that clinked, and it landed heavily on the counter. “Spend that on all you need. Set things in motion now. I must return to Tundra Springs by tonight.”
He looked at her, something unspoken dangling in the air between them.
He wants me to go with him. Now. Today. Tonight.
Leave my parents? The shop? Everything?
I have to go anyway.
And... Well, let’s be honest, Jo. You were never going to get married, anyway. Most humans aren’t too keen on magic, and most humans aren’t too keen on a girl who has hands as rough as driftwood, who is always wet and smelling like smoke and fish, who lives at home with her parents and scowls when they try to flirt.
A man who offers a kingdom and pays off the family debts is the only kind of “romance” you’d even want.
Right?
“Let me speak to my parents. If all is taken care of today, then I will go with you tonight,” she said, gulping so loudly at the end that she sounded like a stepped-on bullfrog.
Girion bowed to her, relief spreading on his face. “We will announce our engagement at the ball, and the wedding will be soon after.”
“But where will I stay until the ball? I have no gown! I don’t think I have a single pair of shoes fit for dancing, and all of my cloaks need mending, and—”
“You will stay in the palace, as our most honored guest. There are acres of dresses from past queens and ladies-in-waiting, and there are seamstresses and tailors to attend to all you need.” Girion reached out a hand as if to pat hers, and then thought better of it, curling it into a fist and placing it back at his side. “Do not fret. I have no evil intentions or designs. We will beallies, and nothing more. You keep to your chambers, and I to mine. We will work together by day to restore Caledon and make it even more prosperous, and at night, unless there is a ball or dinner, you will have your own time and interests. Once your parents are in the city, they will be your guests as often as you like. You’ll have your studies. A greenhouse for the herbs you need for potions. You will travel around the kingdom to wherever you’re needed, wherever you’re wanted...” He stopped the flood of words with a sigh. “Does that sound acceptable?”
Jocasta picked up the bag of coins, stunned at the weight. “It is most acceptable, sire. I’ll fetch my father.”
Chapter Four
The ride was long and cold, and mostly silent. They were on horseback, naturally, because while Girion could cross the tundra quite quickly in his shifted form, he needed the human to keep up.
While the air around them was silent except for the howling winds, his thoughts were loud and commanded all of his limited space for conversation with others. He was in a fierce argument with himself.
You know so little about her! What have you done, pledging your life to her?
I know just as little about Lady Renata, and what I know of Jocasta, I admire, which I cannot say for Lady Renata. Quite the opposite.
You spent thousands of sovereigns today, and you’ve promised thousands more. You’ve promised to buy her parents a residence in Tundra Springs and to support the salaries of ten assistants, should they hire that many. Even though Jocasta’s father said they would be able to pay for the help in a year or two, now that they own their own boat, shop, and land... What an expense!You’veboughta bride.
I corrected an injustice that I must investigate. I’ve pledged to help the needy, and the queen’s parents—well, the people who are the parents of the woman who will be queen. If she doesn’t marry me, I can ask for the money back.
That’s horrible. You wouldn’t do that. So it stands that you’ve either spent thousands on the woman you will not wed, or you’veboughta bride.
And just how many men do you think have spent thousands on courtships? The jewels, the flowers brought in from the Spring Kingdoms, the exotic fruits sent for from the Summer Kingdoms, the travel, the gowns, the love tokens? And if I were marrying some woman of noble birth, her father would certainly expect me to make a handsome settlement upon her. One way or another, money would be spent. All things considered, I like this way far better.
The guilt was temporarily silenced.
“Are you warm enough, sire?” Jocasta’s voice reached his ears for the first time in hours.
“I am, are you?”
“I am fine.”
No, he would bet she wasn’t.
