Bertrand’s voice carried gratingly across the group as he pulled his horse alongside Elowen’s. She could have screamed at him. Why wouldn’t he just go away?
Theo also seemed to have reached a limit with the impertinent viscount, his voice once again icy.
“I believe this conversation is private.”
“Then let me speak more privately.” Bertrand, looming over the foreign prince from his mounted position, dropped his own voice. “If anyone has cause to be disappointed, it’s Princess Elowen. Those of us who know her realize how far you are from what she needs.” He sent a pitying look at Elowen. “Not quite a mysterious stranger with a broken heart only you can mend, or a romantic adventurer who writes odes to your sparkling eyes, is he? I don’t recall dull and stern being on your list of desirable virtues in a man.”
Elowen’s breath caught in her throat, heat rushing all the way up her face. She was horrified not just because of Bertrand’s open hostility, but because she recognized his words. Foolish as they sounded, those were true examples of girlish daydreams she’d entertained—giggled over and built imaginary lives around, in her younger years. She’d certainly never mentioned anything of that nature to Bertrand, of course. But she and Sophia had whispered about such dreams. The sense of betrayal by her friend cut deepest of all.
Perhaps not, actually. Theo’s expression cut even deeper, his lip curling in an expression that was undeniably derisive. He had the good manners not to say his thoughts aloud, however, contenting himself with a curt retort to Bertrand.
“Imagine my distress to learn that I don’t live up to your expectations, Lord Bertrand.”
With the words, he turned away, leaving Elowen more miserable and mortified than she’d ever been in her life.
“Princess,” Bertrand started, no hint of apology in his indulgent tone.
“Do not speak to me,” Elowen said, barely able to look at him. “How dare you? I have nothing to say to you.”
Furiously, she pulled on Ochre’s reins, plunging blindly toward the road after the first few members of the party, who’d already departed.
The ride home was a nightmare. For once, Bertrand took the hint and stayed away, and she rode alone. She avoided Theo out of mortification, Patrick out of habit, and Sophia out of hurt. And yet, she couldn’t seem to stop herself from watching Theo, noticing every change in his posture, and imagining each one to be fueled by scornful thoughts about her foolishness.
Her observation of him was the only reason she noted the mill when they passed it again. She was momentarily distracted from her misery by the intent way Theo studied the structure. Following his gaze, she realized why it had caught his attention. The river must not have been connected to the dam, because it continued to flow unchanged, and the wooden wheel still turned. But the man on duty beside it was no longer in a posture of strained focus as if manipulating magic. In fact, both of the men they’d previously seen were standing by the river, looking lost and confused as they examined the structure and peered into the water.
Elowen didn’t know the details, but she wasn’t blind. Something wasn’t right with the magic, just as Simeon had said near the watchtower the day before. Just as the head of the Craftsmen’s Guild had said to her father.
Her memory felt its way uncertainly back over the chaos of the flood. She’d been too distracted by Ochre’s panic to recognize it in the moment, but she realized in retrospect that something had been conspicuously missing. She’d told the truth when she said to Theo that learning to sense magic had never been part of her approved education. But she’d had other education that her family knew nothing about. She was by no means an expert, but she had enough awareness to beable to recognize the presence of Dust when it was released by significant movement.
The dam’s collapse had been the biggest source of movement she’d ever witnessed. And she couldn’t find in her memory any rush of magic, any notable movement of Dust through the environment.
Something was definitely wrong.
She felt a thrill of fear as another layer of discomfort was added to the turmoil of her mind. Whatever it was, she had a feeling it was only going to get worse.
Chapter
Six
Theo stood before the looking glass in his room, waiting without much patience as a servant adjusted the stiff collar of his jacket. He’d never been enthusiastic about the betrothal celebrations, and they felt doubly ridiculous after the events of the previous day. Anyone with sense would prefer to focus on the catastrophic effects of the dam failure. Instead, they were all forced to stay in the capital and take part in a competition that was purely symbolic, and frankly a waste of everyone’s time.
Princess Elowen’s betrothal had already been decided—her parents had committed their daughter and their kingdom to the alliance. Why did he have to pretend to compete for it?
In his reflection, he saw his scowl darken. Even without the tournament, the over-confident viscount seemed determined to provoke Theo into competing for Elowen’s attention and favor.
He would find himself disappointed in that endeavor. Theo had no intention of making either himself or Siqual ridiculous in order to prove something to an imbecile like Lord Bertrand.
“Your Highness.” He turned to see Paulson sliding into the suite, looking alert as always.
“Paulson, good.” Theo dismissed the servant with a wave of his hand, giving the guard his full attention. “Thank you for coming so promptly. I’m expected momentarily, but I first wanted to speak with you about the dam.”
Paulson nodded. “Yes, Your Highness. There wasn’t much chance yesterday, was there?”
Theo grunted at the hinted reference to the chaos that had engulfed the castle on their return the evening before. He shifted away from the mirror, gesturing for Paulson to precede him into the receiving room of his suite as he smoothed out the cuffs of his jacket.
He felt a twinge of guilt at the memory of the look on the monarchs’ faces when they learned that for the second day in a row, their only daughter had slipped from the city without their knowledge, and then nearly lost her life in a freak accident.
It was almost too astonishing a coincidence to be credible, he reflected. One unlucky accident, yes. But two, and in such quick succession?
