“I actually like to ride,” Tor assured her. “I’ve been doing it on my own—though I wouldn’t object if I ran into him. But it hasn’t happened yet.”
And Tor was pretty sure that if the man saw him, he would immediately go in the other direction.
Larexa seemed less concerned. “But he’s no doubt aware you’re riding on your own, and that’s a good start. He won’t be impressed if you’re trying to impress him.”
All right, Tor could respect that. Hedidwant to impress the man, and he probablywouldtry something over the top if he thought it would work, but he wasn’t making anything up. He liked to ride and train and all of that.
“That makes sense,” Tor agreed. “But surely he can’t get to know me if we don’t actually spend any time together.”
How could Tor make a good impression if they had virtually no contact?
Larexa considered this. “Let me check in with a few people. I’ll get back to you.”
Tor was a little ashamed to admit that he’d never had to work so hard for someone’s regard before. It was both annoying and a bit invigorating.
The next day, Bavil invited him to go look at the portrait gallery, and since neither Pelun nor Larexa appeared that afternoon, Tor accepted.
Once they reached the long room filled with paintings, however, Bavil turned to face him, arms crossed over his chest.
“Pelun. Really.”
Tor was beginning to get a little annoyed, never mind his reasoning for having chosen the man in the first place.
“And why not Pelun?” he demanded.
An eyebrow rose. “He doesn’t exactly seem your usual style.”
One of the advantages to being friendly with the servants was that in addition to excellent service, you tended to pick up all the best gossip.
“Gotten caught in a compromising position with anyone recently?” Tor snapped.
Bavil’s expression was sharp. “Not recently, no. You?”
“Not by anyone who had more of a right to my attention or affection.”
And Bavil laughed, relaxing and abandoning his interrogating manner. “So your brother has decided that it’s time for you to settle down.”
Ah.It should have occurred to Tor that Larexa might share everything with her brother. Shehadtold him she was going to check in with a few people. This just wasn’t what he’d imagined.
“Essentially,” Tor admitted with a sigh. “And I’m determined to show him that I can make my own choices and that he’s not always right.”
Bavil huffed out a breath. “I can sympathize with the desire to do that.”
Tor might find his brother a gigantic stick-in-the-mud these days, but he sure wouldn’t trade him for King Forex.
He cleared his throat. “So, to lay my cards on the table, you’re pretty and personable, and I’m willing to be personable in return—as long as you understand that absolutely nothing will come of it. It’s clear your father has hopes, but I’m going to dash them.”
Bavil’s lips tipped up. “I don’t actually like men in my bed, so I’m fine with that. My father will think things are going to plan as long as we continue to seem to get along. I’d worry for you, except I have the feeling you won’t have trouble telling him to stuff it.”
Tor grinned. Sure, he couldn’t actually start a war with Tond, but it wasn’t like he was going to be pledging anything to anyone. If Forex got ahead of himself, that was his problem.
“I assume the same deal with Larexa?” Tor asked, just to confirm.
Sighing, Bavil said, “She has, unfortunately, been saying for years that she deserves someone Extraordinary. The fact that you are not just Extraordinary and not just a prince, but theHighPrince makes you the perfect candidate.”
“But you’re being thrown at me, too,” Tor pointed out.
Bavil shrugged. “Because I’m the heir, which you might find appealing, and I don’t know that anyone is sure of your preferences. ‘Whatever you want’ is the intention, I think.”
