“Your Majesty?” Ryder began. “Do you wish to talk about what’s bothering you?”
The older man peeked at Ryder before looking back at the road. “Aren’t you Paul Grey’s son?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Sadness etched the king’s expression. “My condolences for your father’s passing. He was a good man, and a trusted friend.”
A lump caught in Ryder’s throat and he dared not speak. He swallowed and cleared his throat. “Thank you for saying that. I do miss him. He died much too soon.”
“Indeed.” The king adjusted in his saddle. “I’m happy to know Paul’s son is continuing in his father’s footsteps.”
Ryder tried to give the king a genuine smile, but his heart just wasn’t in it. Until he could discover why the king’s guards were slowly dying, how could he get on with his life? “Thank you again, Your Majesty.”
He kept switching his attention from the road back to the king. Something was definitely upsetting the older man. In defeat, Ryder realized that now would be an inappropriate time to ask about Clarissa.
The king released an audible sigh and shook his head. “Oh, Ryder. I wish I could understand women.”
Ryder nearly snorted a laugh. The king’s admission took him by surprise. “Does anyone really understand them, Sire?”
Finally, a small smile tugged on the king’s mouth. “Probably not. But I tell you, daughters are the worst. They never know what they want from one day to the next. I don’t know why I wasn’t blessed with a son, but having a daughter has certainly made my life interesting...and difficult.”
Ryder chuckled. He’d heard his father say something similar about Ryder’s sister. “What has your daughter done this time?” he asked with a lift in his voice.
The king met his stare again and smiled a little more. “You know my daughter well, if I recall.”
“Yes, Sire. We attended school together.”
“And you were good friends.”
“I’d like to think we were.” Ryder nodded.
“Then perhaps you know her better than I do and can explain to me why she acts differently.”
Ryder arched an eyebrow. “Differently? How so?”
“As you are aware, we had dinner guests last evening. Queen Ruth and her son, Prince Ormond.” He shook his head. “The prince is a little shy and awkward. He stumbled over his words all night. When Clarissa first saw him standing there, clutching a bouquet of flowers to his chest as if a shield, I could see she was disgusted with the man’s very presence. However, once his mother convinced him to stop hiding behind those flowers and present them to the princess, Clarissa’s attitude changed. Suddenly, she hung on his every word. She giggled more, and stared dreamily into his eyes.” He sighed heavily. “My wife and I couldn’t understand our daughter’s sudden change. When Queen Ruth and Prince Ormond left, Clarissa admitted to finding the man charming and handsome. She is actually considering getting to know him better, which I find hard to believe. She even mentioned...marriage.” The king lowered his voice and groaned. “I was disgusted with the prince’s lack of leadership qualities. I just don’t know what my daughter sees in him.”
All Ryder’s thoughts ground to a halt. He couldn’t possibly have heard right. Clarissa was attracted to Prince Ormond and considering marriage to the prince? Ryder had caught a glimpse of the man entering the palace last night, and he found him to be a very peculiar man...and clumsy to a fault. And yet, she found himcharmingandhandsome?
Impossible!
How could she think that way about Prince Ormond when only a few hours earlier she had been cuddling in Ryder’s arms and kissinghimso passionately? His heart clenched. She had wanted to see him again...and have him ask her father for permission to court her.
Tension throbbed in his forehead. This couldn’t be right. He must have misunderstood.
“Do you, um...really think she’s that serious about this man?” Ryder asked.
The king shrugged. “I don’t know. But as interested as she seemed with him last night, it’s definitely a possibility for her to become very serious.”
Ryder gritted his teeth. What had happened in those few hours that could have changed her feelings? He’d never known her to tease men in this way, so he didn’t think she was leading him on—or Prince Ormond. And yet, she had definitely been attracted to him when they were by the lake.
His heart ached with uncertainty. He must talk to her immediately. This needed to be straightened out. Unfortunately, he was on duty and couldn’t leave the king’s side.
“What do you think about all of this?” the king asked.
Ryder snapped his attention to the older man. “I wish I knew. However, I remember from school that she was verydeterminedonce she’d made up her mind.”
The king chuckled, but humor wasn’t in his expression. “You are correct, though I would call itstubborn. She has always been a headstrong girl. I suppose that’s why I find this all so confusing.”
