“The second son of the Fainan king?” her father asked.
“The very same.”
“I thought he died in the fighting,” her father said, mirroring her thoughts.
“The Fainan monarchs claim to know nothing of the writing on the walls,” Duke Howard mused. “‘Thalias is dead,’ they say, and they sanctioned the cleaning of the treasonous messages on the walls as a gesture of good faith.”
“But you think there is a chance he might have lived?”
She glanced between the duke and her father.
Duke Howard nodded firmly. “I do. They never found his body. He’s out there somewhere, but I say he’s long gone. The boy is a hunted man, heir to a useless title and a conquered kingdom. If I were him, I would lie low for a long time. Perhaps forever.”
“Indeed.” Her father swirled his goblet of wine, turning the duke’s words over. “Only trouble awaits him if he returns.”
“I’ll say. I believe the attack was organized by a group of upstarts from Faina to frighten us. Commoners, no doubt, who are upset that their brothers and sisters have been thrown into camps for marching against us.”
Her father was silent for a time and then asked carefully, “And the queen does not find it suitable to relax the leash a bit? We have beaten Faina. The entire kingdom is under Rhodean control. If they starve in the winter, it will do nothing to mend the bad blood between us.”
“Bah.” Duke Howard waved a dismissive hand. “She doesn’t care about gaining their favour. Our queen wants to rule with an iron fist. She told them to bend the knee or die.”
“Hmm … I still disagree with Lord Wilkinson who, last I heard, was advocating to raise their taxes even more. We do not want them to revolt,” her father stated, tapping his finger on the table. “Perhaps I will write to the queen’s council.”
The duke nodded. “You do that. I trust our queen to do whatever is in Rhodea’s best interest. Her war on witchcraft and dark magic is one that I, for one, wholeheartedly support.”
“Us as well,” her father quickly agreed.
The duke turned his gaze to her and she repressed her instinct to recoil. His eyes slid down her frame. “And you, Lady Elizabeth? I trust your trip back was uneventful?” he asked, posing the question to her bosom.
“Er. Yes, your Grace. We made it home in good time. The road to the Calyx is always lovely.”
“Not as lovely as you are.” He put a hand on her knee.
Her fork clattered loudly to the floor. Her mother glared daggers at her as she hastily picked it up, glancing uneasily at the hand still resting on her silk-clad knee.
“Tell me, what do you like to do in your spare time?”
Her mouth opened to answer, but her mother interjected, “Oh, she is quite talented. She likes to read and embroider. She is all thumbs at the harp but can play a little on the pianoforte. Enough to entertain guests.”
“Good. Those are fine, respectable hobbies. I would take no issue with you continuing them,” Duke Howard said matter-of-factly, a man used to getting his way. “After we are wed, you will move to my manor in Ambrosia.” Elizabeth froze. She had forgotten how far away his lands were. “You will spend your days there. However, you may return to your parents’ home for one year after the birth of each child so that you can have your mother to help guide you in raising an infant. Then, you may return to present my new child to me, who is no longer an infantand is well behaved. On that subject, I should triple your bride price for every healthy son you bear.”
It was fair, generous even.
She closed her eyes heavily. “Anything else?”
“You will be displayed proudly by my side at every social event, and in return, I will ensure that you become a very wealthy woman, and your family grows even more prosperous than it already is. If your parents take ill or lose their fortunes, we will assist. If the queen sends the men of Briarton to war, we will follow.”
Her father nodded proudly from the head of the table. She wrinkled her nose. She had to admit, age and appearance aside, he was a fine match for her family.
Duke Howard looked at her expectantly.
“I see,” she said. Apparently, that sufficed because Duke Howard promptly engaged her father in conversation, and she was ignored for the rest of the meal.
She speared a potato with her fork and tried not to imagine her life tied to the man next to her.
After supper, Duke Howard turned to her, “Would you like to share a goblet of wine in the sitting room? In private, perhaps?”
She nodded glumly.
