And as Cameron glanced down to see what Kalder had so gallantly given her, she understood why.
Holy mother and then some!
She sucked her breath in sharply at what had to be the most incredible piece of jewelry she’d ever beheld in her entire life. Truly this exceptional brilliance was fit only for a grand empress, and never meant for the likes ofher.
The ethereal, fey stones were surrounded by flawless diamonds; a majestic peacock blue, they seemed to glow from some inner supernatural light. And those glowing blue teardrops formed an intricate lace collar that shimmered around her throat like delicate lace, capturing the light and sparkling with every breath she drew.
She lifted the largest grand blue stone that was so massive it filled her entire palm to capacity so that she could study the magnificent, deep, unholy color of it. “What is this?”
“They’re called tourmalines, me love, and are exceptionally rare. That particular shade is only found in the Brazilian colony, and are brought out at great sacrifice by the bravest of the brave and mostskilled miners who have to be highly trained to spot them in the raw. The stones were given as a gift to me father as part of a peace treaty long ago. When I came of age, he passed them to me as part of me inheritance. They’re worth a king’s treasure.”
Bron shot to her feet in outrage as she realized what it was Kalder had done. “And I forbid you to give those to a human being! And a lowborn one at that! Have you lost all shred of your intelligence?” That screech cut across the room at a decibel level that turned truly deafening.
And it silenced every last bit of revelry. What few handful of folks hadn’t been staring at them before suddenly became acutely aware that a royal scandal was unfolding in the midst of their soiree. As any reasonable being would expect, it held their rapt attention, as they quickly focused on them with an embarrassing amount of intensity.
“Those were to be mine on our marriage! They were promised to me!” the brunette who’d been attacking Cameron on Kalder’s arrival added.
Raking the woman with a cool stare, Kalder laughed bitterly at her words. “Stop stirring shite with me lady, Hafren, when you know well enough that I told you long ago you and I were never to be. Your charms have never enticed me. They never will. Don’t you dare try and take the shine from me lady’s gift this day when I want nothing more than for Cameron to enjoy this moment. Shame on the lot of you for tainting it with your pettiness when you’ve had so many moments of gloating before others that you’d begrudge her this single one where she could feel beautiful and special. You shouldhold your heads down and slink off to the corners like the mange-ridden bitches you are.”
He tucked Cameron’s hand into the crook of his elbow and slowly led her forward to where his mother stood on a dais at the front of the room.
With a sneer, he tsked at her. “As for your wants and desires, dearest Bron, they stopped mattering to me the moment you buried a dagger in me gullet. I’m not here to please you. Or ask your permission on any matter, as I passed the age of needing your consent long ago. You’ve taken everything else from me, including me life, but I won’t let you take this necklace that is mine by all rights and laws to give to whomever I see fit. Not when it can give Cameron the future she wants and has worked hard to have. For that, I will fight you. Claw and fin. And everyone here has borne witness to the bitter truth of it. This necklace is the only piece of me father’s property what was given to me by way of inheritance before he died, and you can’t steal it from me. It was given freely and all know it.”
Stunned, Cameron felt her jaw drop at what he was doing. “Kalder…”
He faced her with a grim twist to his lips. “I’ve no use for it, me lady. It’s always clashed with me dark wardrobe and callous taste. Does nothing for me eyes, either. Trust me. Looks much more fetching on you. And with it, you won’t be needing your brother’s money to buy that tavern you’ve worked so hard for, and dreamed of owning. You can have it outright and be beholden to none.”
“Except you.”
“No worries there, love. That piece had already been confiscatedfrom me, so I wrote it off long ago as stolen and in the hands of someone else. Never did I think to see it again, and I’d much rather it go to someone I choose and care about than someone I despise, who’s gone out of his way to do me harm. Besides, I like the thought of it easing your life and giving you pretty things. You deserve them and I like seeing them on you.”
He winked at her. “As you’ve seen, I’m a mermaid of meager needs. Give me a hammock free of Rosie’s snoring, or a quiet cubby, and I’m a happy fish. You take that necklace and do some good with it, and make me mother miserable with your happiness, and I’m more than thrilled. It’s what I want.”
Cameron didn’t know what to say. She was used to selfish arselings. No one, not even Paden, had ever been this generous where she was concerned.
Tears welled in her eyes. “I won’t accept this unless you agree to be a partner in me tavern, Mr. Dupree. It wouldn’t be right to take your money and offer you nothing in return for it.”
Kalder’s throat tightened as he stared into those sea blue eyes and saw the depth of her tender heart. That was why he loved her so much.
Fair in all things. That was his Cameron. He’d never met anyone else like her. She wasn’t out to use others to get what she wanted. She didn’t lie or manipulate. Ever. Cameron just was. Honest as the day was long. Brash at times. Blunt at others. But in a world where others used words for deception, he appreciated that.
“Fine, then. A silent partner. I’d never interfere with your business. You run it how you see fit. Deal?”
She nodded.
What do you fear most?
Kalder froze as an unknown voice whispered through his mind. He tensed. Had anyone else heard it?
If they had, they didn’t react as if anything unusual had happened—like a ghost whisper had tickled their ear.
“Kalder?”
He blinked as Cameron’s voice thankfully intruded over the nightmare of that unwanted invasion. “Aye?”
“Are you all right? You went pale for a moment as if Rosie were standing upwind after eating a particularly large portion of Cookie’s pot of pork bellies and beans.”
He forced himself to smile to allay her discomfort. “I’m fine.”
