He didn’t like the sound of that. None of those adjectives was critical in the least. If anything, Sutherland sounded... in awe of his daughter.
“She can never be vicereine,” Richard said. “You know that. It’s cruel to let her carry on like this, as though she has a chance.”
Sutherland tilted his glass of whiskey, rolling the bottom edge on the table, the tinkling of ice filling the space. Their food arrived, but neither man made a move to touch the steaming plates in front of them.
“I’ll still marry her,” Richard said. “But I?—”
“Why?” Sutherland stopped fiddling with the glass and looked up, pinning him with a look.
He paused. “Why what?”
“Why would you still marry her? She’s clearly not interested in marrying you anymore.” His tone held no malice, only a matter-of-fact dismissal, as though Poppy had outgrown Richard like a girl does a doll.
“Because I love her,” he lied smoothly, keeping his fingers flat on the table to prevent them from curling into fists. Sutherland didn’t look convinced, so he added, “I made a mistake, earlier, rushing things. I should have insisted we further acquaint ourselves. We spent less than a month courting, and then I sprang a very public, over-the-top proposal on her. Of course she got cold feet. That’s all this is. Cold feet.”
Sutherland leaned back. “Tell me something. If she were to be vicereine, would you still marry her?”
Richard dug his fingers into the tablecloth a fraction. “But shecan’tbe vicereine. There’s no such thing.”
“That’s not the question. If shewere, would you still be interested in marrying her? If there were no reward to balance out her flaws, would you still forgive them?”
“There’s no point in discussing this.” He narrowed his eyes. “Unless, of course, you intend to name her your heir. And you can’t.”
Sutherland tightened his jaw, the muscle twitching. “And who are you, to tell the viceroy what he can or can’t do? You forget,boy, that I’m still in charge. And that, for all intents and purposes, you have not been formally named in the line of succession. You are not viceroy yet, and you may never be.”
“Are you seriously considering this?” Richard asked. “It’s unheard of. There’s never been a vicereine, let alone one who’s Virian. The nobility will never support her?—not here, and not in Welkland, either. Do you think she’ll receive royal assent when the Imperial Family wouldn’t even give her a courtesy title? I give it a fortnight before she loses the office to insurrection.”
Sutherland raised a finger. “Ah, but you love her, don’t you? As your wife, she’d have your family’s title, and your support. Yours, and that of all the allies she’s making in the Second Families.”
Richard had no response to that. He turned his glare on his meal, shooting daggers at the roasted waterfowl.
“She’s sympathetic to her people,” he said. “She would undo everything you’ve built. Is that what you want?”
Sutherland fell quiet. Ah, so the old man knew that his daughter’s sympathies were still there. Seven years at a Welkish college had taught her only how to hide the rot inside her heart.
Richard closed in. “Give up the idea. She’s not qualified, and no one will permit it.”
“I’m the viceroy, and a duke besides.” Sutherland straightened, pushing out his chest. “I don’tneedpermission.”
He stared at him in dismay. “So you’re decided, then? You’re going to name her?”
“I haven’t decided anything.” Sutherland ran a finger below his lineup of cutlery. “I could name any of the youth in the First Families, if I wanted. Admittedly, you were my top choice. But this last month has been very... revealing.”
Richard stiffened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re not the man I thought you were.”
He jabbed his finger into the table, punctuating his words. “I’m the man whofoundandrescuedyour daughter!”
“For your own selfish gain!” Sutherland’s eyes bored into the younger man’s face. “You didn’t care for her then, and you don’t care for her now. And if you think I’m going to leave my office, let alone my only child, inyourincompetent hands before I die, then you’re not as smart as you think you are, boy.”
Richard had been prepared for this. If he couldn’t marry the bitch, he would have to eliminate her. He reached down the side of the table for the briefcase, where the forged documents and Alderfort’s cousin’s written testimony were safely enclosed.
“I didn’t want to do this, but you leave me no choice. Your daughter is not the person you think she is.”
But the old man raised his hand, cutting him off. His guards came quickly, rising from the surrounding table.
“Your Grace?” one asked.
