Rigs pampered me with an affectionate smile. He’d been letting his guard down when it was just him, Demi and me, though his perfect posture was never sacrificed. “Well, I’m afraid only you two get to see this side of me, so the duchess will have to tolerate the me the rest of Avalon gets. But it’s not her who’s come to visit. It’s the first of your suitors.”
We’d avoided the subject of my impending engagement entirely, until it was shoved in my face. Demi’s shoulders fell in time with mine. “Oh. I have to go meet this guy?”
Rigs nodded, trying to give me a buck-up-kiddo smile. “Indeed. Though, of all the potential suitors I would have thought might throw their hat into the mix, I admit I did not anticipate this one. He traveled from another country entirely for this, so do try and be grateful.”
“Okay. I can be a team player.” I clung to the bedpost, assuming the position for Demi to tighten me back up so I’d be presentable. He made sure I could breathe, but only just, so neither of us got into trouble. Demi fixed my hair, pinning a stray curl so it stayed with the up-do Demi expertly fashioned. I turned around and brushed his cheek, bringing him in for a light kiss. “Just so you know, I don’t want to do this. I’d rather stay up here with you and go bowling.”
Demi’s overly expressive eyes bore into mine, saying things he wouldn’t give voice to. Demi always gave me the shivers. His eyes said, “I don’t like this,” while his mouth gave me a reassuring, “Let’s go, now. Perhaps you’ll find someone who will make for a suitable companion.”
I nodded, not believing him one bit. I followed behind Rigs, and Demi trailed along behind me. I wished I could’ve held his hand, but knew out and about, we had to be cool. With every step, panic started to well up in my throat.
I stopped halfway to our destination, plastering my back to the stone wall of one of the empty corridors. “I don’t want to do this,” I admitted, my heart jumping erratically. “I mean, what kind of a screening system is there for this? At least the online dating sites try to match you with similar interest people, and cross potential serial killers off the list. I’m a perfect stranger to pretty much everyone in Avalon! And this guy is waiting to meet me, why? Just because of who my mother is? Because now I’m suddenly some rich girl? That’s not a good system!” My breaths were coming in uneven jumps, shallow as they were. “The party isn’t until tomorrow, right? I have a whole twenty-four hours I’m supposed to be able to pretend this whole thing isn’t happening.”
Rigs looked around to make sure we were alone, and then took my hand in his like a gentleman, my knuckles pointing toward the ceiling. “Your suitors are here because they want to see if you would be an asset to their land. It’s a high honor, your grace.” He kept his words formal, in case there were any eavesdroppers nearby. “Most of the other courtiers are spoken for. Since birth, for some of them. Think of that arrangement. Betrothed before your first birthday. You have choices in this, your grace. Down in the parlor is merely one of your many options.”
I pulled Rigs in for a hug, leaning my forehead on his chest to center myself. It didn’t really work, because he couldn’t get me off him fast enough. He leaned down and whispered, “I cannot comfort you here, my sweet. If her majesty most high should see me showing affection to you in such a way, there would be no end to her jealousy.”
I pulled back, embarrassed. “Sorry. I forgot. Can I hug Demi in public?”
Rigs brought Demi closer. “You can do whatever you like to Demi. He’s your soumettre. You can parade him around naked, for all her majesty most high cares. He’s your attendant to do with as you wish. But I belong to her majesty most high, and she does not wish to share my affections.”
I sunk into Demi’s arms, taking as deep a breath as I could manage, while the two men exchanged worried glances that I was going to royally screw up and get them both beaten. “You’re all worked up. Take a minute to calm yourself. It won’t do for your suitor to see you looking like you’re afraid he’ll murder you in your sleep.”
“I wasn’t even thinking about that! Are you kidding me? Could that really happen?”
Demi and Rigs exchanged another weighted look. “No, of course not,” Demi lied. “Not to worry. Would you prefer I stayed with you?”
“Yes.” I gusted out my relief, clinging to him. His handsomeness still made me nervous, but my fear of the unknown man waiting for me in the parlor trumped the shyness that came with such swirling attraction. “Really? You’d do that?”
His eyes held a promise in them that I clung to as solace. “I’ll do anything you ask of me, even watch while another man takes your hand in marriage.”
My heart dropped to the floor. I leaned up on my toes to kiss his cheek, hating that I’d finally found someone who was good to me, who seemed to genuinely like me, but I was being pushed in the opposite direction. Part of me wanted to ask if I could just marry Demi to be done with the whole suitor business, but I didn’t think asking a dude to marry me after we’d only started kissing a few days ago would go over all that well.
I nodded into Demi’s chest. “Okay. If you’re there too, I can be cool.” I stood straighter and rolled my shoulders back, trying to appear in control. “Sorry for freaking out. I can be good now.”
Rigs looked both ways down the empty hall before touching under my chin to lift my face. Something about that simple motion reminded me to be brave. “There’s that spark,” he said with a soft smile. “Come, now.”
I wasn’t expecting the parlor to be so opulent – bedecked in red tapestries with gold end tables and matching upholstered couches with tall, upright backs. The seats all looked impervious to bending, and I guessed it was to reinforce the regal status even in a casual setting. I wasn’t expecting a gold tray of exotic fruit to be waiting for us. I wasn’t expecting a whole lot of things – least of all the men who rose from their straight-backed seats to greet me.
My jaw hit the floor when I saw who occupied the fancy room. I took a step backward into Demi, who impeded my flight with a brush of his hand on my back.
12
Madigan’s Bright Idea
“Don’t go, honey! Please hear me out.” Bastien took a few steps toward me, reaching for my arm. The simple contact sizzled with too much heat and memories where he touched me, so I jerked backward.
“No! I told you we were done. I told you I never wanted to see you again.”
He flinched, like my words were sharp enough to cut him, thick-skinned as he always tried to be in matters of the heart.
Rigs and Demi exchanged confused glances, unsure of what to do. On the one hand, I was a princess, so there were certain rules about the riffraff coming to call and putting their paws on the good furniture. On the other hand, Bastien was an Untouchable, and short of murdering a royal, could pretty much get away with whatever he wanted. I think both my mansion buddies were a little taken aback that I was on a first name basis with an Untouchable, and that we had enough of a history to be knee-deep in a feud, new as I was to this land. Rigs stood near the door like a sentry, and Demi kept his arm around me, leading me slowly toward the couch, where he sat me down and stood at attention behind me, where I couldn’t see him.
My voice was quieter now, but my temper was still shooting off sparks like a wonky firecracker when Bastien resumed his seat next to Madigan across from me. There was a table with the bowl of fruit between us, but it wasn’t enough space. I needed an ocean of distance between us. “I can only assume you need something if you’re here, pretending to be a suitor just to get in the door. What you’re looking for? I don’t have it.” I held Madigan’s eye with meaning, letting him know I wasn’t in possession of the jewels yet.
“Aye. I told him it was too soon, but the mule won’t listen to me.” Madigan tried to lean back in his chair, but the darn thing was so unforgivingly rigid that he settled for crossing his left ankle over his right knee, scowling. He was too tall for the furniture, poor thing.
“I’ll reach out to Reyn if anything changes. Y
ou don’t need to ever come here again.” My words were spoken to Madigan, but directed at Bastien. They both seemed to get it. Madigan didn’t take offense, and Bastien leaned over, his elbows on his knees while he cradled his forehead in his large hand.
“You can’t contact Reyn right now. I’m not even supposed to be here, for more than the obvious reasons.” Bastien kept his eyes down while he spoke to me. “Rachelle died a week ago. Never woke up, and just sort of faded away in her sleep. Reyn’s family is in mourning. I’m supposed to be with them, since Rachelle was my fiancée. It’s six months of mourning, Rosie. Six months I have to stay respectful of my promise to marry Rachelle. Six months I can’t take a wife without shaming her family.”
When his eyes climbed up to meet mine, I tried to keep my banging heartbeat inaudible, but it rang throughout the room like a gong of just plain too much. It was hard enough to be in the same room with Bastien, much less try to decipher subtext. I stood and made my way to the door. “I’ll go see Reyn, then. Rigby, can I get my hands on a horse and a guide? I need to go visit the judge’s son from Province 2 to pay my respects to Rachelle. Reyn is a friend of mine.”
Rigs held up his hands and stood in front of the closed door. “I’m sorry, your grace. Her majesty most high wishes for you to stay on the grounds. She won’t hear of you leaving, what with the celebration coming tomorrow.”
I backed up, like a dog learning the hard way to steer clear of an electric fence. My eyes darted around while I hugged myself. I didn’t like the trapped feeling this cold, stony place always seemed to give me. Though it was massive, it felt cramped with too many failed expectations and dark intentions.
Demi met me halfway and took my elbow, escorting me back to the couch and sitting me down with care. He traced his middle finger discreetly from the tender inside of my wrist to the center of my palm – a thing he sometimes did to flirt with me when we were alone. Then he moved back to stand behind my chair, where I couldn’t see him.
I cleared my throat a few times before mustering up what I hoped were the right words. “I’ll see what I can do about going out to visit Reyn after the party tomorrow. If Morgan won’t let me out, please tell him I’m so very sorry. Really, Bastien. I’m so sorry to both of you for your loss.” The words felt hollow, but it was the best I could do. I couldn’t imagine what Reyn and his dad must be going through. To keep that hope alive for so long, only to have it stolen soundlessly in the dead of night was terrible.
Bastien clutched his chest like my bland words hurt him deeper than my sharp ones had. His voice came out uncertain and rough. “You can’t say my name like that.”
I shifted on the couch, smoothing out my dress. “Like what? I said it like normal.”
“Just don’t say my name at all. I want to hear it too much, but not like this. Not when you can barely stand to look at me.”
I wasn’t sure what to call him, since he didn’t want me using his name, so I made Judah proud and stuck with the meanest bad guy name I could think of. “I don’t know why you’re here, Voldemort,” I stated frankly, unwilling to smile and make it all okay. It wasn’t okay. He hadn’t trusted me. He’d told me to take my clothes off to appease his buddy’s suspicions. He’d pushed me away too many times, and was now acting like he was hurt that I finally took the hint and stayed gone. “You’ve got a long journey ahead of you, but it’s not with me. I’m not your great adventure.”
“You know why I’m here.”
Right, the jewels. “Well, I can’t help you yet. I’m working on it, but you came too soon.”
Bastien lifted his head to address Rigs and Demi. “Could you guys give us a minute? I need to talk to the princess in private.”
They made to leave, but I stood. “No need. We’re done here.”
“Rosie, wait!” Bastien reached out and touched my arm, and I fought the urge to punch him as I wrenched myself from his grip.
“No! You had nothing but chances, and you let it go down how it did. Go be there for Reyn and his dad. That’s where you should be right now. Go make it with all the girls who think being Untouchable is something cool and mysterious. Let them feel special when they think they’re getting close to that rock you call a heart. I’ve got enough on my plate without you adding to the mix.” My breath came in pants because of stupid Bastien getting me all worked up. I stomped my foot to the ground, my palm pressed to my stomach when my lips started to feel fuzzy. “Doggone this corset! It’s too tight, Demi. I can barely get in a full breath.”
“Allow me to take you back to your chambers, your grace. I’ll adjust it. Apologies.”
Bastien’s face scrunched. “Why are you wearing a corset? You’re a tiny little thing.”
I shot him a look with too much emotion in it, which was my first mistake. Bastien didn’t need to know how I felt about anything. “Morgan thinks I’m fat, apparently.” I waved off his protest. “Whatever. It’s fine. I’m doing my job, being the Lost Princess everyone needs me to be. Now I’m the rich girl, with corsets I can’t breathe in, and a castle I can’t walk around in. Lucky freaking me.”
Bastien’s eyes begged me in earnest to forgive him, until his gaze fell on Demi. “Wait. This guy’s going to adjust your corset? Who is he?”
I stood straighter, trying to find a little breathing room in the immovable material. “Sorry. Demi, this is Voldemort. Voldemort, Demi. Madigan. Rigby. Rigby is the soumettre for Morgan, and Demi’s my soumettre.”
Bastien’s chest puffed, his eyebrows pulled downward and his fists clenched in sudden anger. “This guy’s your what?” he thundered.
“My soumettre.” I wondered if I’d pronounced it wrong. “What?”
“Rip my heart out, why don’t you!” Bastien yelled out of nowhere.
“Jeez! Calm it down, Anger Management. Morgan assigned him to me. What’s the big deal?”
“I screwed up, what? Two weeks ago, and you’re hooking up with another guy like it’s nothing? I thought I meant something to you, but apparently you’ll just throw yourself at anyone.”
My nose crinkled in distaste. “Ugh. Would you listen to yourself, you snob? What, just because Demi’s not an almighty Untouchable, he’s not good enough for me?” I turned to Demi, whose face was the only one that was composed, other than Rigby’s. “Demi, this fight isn’t about you, so you don’t need to hear it. Why don’t you and Rigby go on out, so I can deal with him. I’ll meet you upstairs.”
Demi nodded curtly, his smile nowhere in sight. “As you wish it.”
I waited until the two exited the room before I barked at Bastien. “Are you insane? What was that about?”
“I’m not allowed to be mad you’re having sex with someone after you built up how big of a deal your first kiss was? What, you started up with me, but decided to finish off with him? Do you even know who he’s been with? Your mother, Rosie. He slept with your mother, and who knows how many of your aunts. And now you’re giving it up to him?”
I was standing in my princess gown with my fists clenched, feeling anything but royal in that moment. I wanted to slap Bastien. I wanted to scream at him. There were so many things I wanted in that moment, none of which were all that princess-like. “Get. Out.”
Madigan stood and clamped his hand down on Bastien’s shoulder. “Aye. This was a bad idea. It’s too heated for the two of ye to make sense of yet. We came here to see if ye needed help with the jewels.”
I breathed in and out through my nose, trying to remember that I wasn’t furious with Madigan, and he didn’t deserve a full blast of my anger. I kept my voice quiet to avoid being overheard, in case anyone was lurking outside the doors of the long room. “I convinced Morgan that my Compass ability doesn’t exist anymore, that it disappeared because I spent too much time up in Common. I’m using the birds to scout out the area because Morgan doesn’t like to look at me. She keeps me locked in my room most of the time, but I’ve got a good idea where at least one of them is hidden.”
Bastien was fuming. “Yo
u stay in your room all day and night with your soumettre. Nice.”
I lowered my chin and moved it slowly from left to right. “You are without a doubt the most selfish man I know. I just told you that my own mother locks me in my room because she doesn’t like the look of me, and all you can think about is whether or not I’m having sex with someone other than you? Man, did I ever get you wrong.”
Bastien’s mouth opened and closed through his unintelligible spluttered response, and finally Madigan cut him off. “Give us a mo, Bastien. I need to talk to Rosie, and ye aren’t helping.”
Bastien’s face was red as he stormed out, taking about fifty percent of the tension out with him. I leaned against a gold end table, trying to catch my breath that was still coming in short pants. “What can I do for you?” I asked, though my tone was none too congenial.
“Ye can sit down, for one. I’ll never understand women and the lengths ye go to for no good reason.”
I was grateful for the uncomfortable couch, and tried not to fidget when I sat across from the chair he claimed. “You’re preaching to the choir, dude. This wasn’t my idea. This is my punishment for wearing jeans outside of the castle like a peasant. Morgan’s making a point. Even had Demi beaten for it. Things are a little tense here, so if you’re thinking of complaining that I’m not finding the jewels quick enough, maybe pick a different tune. I’m not exactly living my best life these days.”
“Aye. Just so ye know, Roland tracked down Duchess Avril and took back the three gems she stole. He’s got his, and he gave the other two to Lane. We came here to check on the remaining jewels, but word of ye choosing a suitor reached us, too. Bastien’s been driving himself mad, trying to find a way to offer his hand without turning disrespect on Reyn’s family. Unless ye can push back your wedding six months, I don’t see a way.”
Rich Girl Page 9
