by Jeanne Hardt
Sebastian found himself speechless.
She tightened her hold on his hand. “Am I not right? That is what you have kept from me?”
Sebastian shut his eyes, then slowly opened them again. “I do not know.”
“What—?”
“Olivia. There is no proof of his life or his death. His body was not recovered, but I have suspicions he may have gone into hiding.”
She released him and pulled the sheet closer to her body. “What makes you suspicious?”
“His cloak …” Nothing had ever been harder to say.
“What of it?” Her features hardened. “You showed it to me. It was without a doubt his.”
“Yes, but it was not simply dangling from the bridge, as if ripped from his body as he fell. It had been intricately tied there. He had to have removed it and taken great care in making certain we would find it.”
“So, you believe he managed to cross into the forest?”
“Yes.”
“And that is why you had both Jonah and Severin protecting us at the ocean. You do not fear Frederick, you fear Donovan.”
“Frederick is still a concern that—”
“Stop!” She held up a hand. “Do not patronize me. I am not a child who needs to be coddled. You lied. Time and again I asked if you thought Donovan could have survived, and you assured me he was dead.” She stood from the bed and started to dress. “You even brought Jonah into your falsehood. Did you not?”
Her accusations struck a heavy blow. He jumped from the bed and went to her, needing to remain close. “Yes, I did. But I wanted to protect you, and I could not bear for you to fear someone who may or may not be an issue.” He drew her into his arms, and though she tried to break away, he held her firm. “I have been sick inside holding onto this knowledge. It was wrong of me, and it shan’t happen again. I swear it.”
Her stiffened body relaxed in his hold. “I want to believe you.” She took a long breath and looked up at him. “Now I understand why you reacted so harshly to the red coverlet. More so than I. My nightmare—”
“Yes.” He brushed his lips over her forehead. “More than once, you have proven you have the sight. Somehow, I must find Donovan and prevent him from fulfilling your vision.” He peered deeply into her misty eyes. “I cannot lose you.”
“Nor I, you.” She circled him with her arms and nestled against him.
“Do you forgive me?”
She intensified her hold. “Yes. As much as it pains me, I understand your reasoning.” Once again, her head lifted. “But you had best keep your vow. Never withhold anything from me again.”
“I assure you. What I know, so shall you. And please, bear no hard feelings toward Jonah. He did as I requested. In all honesty, he scolded me for withholding my suspicions.”
“Good. Knowing this, I like him even more. Do not forget you promised him knighthood.”
“How can I forget, when he frequently reminds me?” He grinned, then peered toward the window. “The sun has started to set. Supper will be cold if we do not hurry. As will my mother’s attitude.”
Finally, Olivia smiled again. “She was once newly married. I am confident she will understand.” Her expression softened. “Is your father aware of your concerns in regard to Donovan?”
“Yes. He has his men closely watching Roderick. We hope he might lead us to him.”
“I want to help. I can question him—”
“No. He cannot be made aware of our suspicions. We want him to think we have accepted Donovan’s death. But, there are other ways you can help.”
“How?” Her beautiful brown eyes slowly blinked.
“Keep your ears attuned to anything out of the ordinary and allow Delana to show you every secret passageway in our kingdom. Memorize them. If you are ever in danger, flee to the protection of our deepest chambers.” He gazed intently into her face. “Protect yourself at all cost.”
“And what of you? Would you join me there, if something so horrible warranted me to flee?”
He drew her close. “I would do all I could to come to you, but if it came to a fight threatening my people, I would first do battle. Knowing you were safely hidden would ease my mind and enable me to focus on the most crucial tasks.” He huffed a breath. “We are ahead of ourselves. It is unwise to fear what may happen. Fear squelches joy.”
“True.” She pressed her palms to his chest and backed out of his embrace. “I wish to be joyful, yet I do not want to be caught off guard. Sensibility is wise. We must prepare for the worst and pray for the best.”
“Your sensibility is one of the many reasons I fell in love with you.” He grabbed onto her and gave her a kiss to remember.
When their lips parted, she gasped. “If we do not dress now, we will never eat.”
He chuckled and once again released her. She had only managed to put on several undergarments, and he remained completely unclothed. “Very well. We shall dress for supper and make Mother happy. Afterward, go with Delana. I shall ask Allana to accompany you as well. You are like-minded, and I believe you and she will become close. Besides, it would please Jonah to see her with you. While you explore, you could easily mention a few kind things about him and discover if she reciprocates his feelings. It would certainly make my life less complicated, if I can appease him.”
She grinned. “You want me to probe her, then report back to you?”
He shrugged. “I suppose I do. Since we are no longer keeping secrets, is it wrong of me to ask?”
“Hmm …” Olivia slipped a dress over her head and wiggled into it. “If Allana speaks in confidence, then it would be improper for me to repeat what I hear. However, if we are merely conversing, I see no wrong in it.”
“Good.” He could not keep his eyes off her. Every move she made sparked desire.
She eyed him from head to toe. “Sebastian. I love seeing you this way.” Her grin broadened. “But you cannot dine as you are now.” She gestured to his clothes, which lay crumpled on the floor alongside the coverlet.
He laughed and dressed.
Finally, his heart eased. Though it had been painful, it had been right to tell her the truth. He would never again keep something from her and prayed she would do the same.
Olivia should be angry with Sebastian, but felt quite the opposite.
Once he told her the truth about Donovan, she witnessed a wonderful change in her husband. The darkness that had rested deep within his eyes disappeared. It had resided there since the night Donovan had supposedly fallen from the bridge. She had made herself believe Sebastian had simply been concerned for her and all the changes she was experiencing, but deep down, she had always known it to be much more.
The sparkle she had seen the first time they stood face to face had returned.
She sat by Sebastian’s side at an enormous table in the great hall. Unlike Padrida, only the royal family dined together. Olivia missed the loud clanking of cups and endless chatter, but being with her new family offered other pleasantries.
They talked nonstop between bites of food. Olivia answered endless questions about the ocean and all of the things she had seen that she had not previously beheld. They appeared to be in awe by her lack of knowledge in regard to the many day-to-day things they took for granted.
“Yes,” Olivia said. “Until Sebastian freed me from Padrida, I had never seen a carriage. I had not even heard mention of the word. But I have learned to appreciate its use.” She glanced at the king, who simply grinned.
All five of Sebastian’s sisters sat tall and regal. Even little Catrice, who seemed to be having difficulty keeping her elbows off the tabletop.
Two servants fluttered around the room, filling cups and passing food. Women who kept their eyes looking downward, as if they feared those they served. Since Olivia did not perceive Sebastian’s family as being cruel, their behavior made little sense.
The queen cut the morsels on her plate into even tinier bites, then daintily nibbled. “Truthfully …” She took a
sip of wine and looked directly at Sebastian. “I am glad you returned earlier than we expected. Now I can enlist Olivia to help me with the plans for your wedding ceremony. I fear if we wait too long, tongues will wag and the kings of the other realms will become uneasy.” She cut her eyes in Olivia’s direction.
Olivia smiled at her. “I shall be glad to help. I want everyone in the kingdoms to know of our love.” She squeezed Sebastian’s hand.
“Mother?” Estelle sat even taller and jutted her chin. “What of my plans? Because you insisted Sebastian be the first to wed, Eural and I have waited a very long while to marry. Must we continue to wait until after their ceremony? After all, Sebastian and Olivia are legally bound. The ceremony you are planning is a mere formality.”
“One that is necessary.” The queen took a similar posture. “Until the kings of the realms voice their approval, I shall not rest easy. I do not want an heir conceived from this union that could be disavowed. You must wait a little longer, Estelle, so I can put my focus on your brother’s rites. I cannot spread myself thin by planning multiple affairs.”
Estelle’s shoulders slumped, as did those of Becca, who poked at her food, seemingly just as unhappy as her older sister.
Allana cleared her throat, then dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. “I do not understand why either of you wish to rush your vows. Once you marry, you will have to leave Basilia. I shall miss having you here. It will not be the same.”
Both older girls looked at her with pity.
Becca stretched her hand across the table to Allana. “You will understand when you come of age. A woman’s place is beside her husband. Is that not right, Mother?”
“Yes.” The queen moistened her lips. “Even so, you and Estelle will have to wait to hold that position. Your future husbands must endure standing alone for a short while longer.”
Catrice giggled. “Mine will have to wait, too.”
The king let out an enormous laugh. “Thank you, my dear, for adding some light to this dismal conversation. Enough talk of weddings.” He waved one of the servants close. “Bring more wine.”
The woman bowed low. “Yes, Your Majesty.” She scurried from the room, and in almost no time at all, returned with a full flask.
The queen cocked her head. “Weddings are not dismal, Roland. It is the planning that makes me weary.”
He took her hand and kissed it. “The very reason I want to dismiss the conversation. Think nothing more of it tonight. We are here to celebrate the return of our son and his lovely bride.” He winked at Olivia, then lifted his glass for the servant to fill. “Let us drink to the good health of all here. May we live in peace forevermore.”
Sebastian raised his goblet high. “Peace forevermore.”
Olivia did the same, and soon every glass was raised. Even those of the young girls whose goblets were filled with water, not wine.
Olivia would continue to pray that peace would remain forever, but her heart told her otherwise.
Chapter 7
The evening meal carried on for much longer than what Olivia had been accustomed to.
Once every plate was emptied, the older girls asked to be excused. Being unsure of protocol, Olivia waited quietly with Sebastian.
Delana stood, walked around the table, then knelt beside her. “When you are ready, I shall show you the passageways. But do not wait too much longer. We should go before the sun sets.”
“I am ready now, if you wish.”
Delana beamed.
“Allana?” Sebastian called out to his sister and stopped her from leaving the room. “I would like you to accompany them.”
“Why?” Delana asked before Allana could respond.
Allana moved beside her, questioning with her eyes.
“Because,” Sebastian said, “I want Olivia to become better acquainted with both of you. Once Estelle and Becca leave Basilia, Allana will be the eldest remaining. I am relying on the two of you to look after Olivia and befriend her.”
Allana smiled. “Nothing would please me more.”
“But I was the one who offered to show her our secrets,” Delana whined.
“And you shall.” Sebastian grasped her shoulder. “Along with your sister.”
Catrice tugged at Sebastian’s sleeve. “Me, too?”
“Not this time, sweetheart.” He smoothed a hand over her head. “They will be going into some dark places, and I know you well. You do not care for those passageways.”
She wrinkled her nose. “They smell awful. Why are they going there?”
“So that Olivia can see all of our home. Even the parts unappealing to the nose.”
Catrice offered no further objections. She wandered away from the table holding her mother’s hand—a sight that warmed Olivia, but also tugged at her heart. Never before had she been away from her own parents for any length of time. She prayed they were well.
Sebastian helped her to her feet. “I will leave you in the care of my sisters, while I go with my father to discuss the affairs of Basilia.”
She kissed his cheek. “I shall see you in our bedchamber after.”
He returned her kiss, but with one on the lips. “Remember what I told you. Memorize the passages.” His intense gaze drove his words deep within her.
“I will.” She grasped onto his arm. “Is your cousin aware of these passages?”
“Some, but not all.”
Delana poked her face between them. “Which cousin?”
Sebastian’s head drew back. “If you must know, we speak of Frederick.”
Allana grabbed Delana’s hand. “Enough said, brother.” She led Delana away from them, her whispers along with them. “You should not pry, Delana. You need not know everything.”
Olivia gave Sebastian another quick kiss, then joined the girls in the hallway. She glanced back at him and received a tentative smile. She believed he had told her all that had been unsaid, yet obviously, his fears remained. How could they not?
Delana crossed her arms and faced her sister. “I want to lead. After all, it was my suggestion.”
Allana smiled. “Very well. Lead on.” She splayed an arm, gesturing to the hallway.
Delana beamed, then hastened onward.
Allana linked her arm in Olivia’s. “Delana is young, but eager. She has always been one to have her nose in most everything that goes on in this dwelling.”
“I can hear you,” Delana said, over her shoulder.
“I am well aware. I only want our new sister to understand us.”
Olivia laughed. “Though I have never had sisters before now, I feel I have already come to know you, and I adore every one of you.”
Delana’s gait turned into a strut, which brought on even more laughter. Oddly, she headed for the library and opened the large door. She motioned them in, then pushed the door shut again, but said nothing.
Allana pointed at the portraits. “Our ancestors.”
“Yes,” Olivia said. “Sebastian brought me here earlier. This room is magnificent.”
Delana took hold of her hand. “It holds our most secret passageway. If you ever must use it, be certain you shut the main door upon entering. We cannot have anyone other than our immediate family know of this.”
“So …” Olivia took a large breath. “Your cousin, Frederick, is unaware?”
“Father would never tell Frederick about it,” Allana said. “He is our cousin, but Father despises him. He says Frederick is evil incarnate.”
It seemed Olivia should not have so readily disregarded Sebastian’s warning about the man. She had assumed he was merely trying to change the subject away from Donovan. “What has he done to make your family feel so poorly toward him?”
“Many things.” Every trace of joy disappeared from Allana’s face. “We seldom speak of it, but Father lost all respect for him when Frederick tried having his way with Estelle.”
“What?” Olivia placed a hand to her heart. “How could he? His very own cousin?”
Delana w
rinkled her nose. “He is disgusting. It happened four years ago, but none of us have forgotten. I was too young then to understand, but I do now.”
“Was he punished?”
Delana rapidly nodded. “He is not allowed in our castle and must stay in his own.”
“Yes,” Allana added. “But at the time, Father wanted his manhood removed.” She whispered the final words.
Delana giggled. “I understand the meaning of that, too.”
Olivia frowned and shook her head. “You are both too young to be aware of such things. It saddens me that you have had to grow up so quickly. Where is Frederick now? After all, he may be banished from your dwelling, but he is still a prince and undoubtedly retains his status as such.”
“He lives in his father’s castle,” Allana said. “It can be seen from the windows on the east side of ours.”
Delana’s laughter rapidly died. “He married Princess Marni of Oros. I pity her. She is with child.”
“I believe they love each other,” Allana said. “Though I cannot imagine how anyone could love Frederick.”
Olivia sighed. “Perhaps he has changed.”
Delana shook her head slowly back and forth. “Not from stories I have heard.” She stomped her foot. “I wanted this to be an enjoyable venture. Can we not talk of something happier?”
“Of course.” Olivia glanced around the room. “Where is the secret passageway you brought me here to see?”
Instantly, Delana’s face brightened. “This way.”
She led her to the far side of the room and stood beside a tall shelf of books. Grinning, she reached behind a large volume, then her features tightened, as if she was having difficulty. “Sometimes it sticks.”
“Shall I do it?” Allana asked.
“No. I am more than able.” Delana’s nose wrinkled. Her arm moved up and down, partially hidden by the many books.
A loud click was followed by another one of Delana’s precious giggles. The book casing creaked as she inched it forward, and a musty scent filled the air around them.
Allana lifted a lantern from one of the tabletops. “We will need this.”
