Everything was in place when Clare entered my chambers for dinner as planned. Her face blanched as I welcomed her. She stared at the table in the middle of the room before her gaze darted back to me. “What’s going on? What’s with the fancy dining arrangements, and why is my brother here?”
I looked at the man waiting there to serve us. He had only introduced himself as “Brenen” as we were setting up. It was then that I recalled Clare cheering his name during one of the tournaments at Reagan’s birthday celebration. I had to hand it to him, he had been well trained for his position. The only acknowledgement he gave that he was being discussed was a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth.
“Prince Reagan wanted me to add this to your training. In the event that you should one day carry the title as healer here at Gilvary, you will have to know what is expected should you be asked to dine with royalty.”
“If I end up as healer, where would that leave you?”
Her hand came up to cover her mouth and her brown eyes stretched wide with excitement. “Ooh, I bet I know!”
I grabbed her hand and pulled it down between us hopefully derailing where ever she was about to take the conversation. “Shall we get started?”
I pulled her along until we were standing by the table. Brenen automatically went to stand behind my chair. “Unless you are already seated when royalty enters the dining area like we were the other day when Prince Reagan joined us, you wait for them to be seated first.”
I demonstrated and then Brenen went around the table to hold her chair for her. She gave him that smile of familiarity that I had seen between siblings before which he did not return.
“It is all right to say thank you and even give the servant’s name if you know it, but otherwise you should only acknowledge those you are dining with.” It was awkward giving this instruction in front of her brother, but he gave no indication that he was bothered by it.
The table was set with every utensil that may be used, and I took the time as our food was being served to explain it all to her. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. “I will never be able to remember all of this.”
“Just remember to start with the utensils on the outside and work your way in with each course. If all else fails, watch the host and follow his or her example.”
“That I can handle. My main problem is that I get so flustered when I’m in the same room with the queen or one of the princes. How did you ever learn to be at ease around them?”
“My best friend in Aisling is the queen. I was raised to be her companion since she is an only child.”
“Oh yes, I keep forgetting that. You seem so down to earth.”
“Thank you. It is important to be yourself. We are to show respect in the presence of royalty, but you should still be genuine to who you are. Trust me, they can spot a fake from a mile away. I cannot speak for all royalty, but the ones of my acquaintance do not appreciate those under them going overboard with flattery. People like that are usually only interested in their own agenda.”
She smiled wide at me with a knowing twinkle in her eye. “It seems to me that God has been training you for what lies ahead. You’re not fooling me. I know you and Prince Reagan are more than just friends. Just wait and see, one day the two of you will be married, and you’ll know precisely how to act.”
I glanced nervously at her brother, measuring what to say next. Since I had agreed to be exclusive with Reagan, I knew it was just a matter of time before everyone in the castle knew. He was not the type to try and hide it. I took a deep breath. Clare was my closest friend here at Gilvary, and she deserved to hear it first from me.
“The other day when I told you that we were just friends, that was true, but yesterday he did ask me to be more than that, and I said yes.”
She pumped her fist in the air. “I knew it! So, how long do you think it will be before he proposes?”
“We have decided not to rush into anything. You must know, marriage may never become an issue. I have turned down proposals before.”
“Of course you have. But you love him, and I can tell he loves you as well.”
“You cannot know that. I cannot even say that I know how I feel about him right now, and he has certainly never said as much to me.” I kept glancing at Brenen, but he never showed any signs that he even heard what we were saying.
Thankfully she got the hint and dropped the subject. By the time we finished all of the courses and our lesson, it was time for her to check on Queen Finelle. I helped Brenen stack everything on the cart to be taken back to the kitchen. I was almost afraid to start a conversation with him for fear it would turn to comments about my courting status, but I should have known better considering his professionalism up to this point.
“Was it uncomfortable waiting on your sister while having me instruct her on how to interact with you as a servant?”
“Not at all. My mother has had us serving each other all of our lives as part of our training. I think most of it has escaped Clare because we all expected her to be a gardener, in which case she would have little need for those lessons. I am very proud that my sister has endeavored to be something more. I want to thank you from me and my family for helping to make her dream a reality.” He sounded so unexpectedly proper.
“I can tell your parents have done a fine job in raising their children. You all have reason to be proud of your accomplishments.” He only gave a nod of his head in reply.
I followed Brenen from my chambers and did not return until the work day was done. I had plans to stick my nose into a book that evening. I did try, but as I sat stretched out on my lounge with the book in my lap, my mind kept straying to moments spent with Reagan.
The kiss we had shared the day before was emblazoned in my memory. When I closed my eyes, I could still feel the heat of his embrace and the smoothness of his mouth against mine. Just thinking of it still caused a sensational quiver to race through my limbs, leaving me feeling weak inside. I had told him to take it slow and easy with me, but someone needed to explain it to my heart.
I tried to retrace my steps since arriving at Gilvary to pinpoint the exact moment I had started having such strong feelings for the crown prince. I finally had to admit that it had started back in Aisling on the day he showed up half dead claiming to be a relative of mine. I had been denying my feelings for so long. How had I allowed myself to get into this mess?
My thoughts were interrupted by a tap on my door. Thinking someone must need medical attention, I began a mental rundown of everyone I knew to be ill within the castle. The last thing I expected was to see Reagan holding the tiny hand of Gemma, both of them wrapped in layers of clothing.
Reagan beamed down at me. “We came to see if you would come outside and play in the snow with us?”
It had been snowing for a few days, but I had yet to venture outside. I looked down at the little girl beside him. I think it may have been the first time I had ever seen the child smile, but there was something else in the look she gave me. Was it doubt, or maybe fear that I would say no?
“Come on in. You will have to give me a few minutes to get ready.” Normally I would not invite a man into my chambers, but surely Gemma counted as a chaperone. I gestured toward the couch as I hurried through to my bed chamber. I was soon bundled up and ready for our adventure.
The sun was already making its descent just above the horizon in front of us as we exited through one of the side doors of the castle. I shielded my eyes from the sudden glare. The snow gleamed with tiny crystals of reflected light. I heard Reagan take a deep breath of the crisp air.
I looked down at the little girl between us. She smiled up at me and then took my hand as well. My heart squeezed in my chest as I thought about the image we portrayed. We looked like a family, something I had never been a part of, at least not one with a mother and a father. I cleared my head and mentally pushed that thought away.
“What do you want to do first?”
Gemma turned toward Reagan. “Let’s make snow angels.”
We trudged through the high snow until we came to a pristine section that had yet to be trampled on. Gemma let go, turned around, and fell back into the snow. I watched as she swept her arms and legs to make arcs in the snow for the angel’s wings and robe.
Reagan was the next to go down, making a thumping sound as he landed. He did not move for a moment. “I am a lot bigger than I was the last time I did this. Maybe I should have gone down a little at a time.”
I tapped the bottom of his boot with mine. “Watch it. You are making yourself sound old.”
I was teasing him, but I took his warning to heart as I eased into position on the other side of Gemma. The tips of my fingers brushed against hers as I swept my arm across. You could hear the pure joy she felt through her girlish laughter. Reagan gave each of us a hand up, helping to preserve our angelic images in the snow. We took a moment to appreciate our snow-angel family before heading toward the back of the castle.
Gemma’s eyes lit up when we heard children playing as we got closer to the corner. Reagan tugged on her mitten-covered hand. “Do you want to go check it out?”
She nodded enthusiastically and we tried to hurry our steps through the drifts of snow.
A snowball fight was in progress when we arrived. There were two groups of boys, each using a wall of snow as protection. Rian was in the group closest to us. It was good to see him laughing and playing like a boy his age should be. It was a pleasant change from the sulking he usually did. The game came to a halt when they saw us standing there.
Rian stood up and let the snowball he was holding drop. He studied Reagan with a weary look and then glanced at Gemma. I recognized the look of longing and jealousy before the mask of indifference once again covered his expression.
I looked over at the other team. “Can we play?”
No one answered but a few groaned until Reagan spoke up with one simple word. “Boys.” Then there was a low chorus of, “you can play, if you would like.”
I tugged Gemma along with me. Reagan stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. “What about me? Can I not play as well?”
“Go play on your brother’s team. They will need all the help they can get now that the other side has me and Gemma.”
“You mean your aim is as good with balls of snow as with arrows?”
I winked at him. “We will see. Do you think you can handle it?”
“Oh, I can handle it.” I could hear his laughter as he high stepped it to his brother’s fort.
Just before I made it to my team’s wall, a snowball hit me in the back of the head. I turned in time to see Reagan duck behind the snow. I would make sure he paid for that before the evening was through.
It was after dark when we called a mutual truce and headed inside. It was well after supper time, but Reagan had promised everyone a mug of hot cocoa. He held the door while everyone else trudged through. Just as the last child made it through the door, I pulled out the collar of his jacket and dropped snow down his back. He let out a whoop as he released the door and chased after me. As a result of my laughter and my looking back as I ran in circles, I did not get very far.
He pulled me close, before touching his chilled lips to mine. “I have been longing to do that all day.”
I let him kiss me again before reminding him that the children were waiting for us.
I was amazed that Glynis was already there pouring mugs of hot cocoa for each child to go with the plate of cookies set out in the center of the table. We took off our dripping wet coats, hats, and mittens and piled them with the rest. I was glad to see the fun and laughter present during the snowball fight had followed us inside. Gemma was right in the middle of the group more animated than I had ever seen her.
As we were finishing up, a few mothers came looking for their children, reminding a few others that it was late and they needed to get back to their own families.
Glynis sent Gemma on to bed and then started clearing the table. “I appreciate the two of you taking time out of your busy day to play with Gemma. I know it meant a lot to her.”
I placed my hand over hers. “You have a lovely daughter. I really enjoyed spending time with her today.”
She glanced nervously at Reagan and then back at me before nodding her head. She picked up her tray, wished us goodnight, and left us alone in the dining hall.
“Gemma is not her child.”
I turned to look at him in the dim light of the single candle left burning on the table. “I just assumed that she was. I wonder why she did not correct my mistake.”
“Gemma’s parents are both dead. I signed guardianship over to Glynis, but she does not want the little girl to know it yet. I think she is letting her get used to the idea on her own.”
“She is at a young age to be without her parents. What happened to them?”
“Her mother was the one falsely accused of poisoning Dunbar. My father had her beheaded for a crime he was guilty of, and he just as well placed a death sentence on her father as well. He sent the untrained man into battle. In fact, he was one of the men sent out to eliminate Queen Brianna.”
I placed one hand over my mouth and the other over my stomach. “Oh, Reagan, I took part in that battle. I could have been the one who killed her father.”
Brianna had been one of the many people King Coman had been willing to sacrifice in his elaborate plot to take over the kingdom of Aisling. He had sent a group of untrained farmers and castle workers to fight against us as we headed back home after Brianna and Garrett were married against his wishes.
Reagan scooted closer to me on the bench, pulling me to him and placing a kiss on my brow. “You do not know that, and it would have been self defense. They came after you, leaving you without a choice but to fight back. My father is the only one to blame.”
I let my head drop to his shoulder as he held me. I knew what he said was true. They had attacked us. If we had not fought back, we would all be dead. That did not change the fact that more than just Gemma had been left fatherless because of it. But I knew that even if I could have gone back and lived that day all over again, my actions would have been the same.