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The king of Aurelia disembarked from the royal ship, The Pleasant Pumpkin, in the port of Everwood in Alacarcany late that Tuesday afternoon. The journey from Aurelia had taken a week. It was still another two weeks to his destination in the Golden City. It would be five weeks at least before he’d be home again. He hoped his grandmother could hold on that long.
She’s a strong lady, he reminded himself. She’d raised Graham and his younger brother, Sawyer, after their parents died at sea. Graham was fourteen and Sawyer was only five at the time. Despite her grief over the loss of her son and her daughter-in-law, Gracelyn Arrington had been a pillar of strength for her grandsons. She had ruled Aurelia until Graham turned twenty-one. At seventy, she was happy to relinquish her role to Graham.
But just weeks after Graham’s coronation, Gracelyn had fallen ill. The palace doctors said it was just a matter of time. The illness was too advanced. There was nothing they could do. Graham refused to accept that. He sought out more doctors, but they all said the same thing. So he turned to alternative healers. He called in conjurors and faith healers, but nothing worked.
Finally, word came to him of an exceptionally talented potion-maker who lived in the Golden City in Alacarcany. Her name was Nelari and she was rumored to be able to cure almost anything. So he had the royal ship readied for departure and had left the next day.
When he left, twelve-year-old Sawyer had been reading to Gracelyn. A lump had formed in Graham’s throat as he watched them together. Gracelyn’s eyes had been shining as she regarded her grandson proudly. It wasn’t fair. Sawyer couldn’t remember their parents. Gracelyn was the only parent he’d ever known. He shouldn’t have to lose her, too. He won’t, Graham told himself fiercely.
Once his horse was unloaded from the ship, Graham made his way toward town. He’d get started on the next leg of his journey first thing in the morning. But for now he just wanted to get a warm meal and have a few drinks. He couldn’t make the journey any faster, and worrying wasn’t going to change anything.
On his way to the town inn, a woman racing a white horse through the rolling fields beside the road caught Graham’s eye. Dark-brown hair streamed out behind her like a banner, and her long skirts snapped in the wind. She leaned close to her horse as she approached a split-rail fence. She and the horse sailed over the fence, silhouetted against the dusky sky. As she landed, a grin spread across her face. She was moving so fast, she was out of sight in minutes.
Graham imagined himself racing along beside her, without a care in the world, as she flashed that dazzling grin at him. His heart lifted at the thought.
***
Graham stepped inside the cool, dim tavern after reserving a room at the inn. One wall was made of stone. A large moose head was on the wall above the fireplace. The moose was smoking a cigar. There was a bar across the room from the door, and dozens of round tables in the space in-between. He made his way over to the bar, where he ordered a fire whiskey.
As he sat down at a nearby table, his eyes fell on a woman coming out of a door that probably led to the kitchen. Her long, dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, although earlier it had been loose and wild in the wind. Graham’s heart skipped a beat. It was the woman he’d seen riding earlier. He realized that despite the urgency of his quest, he’d been hoping he would see her again before he left town.
***
“Honey, you look down. What’s the matter?” Ruby, a barmaid at the Moose asked Arabella early that evening. She was in her late fifties, and her dark-red hair had a few silver highlights.
“I’m fine,” Arabella lied, tying an apron around her waist. She felt calmer after her ride, but still dispirited.
Ruby gave her a knowing look, but said nothing. I just need to focus on work, and not think about Noah, Arabella told herself. She took a deep breath and released it. She smoothed down her lavender skirt and headed determinedly out the door. The tavern was just starting to fill up with the supper crowd.
There were a few people sitting in her section, but her attention was drawn immediately to a startlingly handsome man who was sitting by himself. His dark-brown hair was combed back, but a piece had escaped and hung rakishly over one eye. He wore knee-high brown leather boots and a tan vest opened over a white shirt. Faint stubble darkened his cheeks. To her surprise, his eyes met hers. An expression like surprise flitted across his face, and then it was gone. His mouth curved up in a slight smile.
Her heart sped up as she approached his table. He never took his eyes off of her. Up close, she could see they were a striking gray-blue color. He was beautiful, even outshining Noah in his own way. “Hi, I’m Arabella,” she said with a smile, willing her heartbeat to slow down. “I see you already have a drink. Can I get you something to eat?”
The man smiled at her. “Arabella. That’s a pretty name.”
“Thank you.” She smiled back, a fizzy sensation rushing through her veins.
“I’d like to try the moose burger,” he said. “And I’ll have another fire whiskey, please.”
“I’ll be right back with your whiskey.” She crossed the wooden floor to the bar, where the barkeep poured her a glass. She sashayed back over to the table. He kept his eyes on her the whole time. Her skin tingled. She set the drink in front of him.
“Thank you, Arabella.” She liked the way her name sounded in his slight accent.
“You’re welcome...” she trailed off.
“Graham,” he supplied. “My name is Graham.”
“You’re welcome, Graham. Are you from Aurelia? I love your accent.”
“Yes, I am.”
“I’ve always wanted to go there.”
“It’s beautiful. But Alacarcany is beautiful, too.”
His eyes locked with Arabella’s. A delicious tingle went through her. “I need to check on my other tables and get your order in. I’ll check on you in a bit.” She tore her gaze from his and forced herself to walk away. She exhaled slowly, trying to rein in her exuberance. She never felt like this, except when she was around Noah. But is it a bad thing? she asked herself. Maybe it meant she was finally letting go of Noah.
Arabella served drinks to her other tables and then headed into the kitchen with their dinner orders. She took a quick trip to the ladies’ room, where she checked her makeup. Her eyeliner was a little smudged. She ran her fingers under her eyes to wipe away the excess. She fluffed her ponytail and smiled. Better. The ride earlier had done her some good. Her cheeks were pink, and her skin glowed. She washed her hands and headed back out to the floor.
Arabella swept over to a table in her section where a young man with glasses sat reading a book. He looked up when she stopped next to his table. “I’ve read that. It’s good,” she remarked, nodding toward the book. “I’m Arabella. Can I get you something to drink? Some honey whiskey, perhaps?”
The book tipped out of the man’s hand. He blinked at Arabella. She took a step back, slightly unnerved.
“You’re beautiful,” he breathed.
“Thank you,” Arabella responded. What was going on with this man? “Can I get you something to drink?” she repeated.
“No,” the man said dreamily. “I just want to drink in your divine beauty.”
Okaaay. Arabella backed away. “If you decide to order something, you let me know.” She shook her head as she walked away. Maybe the night wasn’t going to go as well as she’d thought. She didn’t have any other new customers, so she slipped back into the kitchen.
***
Ruby stepped into the kitchen a moment later. “That’s some handsome fella you have in your section,” she said.
For a second, Arabella was confused. She was still thinking about the weirdo with the book. “Oh, Graham?” she said. Her lips curved up in a smile. “Yes, he is, isn’t he?”
Ruby smirked. “Oh, you already know his name. Good. Now maybe you can stop pining away over that fellow down at the docks,” she said pointedly as she filled her tray.
Arabella rolled her eyes, but she smiled at the possibility.
“Can you do me a favor, hon, and run these drinks out to the table with two men and a woman?” Ruby asked. A window opened from the kitchen to the bar, and there was a tray of drinks on the ledge.
“Sure.” She grabbed the tray and followed Ruby out the door. She headed over to the table Ruby had indicated. Two young men, one scrawny with long hair pulled back in a low ponytail and the other stocky with a crew cut sat on either side of a skinny young woman with straggly dark-blond hair.
“Hi,” Arabella greeted them. She set the peach sparkler down in front of the woman.
When she looked at Arabella, the woman’s mouth tightened. “Thank you,” she said coolly. Arabella saw her glance sharply at the two men with her, as if making sure their eyes weren’t wandering. Arabella fought the urge to roll her eyes.
“You’re welcome,” Arabella answered. “Now, who had the honey whiskey?” She looked at the two men.
“I do,” Crew Cut rasped. He cleared his throat, never taking his eyes off of Arabella. She set the whiskey in front of him and the ale in front of Ponytail. Ponytail stared at Arabella too.
“So, what would you all like for supper?” Arabella asked, ignoring their staring problem.
“I’ll have the moose burger,” the woman said.
Both men just stared at Arabella. The woman looked at the men on either side of her, and her expression darkened. She was obviously used to being the center of attention in their group.
Crew Cut smiled. He was missing a tooth. “Did it hurt?”
Arabella sighed. Was he seriously using this old line on her? “No, it did not hurt when I fell from heaven,” she said. “I’m not an angel, just a barmaid.”
“Well now, I highly doubt that,” a deep voice said behind Arabella. A man in his late forties with dark hair and a well-trimmed beard sat at the next table over. “I’ve never laid eyes on a barmaid as pretty as you.”
“Well, thank you, sir, for your kind words,” Arabella said lightly. She turned back to the original table. “Now, what can I get you gentleman for supper?”
“I don’t think we’re very hungry after all,” the woman said tightly. She glared at the men next to her. Neither one took notice. They were too busy staring rapturously at Arabella.
“Okay,” Arabella said calmly. “If you change your mind, let me know.” She turned to the table behind her, where the middle-aged man was still staring at her.
As she turned away, she heard the woman squawk, “What is wrong with you? She’s not even that pretty!”
Arabella’s face flamed.
“What do you mean? She’s lovely,” Ponytail sighed.
“Do you think she’d marry me?” Crew Cut asked.
A chair scraped back as the woman stood. “Enough! I’m going home. We’re through, Jeffrey!” she yelled at Crew Cut. “And you!” she raged at Ponytail. “I’m sorry I thought about leaving Jeffrey for you! You’re not even a good kisser!”
Neither man seemed particularly perturbed by her outburst. They continued to stare dreamily at Arabella. With a huff of outrage, the woman stormed away from the table and out of the Moose.
The man with the beard chuckled. “She was sure jealous of you,” he said. “Not that I blame her.” He smiled suggestively.
“Maybe you want to go after her?” Arabella suggested to Jeffery and Ponytail.
“No,” Jeffrey said, unperturbed.
“I’m happy here,” Ponytail concurred.
This was going to be a long night. Arabella glanced across her section to where Graham was sitting. He smiled at her. Her heart quickened. She forced herself to face the bearded man again. He laughed. “They’re just boys, darlin’. What you need is a man.” He winked at Arabella. “I’m Edmund, by the way.”
Inwardly, Arabella shuddered. He was old enough to be her father.
“What do you recommend, darlin’?” Edmund asked.
“Well, our moose burger is a big seller, but we also have a fresh haddock fish fry. Just caught today,” Arabella recited unenthusiastically.
Edmund caught her hand and stroked his thumb against the back of her hand. “Whatever you think is best, darlin’.”
“Sure thing!” Arabella gave him a fake smile as she yanked her hand back. She hurried back to the kitchen. What was going on tonight? She’d dealt with far pushier, and more lewd customers, but this felt...different. She expected this kind of behavior around last call, after men had had a long night of drinking. But at supper time?