Rule (Roam Series, Book Five) (8 page)

“I should have let my parents come.” Homesickness was already settling in; I swallowed hard.
You can leave whenever you want. It’s a ten minute walk to the door.

“You were right to protect them.” He gestured ahead to the long hall
way.

“Where is my grandfather?”

“He’s returning from a journey. I’m told he wanted to present you with a gift.”

I grinned.

“These are the queen’s private chambers. Come here,” he ushered me into a bedroom, and I turned in a wide circle.

“Holy…,” the palace suite was bigger than the entire upstairs of our beach mansion. The bed dominated the space with a colossal oak canopy, intricately engraved with what appeared to be a hand-carved design. The watercolors on the wall were framed by lines of thick gold. “Those frames don’t go with watercolors. In fact, watercolors don’t
match-…,”

“You’ll have plenty of time to redecorate. Please, sit,” he gestured to an oversized chair by the window. I lowered to the velvet seat immediately, unnerved by his brusque tone. “At the feast this evening, I will announce our wedding. I know that you must be starving, and if you’re at all like your mother, you’ll eat very little in front of a crowd. I’ll have dinner served to you before the feast, here in the room.”

“I’m not like my mom,” I answered quickly. “I once ate lunch in an observation room at the hospital while Dad performed an appendectomy. I have a strong continence.”

“Very well then,” he raised his eyes in amusement. Kneeling before me, he took my hands. “When I announce the wedding tomorrow, that will likely set into motion a rebellion. Gabrielle was no threat to them; they have come to know her. You are the… unknown.”

“Well, I’ll just bat my lashes and act all de-
mure
,” I raised my voice in my best attempt to sound like the flaxen-haired beauty, primly crossing my hands over my bare knee. “
Yes
, my lord,
no
my lord-…,”

“Eva.” His stern voice startled me. “Be silent. Are you listening?”

Pressing my back to the chair, I nodded quickly. “Yes.”

“Yes,
my lord,
” he snapped, his tolerance obviously thinning.

“Yes,
my lord
,” I nodded, repeatedly tugging my skirt closer to my knees. It protested and crept back over my thighs. “Man, you’re cranky.”

His eyebrows narrowed, and his thumb and forefinger
slid between my skirt and the bare skin of my leg, tugging
hard
. “
This
garment has to go. I’m sending your maids in to dress you. Mind your manners.”

“Yes, my lord,” I repeated with practiced enunciation. He grinned, shaking his head.

“Teamwork, Eva. I’ll help you, but you have to help me, too.” He stood, starting for the door. At the last moment he turned, his fingers on the knob. “And… do not allow them cut your hair.”

“Why?” I asked, touching the many shades of red hanging in my vision.

“Because I like it… exactly as it is.”

He turned and moved out of the room before my cheeks had time to match my hair.

The team of maids that paraded in behind Will reminded me of clucking hens in a barnyard. In their giant gowns, preposterous up-dos, and strange make-up, they began pulling at my clothes and fitting me into a gown that dragged behind me like a cape. “I’m short. These gowns are all too long.”

“They shall be mended, your highness,” one maid responded. Taken aback, I turned to her quickly.

“Highness?”

“Our princess has returned.” The eldest maid, whom I’d already dubbed in my mind as ‘mother-hen,’ turned to me with a knowing smile. “Your mother’s rule, though brief, salvaged our kingdom from the deep freeze and the cruel reign of Troy.”

“We welcome you as our princess,” another maid, much younger with plump cheeks and freckles, curtsied before me. “You’ll find his majesty to be a fair and generous king. As his ward, you’ll be favored at court, and make a splendid match.”

“Match?” I cringed as a dark-haired girl came at me with lipstick. “No way- too pink. Have you seen my hair?”

“Marriage,” Mother-Hen replied, shooing the make-up girl away and poking at my curls with a long comb. “His majesty has already met with many suitors interested in your hand.”

Not happening.
“Oh, really.”

“He’s all but settled on Oden, of Brenwich.”

“What-sandwich?” Their accented speech was strangely affected; not British, not Scottish
… not identifiable, really.
I wondered about Will’s easy tone, and at how similar his dialect was to mine.

“Oden of Brenwich. Very handsome.” The freckle-girl grinned, and Mother-Hen gave her an admonishing look.

“No gossip,” she snapped, and I winced as she tried again to gather my heavy mass of curls onto my head.

“Will likes my hair like it is,” I protested.

The group fell silent. I lifted my eyes as Will entered the room. He acknowledged the group of women with a polite nod before quietly dismissing them.

Standing quickly, I shook at my hair, pulling the pins half-hanging from Mother Hen’s assault. “Hey. Do I look more ‘queenly’ now?” I did a half-spin in either direction, letting the emerald gown twist into bunches of material at my feet. “I know it’s too long, but I’ll hold it up… what?”

He gazed at me, carefully keeping the distance between us. He’d changed as well, wearing green pants that matched my gown and another billowy, white shirt. The jade-and-silver overcoat only accentuated his already-broad shoulders.

“I’ve called off the engagement with Gabrielle,” his voice nearly shook with practiced control, and I lost my smile, clenching my fists at my sides.

“She didn’t take it well,” I said softly, reading his expression.

“As planned, we’ll announce our betrothal and wedding this evening. I have several matters to discuss with you, both before and… after the ceremony.”

His curt voice was disheartening. “Are you mad at me?”

He crossed the room, and I lifted my face to his. Silent for an endless minute, he bent, placing each of his flattened hands on my hips. My breath hitched in my throat as he ran his hands down both of my legs, crouching and leaning back on his heels to adjust the tangled mess of fabric at my feet.

“I’m not angry with
you
, Eva,” he spoke to the floor, finally evening out the yards of silk. On his way back to his feet, he caught my face in his hands, locking his eyes with mine. “
Beautiful
. You belong in fine gowns and jewels.”

He’s going to kiss me.
I closed my eyes, trying to steady my rapid-fire heartbeat.

Do I want him to kiss me? I barely know him
…

B
ut I’ve dreamt of him all of my life.

Pleasing warmth began in my head and swept into my stomach. He commanded the air between us.

When I felt his lips brush my forehead, my lids fluttered open in annoyance.

“I’ll see to it that your gown is hemmed before you take the stairs.”

As he turned for the door, I scrubbed at the touch of his lips on my forehead with my fingertips and stalked back to the vanity with a scowl.

Five minutes into the feast, I wanted to run.

Homesickness settled in, and the bizarre drama of the strange land and people around me suddenly became very real. I began preparing to tell Will that I was going home.

Tell him before he announces the wedding… before you cause him any more heartache.
Gabrielle was nowhere in sight, and Will sat confidently next to me, smiling cordially at his people. After dinner was served, I stared at my plate, wondering how an open appendectomy was less unsettling than missing my mother.

“You haven’t eaten since this morning.” He gestured to my plate, I nodded, picking up a heavy, golden fork.

“Mmm. Everything looks so delicious.”

“Eva.”

“I miss my family.”

Without moving his eyes from the tables of elegantly dressed men and women, he smiled, lifting the goblet of wine to his lips.

“And you will see them in one week. I’ve already prepared a visit for us next weekend.”

“That’s really nice of you… but I mean, I want to call this all off. Go home.”

His fingers slid over mine, on the tabletop. “You have two homes now, Eva. As long as the trips are brief, you are free to go between worlds at any time- with my escort, and that is only for your safety. You are
not
a prisoner here. You are here by choice,” he added.

“I need some water,” I cleared my throat, trying to think through his comforting words.
Two homes… I can go if I choose- as long as I return.

He held his hand up, and a servant appeared instantly. “Water, please,” he
nodded to me, and the man bowed once. Will motioned to the goblet by my plate. “That is white wine… there is no drinking age in this land.”

I thought of
my fake ID and the countless times Emma and I had gotten wasted in the club, biting my lip to hide my amused grin.

“
So… children can drink whenever they want?” My mind flashed to my elementary school lunch room, imagining my peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, an apple, and a portable box of red Chablis.

“Eva, as you have pointed out several times…
you are not a child.
”

I turned to him, and he gestured to the goblet, nodding. Giving him a liberated look, I rolled my shoulders back and reached for the glass. Amused, he watched as I tilted the goblet back, downing the wine in one long gulp.

“Mmmm. Yummy.” I licked at my lips, and he shook his head, attempting to hide his smirk.

“You’ll find yourself in a sorry state in the morning if you do that again.”

The wine tinted my cheeks and renewed my confidence- slightly. “What happens after dinner?”

He nodded at Eric as the soldier appeared at his side, speaking quietly. After a pause, he turned his attention back to me. “After dinner, I
will show you the castle. If you’re able to walk on your own two feet, that is,” he added, pointing to my plate. “Eat.”

“Yes, my lord,” I agreed, my stomach responding eagerly to the smell of the lamb. “Did you hear that? Sounded almost natural,” I teased, slicing at the tender meat.

“Almost,” Will agreed, watching me intently. A servant appeared with more wine, filling my goblet.

We ate, and I downed
a third glass of wine but nursed the fourth more responsibly throughout my meal. Live music began near the back of the great hall, and I smiled, recognizing the classical piece. He held his finger up at the servant trying to refill my glass, shaking his head.

“You have music
here, from my world?”

“This is Ludwig van Beethoven.
Ode to Joy.
”

“I
know.”

He leaned toward me, and I widened my eyes.
“What is your favorite music, Eva?”

I exhaled sharply.
“Well… I like a lot of music. My dad gave me a deep appreciation for the nineties, but I love many different genres… it depends on my mood, and what I’m doing
to
the music.”

“Doing ‘t
o’ the music?” He repeated, lifting one eyebrow as he placed his glass down on the table.

“Yeah, you know… whether I’m drawing, or dancing… or making out.”

He eyed me firmly. “You are quite an artist.”

Irritated that he ignored my attempt to get a rise out of him, I shrugged. “It’s how I… escape.”

“I’m going to make the announcement now. You’ll stand beside me and smile, no matter the reaction of the crowd. Do you understand, Eva?”

Caught off-guard, I nodded, my heartbeat doubling.

“My people,” Will stood, and I climbed to my feet next to him, allowing him to take my left hand in his right. The music came to an end, and tables of heads turned our way. “I would like to publically welcome Princess Eva to our kingdom. Her return has been long awaited.”

“
Here, here!
” Shouted one man, and to my surprise, the men and women cheered, clapping and calling out their welcome.

Glowing, I felt the stain of embarrassment creep over my skin. The rush of blood to my chest and neck overheated me, even in the air conditioned hall. 

Too much wine.

“Warmly, I welcome the princess back to Icepond. Tomorrow eve, at sundown, I will marry Eva, and she shall be your queen.”

The crowd erupted into a fevered roar, and my eyes darted nervously from table to table. Some women smiled, others frowned and looked down at the floor, and many men exchanged frenzied words with neighbors. Indignant, and fueled by too much alcohol, I cleared my throat.

“I don’t think they like this,” I turned to Will, gripping his hand. “Let me say something, please?”