Page 13 of Tangled Sails

He pounded on my back. “I was back last night, but you were off galavanting on your ship again.” He pulled back and squeezed my shoulder with a frown. “How’s Father?”

I opened my mouth but couldn’t find the words. “You’ll have to go see him for yourself.”

His expression turned grim. “Right.” He went to sit in a chair by the fireplace, slouching into it and looking exhausted. “I hear you brought home a stray.”

My muscles tensed and I sucked a breath through my nose. “Don’t call her that. She’s been through enough,” I chastised as I sank into the chair opposite him.

He lifted a brow. “You better not have developed feelings for her.”

I scoffed. “I met her less than twelve hours ago, Dorian. Don’t be daft.”

“Glad to hear it. Now ask me how my diplomatic mission went.”

The corner of my mouth twitched. “Tell me.”

“We will soon have a guest.” His tone tried and failed to sound enthusiastic.

I frowned. “Are the Ravencairn royalty coming for a visit?” It wasn’t good timing, not at all.

“Not all of them. Just one. Princess Saria is coming here, Tav.”

“Congratulations,” I said, confused by his stormy countenance. Dorian and my parents had been hoping to make a marriage alliance with Ravencairn, and it looked like they were close to succeeding.

“Not for me, you idiot. She doesn’t want me. Why would she when the crown prince of Islewyn is as yet unwed?” There was a bitterness to his tone, but I couldn’t focus on it.

“Excuse me?” Surely I’d misheard; he wasn’t really suggesting—

“Brace yourself, Tav.” He pulled a flask from his boot. “You’re about to be betrothed.” He raised it and then took a swig of whatever spirits were in the flask.

I was dumbfounded. “That’s…that’s not funny.”

“It’s really not,” he said as he leaned his elbows on his knees. “The stupid thing is that I actually thought she and I would make a good match.” He tried to look nonchalant about it, but I could tell that he was wounded.

Perhaps stating the obvious would help. “I’m not going to marry her.”

“Of course you are.” His tone was resigned, almost bored.

“Give me one good reason why.”

He sat forward, his eyes snapping with fire. “I’ll give you three. Princess Saria is delightful. Ravencairn is a powerful ally, and you will be king much sooner than any of us wish.”

My shock turned to pure anger. “You can’t drag a girl home with you and assume I’ll marry her. Are you mad?”

“Believe me, this wasn’t my first choice—it’s hers. But, by all means, if you don’t want to give a beautiful, cultured woman a chance, then go ahead, tell the Princess of Ravencairn to turn her ship around and go home. I’m certain that will end stupendously.” He took another harsh swig from his flask. “You’ll undo all the goodwill I’ve accrued by going on this pathetic, diplomatic mission.”

“I was not the one to invite her here,” I pointed out, my clothes feeling suddenly itchy and the room too warm.

He just shrugged.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “When is she coming?”

“A fortnight.”

It was both more time than I had feared and far less than I needed.

“I will treat her with respect and dignity. However,” I said as I looked up and fixed him with a stern glare, “if you somehow gave her the idea that I would jump at the chance to marry her, that’s your fault, not mine.”

“I don’t know why you’re acting like this is some great imposition,” he grumbled. “I’m basically hand delivering you the perfect queen. Just say thank you, Tav.”