Felix folded his arms across his chest. “As prince consort, I’m telling you to take the day off. It isn’t a suggestion.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Are you actually trying to use your royal position to tell me what to do?”
Felix grinned. “I’ve never done it before. I wanted to try it, just once.”
Vasily felt a smile forming in spite of himself before he remembered that he was blaming Felix for this whole mess. “I’m not actually your subject. You do know that?”
Felix’s expression softened. “I heard it didn’t go well with Mother, and I thought you might need a break, that’s all. And I won’t lie, I miss my horses. So do us both a favour and take the day?”
Blackbird snorted as if in agreement, and Felix pressed a kiss to the side of her nose. The easy affection between horse and rider was obvious, and Vasily relented. It wasn’t like Mother was here to talk to anyway.
“Fine. I’m going.”
“Good man,” Felix said. “And Vasily? I wouldn’t worry. Mother looks at you like you hung the moon. He’ll come around.”
“Your father said the same thing.”
“Well, then you should trust us both.” Felix picked up a water bucket and made a shooing motion with the other hand. “Now get out of here and let me enjoy my day.”
Vasily did as he was told.
* * *
The weather was warm with occasional tendrils of a cool breeze, and while Vasily was tempted to hang about his cottage in case Mother came calling, he knew that sitting alone with his thoughts would just make him more anxious with every minute Mother didn’t turn up. No, he decided. He’d make the most of the nice weather and go down to the water. Watching the ocean always soothed him.
He meandered down the path towards the docks, along the narrow, cobbled street and past the fishmongers. He went all the way down to the square and along the narrow track that took him to the water’s edge, and on impulse slipped his boots off, tying the laces in a knot and slinging them around his neck. He rolled the legs of his trousers up to his knees and dipped one tentative toe in the water.
The shock of the cold took his breath away, and he let out a squawk that blended in perfectly with the cries of the seagulls who circled overhead. He pulled his leg up and out of the water—which proved pointless when a small wave lapped at the toes of his other foot.
He hissed in shock but found that when a second, slightly larger wave washed over his foot, the chill wasn’t quite as terrible. He took one careful step forward and then another, until he was calf deep. The cold water was invigorating, and he closed his eyes and let the ocean wash over him as he inhaled the salt air. The coarse sand beneath the soles of his feet shifted whenever he wiggled his toes, and standing there soaking up the sunshine, he felt the tension of the previous day fading, carried away on the sea breeze.
He would have liked to stay in the water longer, but he was uncomfortably aware of the cold seeping into his bones. He opened his eyes and splashed his way to shore before his feet went completely numb. Standing on the beach, he realised that he hadn’t thought this through. His feet were wet, and now he couldn’t put his boots back on until they’d dried.
He stood there for a moment before deciding that it wasn’t really a problem. He walked the length of the beach and up the incline, then along the path that led to the side of the port where the fishing boats unloaded. Habit led him towards the raised section of harbour wall where he and Mother always sat to watch the sunset.
He was hit by a pang of loneliness as he settled himself on the ledge. He missed Mother’s customary “Careful, lad,” and steadying hand, even though he didn’t really need either of them.
He sat, setting his boots down next to him, and swung his legs idly as he took in the view. Sunlight reflected off the surface of the water, the ripples and waves making the light dance in endless patterns. Vasily wasn’t sure how long he sat there, but it was long enough that he entered something like a trance, absorbed in the sights and sounds of the tide rolling in, the birds swooping through the air, and the water lapping at the wall as it crept higher, staining the stones dark and claiming them.
A warm hand settled on his shoulder, and his heart soared at the familiar touch. Even without turning, he knew who it was.
“Thought I might find you here,” Mother said quietly, easing down to sit next to him and wrapping his arm round Vasily’s shoulders, pulling him close. “I’m so sorry, lad.”
A lump lodged in Vasily’s throat. He turned so he could see Mother’s face. “Are you still angry with me?”
“Angry? No, lad. It was a shock, that’s all. I needed time to think.” He bumped his shoulder against Vasily’s.
The affectionate gesture had Vasily’s eyes burning. Mother didn’t hate him after all. “Where did you go last night?” he asked. “I waited for you.”
Mother ducked his head. “I went to the pub. I thought maybe a pint of ale might help me get over the fact I’ve been courting aprince.”
“And did it?”
Mother’s mouth twisted in a wry grin. “Aye. And so did the second and third and fourth. The fifth and sixth were a mistake, though. Ended up so soused that I fell asleep under the table and the barkeep put me to bed in the back room.” He wrinkled his nose. “Probably explains why I smell like a brewery.”
At the thought of Mother’s long frame curled up under one of the tables at the pub, Vasily was torn between laughter and relief. “How did you know to find me here?”
“When I woke up, I went to the castle to find you, but Felix said he’d given you the day off. I hoped you’d be here since, well. It’s our place, isn’t it?”
