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‘You should definitely listen to him. Before you make a very large mistake.’
‘My offer is genuine, Anastasia, no matter what you think. I want to marry you.’
‘For convenience.’
‘It would be convenient, yes. Byzenmaach has been without a female role model for a very long time. I dare say they’d welcome one.’
‘Yes, and they’ve been promised one—a proper one. Moriana, isn’t it?’
He ignored her question completely. ‘You could become that role model if you put your mind to it. Think of it as a new career.’
‘No, thank you. I already have a career.’ Was he trying to sell her on the role? Because she wasn’t buying. ‘I don’t envy you your status. You can keep your royal trappings.’
‘And that’s why you’d make a good queen. It’s not all bad, Anastasia. Being able to wield influence on a grand scale can be rewarding. You can showcase the causes you’re passionate about. Shine a light on situations that need improving. There can be downtime too. Like this morning, for example. Nothing to do. Are you hungry? I’m hungry.’
And lunch was being served. The table had been set when she wasn’t looking. The platter of breads, meats, cheeses, pastries and fruit would mean no one left the table hungry. The linen napkins were green with white daisies on them and the flower arrangement was informally whimsical. Her mother would have set a similar table for a casual Sunday get-together, although there’d probably be more salad involved.
He looked towards the table and somehow read her thoughts.
‘It’s not all formality and perfect table manners,’ he offered.
‘Who’s joining us?’ The table was set for three.
‘Our daughter, is she not? Don’t you usually dine with her?’
Her fault entirely that she’d interpreted his invitation to mean her alone and not Sophia as well. Sophia was the only reason Ana was here in his presence at all.
There was wariness in Sophia’s eyes as Ana approached. So far this morning, she had been having a wonderful time what with no schoolwork to do, animals to tend and Lor dancing attendance on her.
‘Lunchtime,’ Ana said when she reached them, and Lor looked up and nodded and Sophia looked towards the balcony and frowned.
‘With him?’
‘Yes. With him.’ Was Cas still a prince until his coronation? When did he take the title of king? There was so much about his world that she didn’t know.
Sophia took her outstretched hand. ‘I don’t think he likes me.’
‘Why wouldn’t he?’
Sophia’s hand tightened in hers. ‘What if I don’t like him?’
‘That would be a problem.’
‘You don’t like him.’
‘Not true. I like him well enough at times. Shall we wash our hands at the tap?’
They washed, and then Lor was there with a tea towel in hand so that they didn’t wipe their hands on their clothes. They reached Cas eventually and he saw them seated and took the chair opposite both of them. Sophia studied him solemnly. ‘Maman says your father is dead.’
Casimir nodded. ‘He is.’
‘Dead, dead or dead like you?’
‘Dead, dead.’
‘Maman says I look like your sister,’ Sophia said next.
‘You do.’
‘Where is she?’
‘Dead.’
‘Dead, dead or dead like you?’
‘Dead, dead.’ He turned towards Ana, a little wild-eyed around the edges. Conversations with morbid six-year-olds could do that to a man. ‘And how are your parents?’
‘They’re very well. We spoke to them yesterday.’ He probably didn’t want a rundown on the sense of betrayal her parents had felt at not being trusted with her secret for the past seven years. For all their support, they’d never seen her silence as anything but her lack of trust in them.
‘Am I going to be a princess?’ Sophia said.
‘Do you want to be a princess?’ Cas glanced up from the act of filling his plate.
‘Would I have to stay locked in the tallest tower of the castle and be guarded by a fire-breathing dragon?’
The plate-filling stopped abruptly. ‘No. You wouldn’t have to do that.’
