Page 25 of Anice’s Bargain

“Daughter, your marriage will be punishment enough, though you’ve done nothing wrong. In fact, you’ve done a very brave thing, and you did it for our vassals and those you love. Your decision is commendable.”

“And now I am to guard him?” She hoped she was able to keep the petulant frustration out of her tone.

He put his hand to her cheek, the way he had done when she was a small girl. But now the warm power of his palm had gone cool and dry. “My sweet, lovely Anice, I want him to have time to get to know you. For surely once he does, he will fall in love with you and will have no choice but to treat you well.”

Anice lifted her brows. “I do not think the Grahams capable of such a thing as love.”

“Everyone is. Including the Grahams.” He released his hold on her. “And if ever there was one to lighten a dark heart, it is you, my beautiful daughter.”

Anice pressed her lips together to still her argument. Her father did not understand James and his inability to be swayed by a woman’s comeliness. Now she would be spending the final few weeks of her independence leashed to James’s side. Her eyes stung with tears of indignation.

“Go on, then, Daughter, light your candle for your mother.” Her father stroked a hand over Anice’s hair. “And then find your betrothed.”

She studied her feet. A small stain showed on the toe of her right slipper, a splotch of black on the otherwise smooth leather. “How did you know the candle was for Mother?”

Her father lifted Anice’s hand and gently touched the small ruby ring she wore, a gift from her mother. Before the Grahams had attacked and their world had fallen into chaos.

“I assumed as much.” There was a sad wistfulness to her father’s tone. “For my candle is always for her as well.”

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, released her hand and was gone. Anice stared down at the candle her father had lit and fought back tears. How she wished her mother was alive to offer guidance, or at least that Marin might be here with her sage advice.

As it was, Anice had nothing but this foolish plan of her father’s and a significant amount of dread.