Page 62

“I’ve no argument with you, Master Aldwine,” I say, mostly sincere.

His lips flatten. “Again, I cannot say the same.”

“Kipp.”

Her scolding tone amuses me. Aedre addresses the future king like she might a wayward child.

“You should not have brought him here,” Kipp sneers. “If you needed escort, I could have provided it.”

Aedre rolls her eyes. “By the time my father shared the invitation and his intent to stay home, there was little time to send for you.”

“And yet you sent for him?”

If Aldwine were any other man in the world, I’d have a retort for that. Would likely already have challenged him.

But this is Galfrid’s son.

“He is staying in the village. Besides, I’ve told you already, I trust him. So enough of this silliness. Please be kind.”

I assume he will do no such thing, but at her words, Aldwine frowns, turns to me, and lifts the goblet in his hand.

“Good eve, then. We shall speak on the morrow. For Aedre.”

Not quite a civil tone, but not combative either.

“No need to part ways so soon, Kipp,” she says with a smile. “We will sit with you this eve.”

His scowl is quick to return. “The hell you will.”

I watch the exchange closely for any hint of flirting. There is none. They do speak to each other as a sister and brother might . . . and Kipp does not look at her the way a potential suitor would.

The way I myself probably do.

“We shall see,” Aedre murmurs as Kipp wanders off.

I should be worried about Aldwine’s impression of me, which is obviously bad, but my mind is fixed on Aedre. I need her to understand something.

“I did not cultivate a relationship with you because of your access to him.”

As we talk, I move us toward the edge of the hall.

“You know that, Aedre, do you not?”

Her intelligent eyes look deep into my own.

“Is that what we have been doing these past days? Cultivating?”

She is as blunt as usual, so I honor her by speaking the same way.

“I don’t know. ’Tis the most honest answer I can give you. I should have stayed away, but could not.”

“You will be leaving soon.”

A fact we both have known from the start.

“Aye. Which is why I should have stayed away.” I lower my voice. “I’d not trifle with you, Aedre.”

“I know. Let us enjoy this night. Tomorrow, you will meet with Kipp and then . . .”

And then, I will leave Murwood End. A heaviness in my chest reminds me of how little time we have remaining.

“I will not leave on the morrow,” I assure her.

“But perhaps the day afterward?”

“Likely, aye.”

She looks toward the center of the hall, where guests are beginning to sit at trestle tables lined up one after the other.

“’Tis enough.”

I have no time to contemplate her words, to understand their meeting. A discussion at the entrance draws our attention. I see the Elderman and react immediately.