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But Cali would hate me all over again. She wouldn’t hurt me like Vi had—she was far too gentlehearted to stoop so low—but I didn’t think I could bear to be even mildly disliked by her. It was obsessive, the way I wanted her validation.

Perhaps Vi had been right. Something must be wrong with me, to think that way about a girl I barely knew.

“Hello, Ivy.” Cali reached up, but my mare was so tall she only managed to touch the end of her nose. “Remember me?”

Anise reached up to do the same, but Ivy lashed out, nearly biting her hand. The woman shrieked, stumbling back, and Cali turned to me as she pressed her hand to her mouth, holding in a laugh. I didn’t blame her for finding joy in her cousin’s pain—it was a small exchange for having to put up with her.

“Good girl,” I said to Ivy, grinning as I realized Cali had just said the same.

She laughed, and my ears suddenly felt hot. I couldn’t remember the last time a girl had that effect on me.

I cleared my throat, heading to the back of the carriage instead of acknowledging such a reaction. I held the door open to allow them in, then locked us inside. Anise set herself apart, taking the bench opposite Cali and me.

I turned to the small slit in the wall of the carriage and said, “Ivy. Work.”

My horse took off.

Anise held on to the seat cushion, as if this ride was different than any other. “Merciful God, we have just put all our faith in the navigational skills of a horse.”

“I think it’s romantic,” said Cali sweetly.

“You think the most nonsensical things are romantic. Horses without reins and falling in love with servants.”

Cali glanced at me as if I would judge her. “It’s not as if accepting a proposal from the first noble who asks makes more sense.”

“Financial security? A nice home? A good place in society? Yes, cousin, I would say so.”

“Well, I have all that. I’m married to the king, after all.”

“Then why are you concerned with what’s romantic and what isn’t?” her cousin snapped, red-faced.

My God. There was an hour and twenty-five minutes left of this ride.

I put in my earplugs, letting them go on like that until it looked as if it was organically ending.

Cali grabbed my shoulder, and when I looked at her, she said, “Did you hear me, Beric?”

“No, my lady,” I said, forcing a sigh from my voice.

She smirked. “Have we troubled you with our bickering?”

“I’ve heard worse.”

“Well, we’ll try a little harder next time.”

I looked at her, as if her expression would help decipher her meaning. And by the time I’d put together that she was teasing me, she was already laughing.

“You’re so childish,” Anise muttered, but was blessedly silent after that.

I removed my earplugs. “What were you saying to me, my lady?” I asked, if only to push back an impending blush.

“Nothing, nothing,” Cali said quickly, turning forward again and folding her hands in her lap. I could tell she was holding back a smile, but I didn’t want the conversation to turn into another long argument.

“How long are we going to be stuck in here?” Anise demanded.

“Over an hour,” I said, and she was lucky I gave her that much information. When she made a sound of dismay, I added, “You’re welcome to walk.”

Cali laughed, and I paused my breath to take it in.