But I’ve had time to cool down, and Lady Carristan helped me see . . . how you might have interpreted the circumstances the way you did.” Her eyes darted upward right and left, a repeat of the furtive gesture he’d seen before.
He said, “And Carristan told me you’re being watched closely.”
She shrugged. “It was naughty of me to run away and hide, and to consort with undesirable individuals.”
“So you’ll forgive me for being an idiot?”
Shaking her head, still smiling, she said, “You men are always such fools. Of course I forgive you.”
“I didn’t ask your forgiveness for being a fool, rather for being an idiot, which I’ll try not to do again. But I fully intend to continue making a fool of myself over a beautiful woman.”
The smile disappeared. “Not over me. I’m betrothed.”
“So you’ll marry Dieter?”
“I must,” she said. “Nadama is too powerful, and my father says he needs continuing support from de Satarna.” She turned again to look out the window.
Charlie thought of the scenario Arthur had outlined for him some time ago: Dieter marries Delilah, Lucius dies in the not-too-distant future, and heirless Martino has an accident. It was all too plausible, and all too easy.
But Charlie could change that, and he’d thought carefully about his next move. He had the legal authority to determine Delilah’s choice of a husband, a right purchased properly long ago. All he need do was bring it to the attention of the rest of the Ten, and the betrothal of Delilah and Dieter would instantly be null and void. There would certainly be some sort of recriminations, for he’d seriously anger Nadama and Goutain, either of which could squash him if it came to that. And his motives would also be questioned, but now—as a member of the Ten—he was less concerned about that. What mattered was what Del wanted.
“What if there was a way,” he asked, choosing his words carefully, “a way that you wouldn’t have to marry Dieter if you didn’t want to? What if there was a proper and legal means to force Nadama and your father, without question, to nullify the betrothal? Do you want to marry Dieter?”
As she stood looking out the window he could see the back of her neck, her shoulders, her face turned ever so slightly so that he had a glancing view of one cheek, and a single tear that rolled down to her chin. She wiped it away with a finger.
“I’m not merely asking an academic question,” he persisted. “What would you want done?”
Her shoulders rose as she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She spoke carefully. “I came to realize long ago that I was nothing more than property of the crown, and that I’d be married off in a way that was good for the crown. Forgive me for being crude, but I’m valued only for my womb and whatever alliance it might attract. And I’ve come to accept that, though I don’t necessarily like it. But there was always the schoolgirl’s hope that I might get lucky, find someone who’d satisfy the needs of both love and state. Or failing that, someone who satisfied the needs of state now, and who might grow in time to satisfy the needs of love. Alas, that’s not come to pass. But to marry Dieter, that is my fate and I accept it willingly, though not gladly.”
She turned back to face him, and he wanted to hold her, somehow make it all better. “If such a way truly existed, I think it best if it never came to light. What I want is of no import here. What I must do is fulfill my duty as a member of the royal family. I’ve been trained for that all my life.”
It was Charlie’s turn to hesitate. He could make his own decision, ignore her and try to convince himself that he knew what was best for her. But somehow he knew she would never forgive him for such an act.
He bowed deeply. “As you wish, Your Highness.” He straightened, turned, and left the room.
“What was the whoreson doing here?”
Delilah jumped at the sound of Dieter’s shout. She’d been staring out at the garden, wondering if she’d made the right decision, changing her mind back and forth, but in the end, she knew she must do her duty.
She turned to face Dieter and said coldly, “He’s a friend. And he came to wish me joy of our union.”