From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [106]
“Should you decide to choose your own bride, you still have Carm Duchy’s full support in your campaign.”
“I see.” Achan sat very still, though inside he danced.
“Forgive me for deceiving you, Your Highness. All Er’Rets believed Lady Averella to be Duke Amal’s daughter. It was not my place to speak until Nitsa chose to.” Sir Eagan blew out a long breath. “Now you know why I said I would not change my past. Nitsa and I suffered great consequences for our choices. Yet a lovely young woman breathes because of it. Only Arman can reverse such sorrow. My one regret now is how Lady Averella’s anger may affect you.”
“Oh.” Achan tried to sound sorry to be set free. “Don’t burden yourself, Sir Eagan. And please inform Duchess Amal that I am not angry, or saddened, even. I never met Lady Averella, so I feel no great loss toward her.”
Sir Eagan lowered his gaze to the table. “You are very kind, Your Highness.”
“What will Sir Caleb say about all this? Will he insist I marry Lady Gypsum?”
“I have already spoken to him and the others.”
Achan could read nothing from Sir Eagan’s impassive expression. “Please, Sir Eagan, what did they say?”
Sir Eagan chuckled. “The point of your betrothal to Lady Averella was to secure an army. You have that army. We think it wise that you continue to wear Lady Averella’s sleeve until the throne is won. But we leave the choice of your bride up to you. No matter her station. You need only message Duchess Amal to officially break the betrothal. After that, you are free. We only ask that you wait until after the war to take your bride. Is that acceptable to you, Your Highness?”
Achan wanted to laugh. “Indeed. Very acceptable.”
Sir Eagan smiled, his round cheeks balled up. “I suspected as much.”
When Achan exited the meeting tent, the waves surging inside his gut threatened to knock him down. Sir Eagan must have been manipulating his emotions to keep him calm. Achan hadn’t even realized the situation had upset him until now.
He was free. Truly free.
So why should he care about Lady Averella? A sting to his ego, perhaps? To be rejected… again. Aw, who cared? He needed to tell Sparrow! He almost barged right in to her mind to tell her the news until he remembered their last conversation. Best wait a bit.
Movement behind him caused him to turn. Cortland and Achan’s dark-skinned cousin followed close behind. Achan searched his memory but forgot his cousin’s name. Shung must be off duty. Perhaps Lady Gali was as well?
Achan nodded to the men and started for his tent, stopping to return greetings to a few dozen soldiers along the way. The sun had nearly set. Seagulls circled overhead, dipping down to swipe food, no doubt. Achan was surprised Matthias hadn’t brought his dinner to the meeting.
He found the boy waiting inside Achan’s tent. “Are you hungry, sir?”
“Very.” Achan unlaced his doublet while Matthias laid out his meal at the table.
Achan shrugged out of his doublet and tossed it on the bed. He untucked the waist of his tunic and shook it out, letting a cool draft of night air up his shirt. Much better.
While Matthias filled a plate, Achan sat on the edge of his bed to remove his boots. But when he leaned over, his necklace swung into his view, which brought Sparrow to mind again. Though he knew better, he sent her a knock.
Yes, Your Highness? Her cold tone did not bode well.
He suddenly felt like a fool, but pressed on, giddy with his newfound freedom. I thought you should know I’m no longer betrothed to Lady Averella.
Is that so? Her voice somehow grew colder.
Achan sent his next words with a bit of sarcasm, the way he and Sparrow used to joke. Turns out she’s not actually Duke Amal’s daughter. What do you think of that?
Shocking.
It is, isn’t it? When no answer came, he said, What’s wrong, Sparrow?
Why are you telling me this?
I thought that… well… I just thought—
That it would change things between us? Your Highness, to my mind, you are nothing more than a man I met in the Veil. I tried to make it clear that—
I only wanted to say that now we can—
—I cannot