Chapter 6

Sebastian lay flat on his back and vacantly stared upward. His inner turmoil kept him from fully appreciating the moment, even though his beautiful bride had draped herself across his body, breathing peacefully.

He glanced over to the floor, where the red coverlet lay crumpled in a ball, and his stomach roiled. Whenever he lied to Olivia, it bothered him more.

“We should dress for supper.” The soft sweetness in her voice did not help. “It would be wrong to keep your parents waiting.” Her fingers brushed across his chest and tickled his bare skin.

“True. But . . .” The only way to ease his distress would be to tell her everything, yet he had no idea how to go about it.

She rose up onto one elbow and looked in his eyes. “Something still troubles you. I can hear it in your voice.”

He slid his fingers through her silky hair. “You know how much I love you, do you not?”

“Yes.” She intently studied his face, as if reading into his soul. “And because you love me, you must tell me what you have been keeping from me. I have sensed it for a while, but cast it off as unreasonable. After all, there is no need for you to hide anything from me.”

Her words stabbed into his pounding heart. “I have been silent on this issue, wishing only to protect you. Your happiness means more to me than the air I breathe.”

The crease in her brow deepened. “As I feared. There is something.” She sat fully upright and clasped a sheet to herself. “I love you, Sebastian, and I believe you love me. But we cannot have secrets. If we are to one day rule together, we must share everything. I cannot be left in the dark.”

He, too, sat up and faced her, then took hold of her hand. “If I had told you everything prior to our time at the ocean, you would not have been at ease and happy, but fearful. I did not want to ruin the fulfillment of one of your heart’s deepest desires.”

All expression vanished from her face. “Donovan lives.” She spoke in a matter of fact tone, not one that questioned.

Sebastian found himself speechless.

She tightened her hold on his hand. “Am I not right? That is what you have kept from me?”

Sebastian shut his eyes, then slowly opened them again. “I do not know.”

“What—?”

“Olivia. There is no proof of his life or his death. His body was not recovered, but I have suspicions he may have gone into hiding.”

She released him and pulled the sheet closer to her body. “What makes you suspicious?”

“His cloak . . .” Nothing had ever been harder to say.

“What of it?” Her features hardened. “You showed it to me. It was without a doubt his.”

“Yes, but it was not simply dangling from the bridge, as if ripped from his body as he fell. It had been intricately tied there. He had to have removed it and taken great care in making certain we would find it.”

“So, you believe he managed to cross into the forest?”

“Yes.”

“And that is why you had both Jonah and Severin protecting us at the ocean. You do not fear Frederick, you fear Donovan.”

“Frederick is still a concern that—”

“Stop!” She held up a hand. “Do not patronize me. I am not a child who needs to be coddled. You lied. Time and again I asked if you thought Donovan could have survived, and you assured me he was dead.” She stood from the bed and started to dress. “You even brought Jonah into your falsehood. Did you not?”

Her accusations struck a heavy blow. He jumped from the bed and went to her, needing to remain close. “Yes, I did. But I wanted to protect you, and I could not bear for you to fear someone who may or may not be an issue.” He drew her into his arms, and though she tried to break away, he held her firm. “I have been sick inside holding onto this knowledge. It was wrong of me, and it shan’t happen again. I swear it.”

Her stiffened body relaxed in his hold. “I want to believe you.” She took a long breath and looked up at him. “Now I understand why you reacted so harshly to the red coverlet. More so than I. My nightmare—”

“Yes.” He brushed his lips over her forehead. “More than once, you have proven you have the sight. Somehow, I must find Donovan and prevent him from fulfilling your vision.” He peered deeply into her misty eyes. “I cannot lose you.”

“Nor I, you.” She circled him with her arms and nestled against him.

“Do you forgive me?”

She intensified her hold. “Yes. As much as it pains me, I understand your reasoning.” Once again, her head lifted. “But you had best keep your vow. Never withhold anything from me again.”

“I assure you. What I know, so shall you. And please, bear no hard feelings toward Jonah. He did as I requested. In all honesty, he scolded me for withholding my suspicions.”

“Good. Knowing this, I like him even more. Do not forget you promised him knighthood.”

“How can I forget, when he frequently reminds me?” He grinned, then peered toward the window. “The sun has started to set. Supper will be cold if we do not hurry. As will my mother’s attitude.”

Finally, Olivia smiled again. “She was once newly married. I am confident she will understand.” Her expression softened. “Is your father aware of your concerns in regard to Donovan?”

“Yes. He has his men closely watching Roderick. We hope he might lead us to him.”

“I want to help. I can question him—”

“No. He cannot be made aware of our suspicions. We want him to think we have accepted Donovan’s death. But, there are other ways you can help.”

“How?” Her beautiful brown eyes slowly blinked.

“Keep your ears attuned to anything out of the ordinary and allow Delana to show you every secret passageway in our kingdom. Memorize them. If you are ever in danger, flee to the protection of our deepest chambers.” He gazed intently into her face. “Protect yourself at all cost.”

“And what of you? Would you join me there, if something so horrible warranted me to flee?”

He drew her close. “I would do all I could to come to you, but if it came to a fight threatening my people, I would first do battle. Knowing you were safely hidden would ease my mind and enable me to focus on the most crucial tasks.” He huffed a breath. “We are ahead of ourselves. It is unwise to fear what may happen. Fear squelches joy.”

“True.” She pressed her palms to his chest and backed out of his embrace. “I wish to be joyful, yet I do not want to be caught off guard. Sensibility is wise. We must prepare for the worst and pray for the best.”

“Your sensibility is one of the many reasons I fell in love with you.” He grabbed onto her and gave her a kiss to remember.

When their lips parted, she gasped. “If we do not dress now, we will never eat.”

He chuckled and once again released her. She had only managed to put on several undergarments, and he remained completely unclothed. “Very well. We shall dress for supper and make Mother happy. Afterward, go with Delana. I shall ask Allana to accompany you as well. You are like-minded, and I believe you and she will become close. Besides, it would please Jonah to see her with you. While you explore, you could easily mention a few kind things about him and discover if she reciprocates his feelings. It would certainly make my life less complicated, if I can appease him.”

She grinned. “You want me to probe her, then report back to you?”

He shrugged. “I suppose I do. Since we are no longer keeping secrets, is it wrong of me to ask?”

“Hmm . . .” Olivia slipped a dress over her head and wiggled into it. “If Allana speaks in confidence, then it would be improper for me to repeat what I hear. However, if we are merely conversing, I see no wrong in it.”

“Good.” He could not keep his eyes off her. Every move she made sparked desire.

She eyed him from head to toe. “Sebastian. I love seeing you this way.” Her grin broadened. “But you cannot dine as you are now.” She gestured to his clothes, which lay crumpled on the floor alongside the coverlet.

He laughed and dressed.

Finally, his heart eased. Though it had been painful, it had been right to tell her the truth. He would never again keep something from her and prayed she would do the same.

Olivia should be angry with Sebastian, but felt quite the opposite.

Once he told her the truth about Donovan, she witnessed a wonderful change in her husband. The darkness that had rested deep within his eyes disappeared. It had resided there since the night Donovan had supposedly fallen from the bridge. She had made herself believe Sebastian had simply been concerned for her and all the changes she was experiencing, but deep down, she had always known it to be much more.

The sparkle she had seen the first time they stood face to face had returned.

She sat by Sebastian’s side at an enormous table in the great hall. Unlike Padrida, only the royal family dined together. Olivia missed the loud clanking of cups and endless chatter, but being with her new family offered other pleasantries.

They talked nonstop between bites of food. Olivia answered endless questions about the ocean and all of the things she had seen that she had not previously beheld. They appeared to be in awe by her lack of knowledge in regard to the many day-to-day things they took for granted.

“Yes,” Olivia said. “Until Sebastian freed me from Padrida, I had never seen a carriage. I had not even heard mention of the word. But I have learned to appreciate its use.” She glanced at the king, who simply grinned.

All five of Sebastian’s sisters sat tall and regal. Even little Catrice, who seemed to be having difficulty keeping her elbows off the tabletop.

Two servants fluttered around the room, filling cups and passing food. Women who kept their eyes looking downward, as if they feared those they served. Since Olivia did not perceive Sebastian’s family as being cruel, their behavior made little sense.

The queen cut the morsels on her plate into even tinier bites, then daintily nibbled. “Truthfully . . .” She took a sip of wine and looked directly at Sebastian. “I am glad you returned earlier than we expected. Now I can enlist Olivia to help me with the plans for your wedding ceremony. I fear if we wait too long, tongues will wag and the kings of the other realms will become uneasy.” She cut her eyes in Olivia’s direction.

Olivia smiled at her. “I shall be glad to help. I want everyone in the kingdoms to know of our love.” She squeezed Sebastian’s hand.

“Mother?” Estelle sat even taller and jutted her chin. “What of my plans? Because you insisted Sebastian be the first to wed, Eural and I have waited a very long while to marry. Must we continue to wait until after their ceremony? After all, Sebastian and Olivia are legally bound. The ceremony you are planning is a mere formality.”

“One that is necessary.” The queen took a similar posture. “Until the kings of the realms voice their approval, I shall not rest easy. I do not want an heir conceived from this union that could be disavowed. You must wait a little longer, Estelle, so I can put my focus on your brother’s rites. I cannot spread myself thin by planning multiple affairs.”

Estelle’s shoulders slumped, as did those of Becca, who poked at her food, seemingly just as unhappy as her older sister.

Allana cleared her throat, then dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. “I do not understand why either of you wish to rush your vows. Once you marry, you will have to leave Basilia. I shall miss having you here. It will not be the same.”

Both older girls looked at her with pity.

Becca stretched her hand across the table to Allana. “You will understand when you come of age. A woman’s place is beside her husband. Is that not right, Mother?”

“Yes.” The queen moistened her lips. “Even so, you and Estelle will have to wait to hold that position. Your future husbands must endure standing alone for a short while longer.”

Catrice giggled. “Mine will have to wait, too.”

The king let out an enormous laugh. “Thank you, my dear, for adding some light to this dismal conversation. Enough talk of weddings.” He waved one of the servants close. “Bring more wine.”

The woman bowed low. “Yes, Your Majesty.” She scurried from the room, and in almost no time at all, returned with a full flask.

The queen cocked her head. “Weddings are not dismal, Roland. It is the planning that makes me weary.”

He took her hand and kissed it. “The very reason I want to dismiss the conversation. Think nothing more of it tonight. We are here to celebrate the return of our son and his lovely bride.” He winked at Olivia, then lifted his glass for the servant to fill. “Let us drink to the good health of all here. May we live in peace forevermore.”

Sebastian raised his goblet high. “Peace forevermore.”

Olivia did the same, and soon every glass was raised. Even those of the young girls whose goblets were filled with water, not wine.

Olivia would continue to pray that peace would remain forever, but her heart told her otherwise.