Thea's Tale (Sisters Of The Curse Book 1) (5 page)

“Then we will have to talk to him together sooner rather than later.”

She ignored that. “Casimir, what happened to make me fall?”

“I am not sure. I think you tripped.” His face showed confusion. “Why? Do you not remember?”

“I don’t. The last thing I remember was how frightened I felt at being discovered, and walking towards the old woman, and then I found myself on my hands and knees.”

“You just tripped. Poor darling. She really scared you, didn’t she?” His eyes had softened.

Tears filled her. “Yes. She did. Casimir, we cannot be found out. Not until I extricate myself from this wretched betrothal and receive my father’s blessing. We shall both be ruined if anyone knows before then.” Catrin’s words that being with her would harm Casimir rang through her head. She ignored them too.

“Did you notice anything…anything else?” She asked. She could think of no way to ask him if she’d disappeared without him thinking her mad.

“No, although I am worried about how hard you fell. It must have been harder than it looked, as you took a moment to rise. Are you well, Thea?” He came close to her again, taking her hand and turning it over to look at her scrapes. “Your poor hands! You will need to soak these as soon as we return!”

Thea resisted the urge to melt into him and pretend nothing had happened. They’d already pushed convention too far with the kiss earlier. She dared not press her luck, no matter how much she wished to.

“We must return.” Casimir’s tone held regret, but she could hear the firmness.

“You are right, as you often are. I must ask you what we are going to do.” Her voice broke a little.

“What we are trained to do. Put on a good face and work to change things.” He tucked her arm in his, drawing her on the path towards the castle.

“How? How shall we change anything? It’s done, I am betrothed, and before I wish it, I will be married.” She could feel the panic rising within.

“Nothing is done until it’s done, Thea. Yes, you are betrothed. You are not yet married. When you are, it shall be to me.” He stopped to turn her to him. “How long have you sat with your father as he conducts the business of the kingdom? How long have negotiations gone on before a decision is reached? How often has the decision been something different than both parties initially wanted? I don’t know what will happen next, but I have been observing negotiations long enough to know that everything is open to change, even a betrothal. We will change your father’s mind.” He held her hand up to his lips, kissing it. “I promise you that when you wed, I shall be standing beside you. In between now and then, things are uncertain. Such is true for all men, even kings and princes. You cannot let go of the certainty of the final outcome, Thea.” His intensity calmed her and thrilled her all at once.

“You are too good for me, Casimir.” She hung her head, wanting to lay it upon his chest.

“No. We are a perfect match for one another,” he said with heartbreaking gentleness, lifting her up her chin, and looking into her eyes. “I have never wanted another, Thea. Not ever, not from the time we were children.”

“It has always been such for me, as well.”

He leaned down and brushed his lips to hers, a whisper of the passion of earlier. Just that touch tumbled her thoughts and made all her senses burst into flame.

“Oh, how I wish…” Casimir whispered into her lips. He stood up, and pulled away. “It will happen, Thea. No matter what, do not let go of that surety. It will happen. I will be your husband, and you will be my wife.”

“I love you, Casimir.”

“And I love you, my Thea.”

She felt him pull his face from hers and didn’t want him to move away. She put her hands out to pull him close, but he stopped her by taking her hands in his own, and clasping them within his.

“We will be together, Thea. I promise you. As long as you will have me.” He kissed her hands, let them go, and stood away from her.

“Casimir, what did my father say?”

“What do you mean?”

Thea stopped walking. ”When you asked for my hand. What reason did he give for refusing you?”

“He didn’t give any reason because I had not a chance to ask him.”

“What do you mean?” Thea couldn’t understand what he was saying. “I saw you come out of his chamber. You looked happy. Is that not when you asked him to marry me?”

“I was very pleased with our conversation. We had agreed to end our long-standing dispute. I didn’t feel I could ask to marry you until I’d settled that. I am sorry and I am sorry that I let Sebastian know anything regarding how I felt.”

Thea looked down, walking with her hand in his. She didn’t speak immediately. Finally, she looked up at him. “I didn’t know you hadn’t asked him. I thought you had. I forgot to ask him why he refused you. Now I know why he thought I had no objection to Sebastian. He didn’t know about you.”

“I am sorry I have made a mess of this. I have to wonder if knowing my feelings made Sebastian go to your father more swiftly than he might have. I understand it. I find myself feeling very competitive around him.”

“Is that why you wish to marry me? To win a contest between you and Sebastian?” She put her hands on her hips. In spite of her defiance, she feared what he might say.

Casimir laughed. Thea could hear a streak of anger in his voice. “I love you, and I have loved you since I was a boy. The reason I want to be married to you is because of that. Nothing else matters. I would hope,” he looked down for a moment, then back at her. “That you feel the same way. That my actions have not ruined things between us.” He peered at Thea through the gloom. She noticed the woods seemed far darker than just minutes before.

“I do. I have loved you before I even knew what love was,” she whispered.

“We do not see one another as we are, Thea,” he said. His words were softer now. “We see one another through the eyes of love. We see each other as so much more. Which can be a failing. Do you not see why Sebastian asked for your hand?”

“No, I really do not. Why would he want a wife who loves another, whom he could not be sure of?” She shook her head.

“Your kingdoms border one another. Gallivas is rich in resources, and prospers more each year. He would be king of two great nations and of you.”

“You think that is why? Even knowing your feelings?”

“He knew nothing, not with any surety. While I may have hinted, it’s not done to openly discuss a lady in such a way. With my parents, perhaps. Not with a friend, not without an agreement between us in place.  I do not like or agree with his actions, but I understand why he did what he did.”

“You do?” Thea felt her temper rise. “I do not! It seems underhanded and lacking in decency!”

“All is fair game when marriage is afoot,” Casimir said.

“You are being very flippant with our future, Casimir!” She said angrily.

“Do you think I am flippant? Do you know me so little? What shall I do? Complain to the king? Challenge Sebastian in some manner? I, too, have to look to the future, Thea! I cannot make enemies of my nearest neighbors! This must be handled with care and diplomacy! With the skills that we have both been brought up to exercise!”

“Oh, as you have done so well thus far?” She clapped her hands over her mouth as soon as the words left her.

Casimir’s face shuttered. “That is unjust, Thea. Unjust and unfair. I think...I think we should return to the castle.” He executed a precise bow, and moved back onto the path, waiting for her to join him.

“Casimir! Please, I am sorry! I am most foul-tempered when I am upset, and I didn’t mean it. Please forgive me!” She stepped onto the path, and he immediately set off for the stairwell. Once they’d reached the door, he turned to her again.

“This is where I leave you, my lady. It wouldn’t do for us to be caught out of doors together.” He bowed again, and opening the door, ran up the stairs.

Thea couldn’t believe he’d just left. As she stared up into the darkness where he’d disappeared, she heard a whisper of movement next to her.

“Is all well, my lady?” Archibald’s soft tones were right next to her.

“No, all is not well. Thank you for allowing me this tonight, Archibald. I would like to sit here a while longer, if I may.”

“Of course.” He nodded and stepped back.

She walked from the door, and sat on a small bench. She couldn’t go back to her rooms in this state. The events of the night had overwhelmed her. Catrin told her she would be cursed did she not give up Casimir. After all they’d said to one another, he’d still walked away. She’d sent him away, if she were being honest. She sat alone, trying to organize her thoughts. Catrin hadn’t specified what exactly the curse was. Was this it? She didn’t know.

All she did know was that she’d never felt so wretched in her entire life. Her mind went back to the encounter in the tower room. Catrin sneering over how royalty supposedly behaved. She’d told Thea she’d find out how lacking royalty was. In spite of being surrounded by her loving parents, her sisters, even beloved long-time servants, Thea had not one soul she could speak her heart to who would listen to her and understand.

Finally, she forced herself to stand. Nothing good would come of being discovered out here, even though she sat completely alone. It would be seen as ‘not quite right’, and gossip and whispers would ensue.

“Thank you, Archibald. I’m ready to return now.” He was behind her almost immediately as she walked to the stairs and opened the door. Once her eyes adjusted, she ran up the stairs and, after peeking out, hurried down the hallway to her rooms. Archibald took up a spot just outside the doors. She let herself in, closing the door quietly so as to not make a loud click with the latch. Standing still, she listened to the sounds of her chambers.

Hearing nothing, she crept to her bed. She quickly undid her gown, and let her clothing fall to the side of her bed, before gratefully curling into it. Once her head touched the pillow, she could not keep her eyes open.

***

Thea’s eyes flew open. She had been in—where? A forest, but not like the one she’d spent most of the night in. A forest that glittered, as though made of jewels, a great hall, and she was with—her sisters? She was not alone, whomever her dream companions were.

She shook her head, and relaxed into the pillow, taking stock. Her feet hurt. Her entire being hurt. Nothing hurt more than her heart. It felt as broken as it had when she went to bed. Sitting up, she noted that while her heart indeed bore the greatest wound, the rest of her felt not far behind.

The light shining in through the windows told her it was later in the morning than she normally awoke. No one had come to fetch her.

It sounded like her sisters had not yet left their chambers. She could hear them moving about in the dressing room and in the solarium. That was good. Her absence would not be obvious.

She stretched out her arms, forcing the dream from her thoughts. The memory of her conversation with Casimir hit her, making her heart pound. She needed to find a way to speak with him alone today. It would be difficult, as one betrothed to another. Made more so by the fact that, according to Casimir, Sebastian knew of their attraction. If he were like most, herself included, Sebastian would be watching to ensure no contact of any sort occurred.

This state of affairs could not be allowed to continue. She threw off the coverlet and padded toward the dressing room. She must look perfect today, in spite of a broken heart and what felt like no real sleep.

She would make this right. Casimir said nothing was done until it was done. She had doubted him last night. He had rightly walked away from her, from her lack of faith in him. That would and could be remedied today.

***

Thea waited impatiently for everyone to seat themselves at the noon meal. The morning had been interminable. She and her betrothed needed to walk through the gardens, mingling with the court, according to her father. She had seen Casimir around the edges of the court. It stung to see that he kept company with Isobel more than anyone else. She loved all her sisters, but Isobel grated on her at times. Since Casimir had fostered with them for years, he knew that. Yet there he stood with Isobel most of the morning. Thea ground her teeth and held her smile as Sebastian kept a firm hold on her as he steered her through the throngs of people.

She, of course, was seated next to Sebastian, and he, as a mark of favor, had been seated next to her father. That spot normally belonged to her. A part of her recognized the message such placement sent, along with a stab of hurt, but she couldn’t focus on it.

The hall was full of merry noises, which irritated her. She didn’t care to hear the happy chatter when she was so torn with unhappiness. She squared her shoulders and smiled at a group of men that paused to talk to her father. She even managed to force a laugh when she caught several of the woman mooning in Sebastian’s direction.

Her interaction with the court, however slight, allowed her to think. First, she needed to right things with Casimir. Then, she needed to sort through last nights’ events.

She was glad, in spite of their argument that Casimir was the one to sit on her other side. She risked a glance at her parents. Her father wasn’t looking at her, but her mother met her eyes. Thea sighed. Her mother knew. How could her father have missed it?