Lost Princess (18 page)

Devlin sat back down. “Is that your decision as Regent? Or is that your advice as my brother?“Max looked over at me.

I said helplessly, “Max.” I let him see that I didn’t know how to fix this any more than he did.

“You still want her? After all of this? Why?”

Devlin said slowly, “What did you tell him, Katrina? Did you hold my words as I’d asked?”

I nodded. “He understood, my lord, that I didn’t want your trust in me to be misplaced.”

Devlin said, “Max, Katrina is better than you deserve.”

Max looked over at me. “Perhaps,” he said. “And yet she is mine.” His gaze was intense as our eyes locked.

“It didn’t matter that you frightened me, that you lied to me and that Callista worried you’d kill me. I’m love with you anyway.” I shrugged somewhat helplessly.

“And you believe the same exists between Callista and Devlin?” Max asked, raising one eyebrow.

I looked over at Devlin. “If I may offer a suggestion, my lord,” I said to Max, trying to keep from blurting out what I thought he should do.

His mouth quirked, and he said, “If I said no, would you listen?”

I gave a guilty shrug. “You needn’t do it. I’m not so deluded that I think I can make you do anything. I just want to tell you my thoughts.”

“So tell me, wife.”

“Let Callista stay here. Let her keep her title and her status here. Let Devlin get a chance to know her now that the lies have come out. Perhaps he will chose a different wife. Perhaps he won’t.”

Max looked over at Devlin. “Brother, if you’re willing, I’ll do this. However,” he added in a stern tone, “you must prove to me that you can handle her. I won’t have her sowing discontent between us.” He nodded to me. “If I must worry that she has wrapped you around her finger, Devlin, I will send her away.”

Devlin thought for a moment, then started to smile. As he took in our surprised looks, he began to laugh aloud. His laugh was infectious, and I smiled, wondering what he found so amusing. “All right, Max, I’ll take your challenge.” He nodded to me, “And your wisdom, my lady.” He stood and went to the door. “If I still want her, Max, it will be because you’ve shown me the folly of a passive wife.” He nodded to me and opened the door, still chuckling.

Max sighed and turned to me. “Is he laughing at me?” he asked a little worriedly.

“I think he might be laughing at both of us.” I said, not sure.

Max came to look down at me. “Another nasty surprise. I should have told you last night.”

I shook my head. “No, you were right not to say anything. I doubt I could have managed this yesterday.”

He wrapped his arms around me. “Katrina, I will not lie to you going forward. If I cannot tell you the truth, then I will not tell you anything at all.”

“Thanks, Max.” I said, touched. “That’s…sweet.”

He snorted, looking down at me. “Katrina, I appreciate your love for me, but—”

I knew what he was going to say. I put my mouth to his, kissing him and stopping his words. “I know,” I said. “It’s okay, I understand.“He shook his head as if he doubted I did. He was wrong. I did understand. I had everything Max would or maybe could give. I had to be content with that. I had to.

Chapter Fourteen

DEVLIN

Devlin found Callista in one of the smaller sitting rooms, holding needlework in her lap and not actually working on it.  “My lord!” she said as Devlin limped in, standing up and letting her needlework fall to the floor.

“Go ahead and sit down, Callista,” Devlin said. He went over and leaned against the fireplace. No fire had been lit, and it was cold in the room.

Callista sat down slowly, her luminous eyes on Devlin. “Please, you must understand,” she said softly in a pleading voice that would soften the hardest of hearts. “I never meant to do anything wrong, I swear.“Devlin’s face showed nothing, and this seemed to encourage her. “You’ve always been kind to me, my lord.”

He chuckled. “Yes, I have that. But Callista, you are not who I thought you were, and you’ve managed to work yourself into such a situation with my brother, I’m not at all sure I can help you this time.”

She rose and came over to him, nearly shaking with emotion. “Please, please. You must help me! He hates me because of my sister. If…if you wanted me, would maybe take me as your wife, then he’d have to leave me be.”

Devlin considered her. “Tell me about your sister, Callista.”

Callista seemed confused, as if this was not at all the reply she’d expected. “My sister? She was always so strong-willed. She knew what she wanted and never was afraid to do what needed to be done. She made me help her, I swear. If I hadn’t, she’d have hurt me, never doubt it.”

“Why didn’t you simply tell Max the truth? Was he not your lord?”

Callista let herself fall at Devlin’s feet, tears brightening her eyes. “The Regent is so frightening! How could I tell him that his wife was…seeing other men? He’d have killed me out of rage, I know he would have.”

“So you thought you’d simply help dupe him? Surely that must have required some courage as well.”

Callista wrung her hands. “I’d never even spoken to him. He frightened me so!”

Devlin let out a breath that almost was a laugh. “Callista, if you’re agreeable, we can wed.”

Callista looked as if he’d granted her life, which perhaps he had.

At least she looked grateful until he continued, “If you can tell me why you would want to do that.”

“Why I would want to marry you?” she asked, again looking surprised. At his nod she said, “My lord, you’ve always been kind to me. You don’t get angry, and you treat me like a lady. You’re the Regent’s brother, a powerful man. Any lady would be lucky to have you.”

“And the fact that I’m crippled has no importance?“Callista shook her head. “Why would I care about that?” she asked.

Devlin said, “Callista, go sit down. I have some things to say to you that you might not like. If you still wish to wed after I’ve said them, I’ll tell Max. If not, then you’re on your own with him.”

Tears again sprung to her eyes. “My lord, please!”

Devlin said in a firm voice, “Callie, please. Go sit down.” He gave her an expectant look and waited.

She rose and went back to the chair she’d recently occupied, dropping into it rather heavily.

Devlin said, “You are not the innocent you seem to be, my lady Callista. You speak of your family, and call your sister strong-willed. You say she did what she had to do. I would say the same of you.“Callista started to speak tearfully, but Devlin raised his hand. “No, please, let me finish. You managed to persuade Max to spare your life after he learned of your sister’s activities. That doesn’t happen often. He trusted you enough to put you with Katrina, as well as tell you the truth about her background. While I knew as well, I’m not sure anyone else did. Katrina has a great deal of political power since she is related to royalty, especially if the king claims her as his child. Marrying her gives Max the entire kingdom should he want it.

“And yet, with all this trust you did not put yourself in place as Max’s champion. You lied about Max’s intentions for your betrothal, lied about many things, in fact, and I believe Max when he says you have tried to sow discontent between them. These are not the activities of a frightened little lamb of a lady, which is what you pretend to be.

“If I marry you, know that I do so with my eyes wide open as to your character. And know that I won’t be as easily fooled as Max was. For all his power and brilliance leading and winning battles, he doesn’t understand people nearly as well as I do. He sees them as they act, while I watch much more closely. Understand, Callista, you will not be allowed to continue to cry your way through your bad choices. If you make mistakes, I’ll make sure you stand up and account for them.”

Callista looked completely stupified. Her tears had stopped in her shock.

Devlin said, “So make your choice, my lady, not that there are many good ones open to you. Be my wife and prepare to adjust your behavior accordingly, or take your chances with Max.”

Callista blinked, and the tears started anew. “How can you say these things to me? You know Max will kill me! How can you think I’d try to manipulate you like that?”

Devlin was unmoved. “Oh, and one more thing. Callista, you’ll be honest with me starting right now, or I’m leaving.” His eyes glittered in a way that she recognized. It was frighteningly like Max.

Callista opened her mouth, then abruptly shut it. “My lord, Max
will
kill me.”

Devlin sighed. “I believe you’re right. I’m offering you a way out if you have the courage to try. I can do no more.”

Callista said slowly, “Then I have no choice at all. I will try to do as you say, my lord. But know, I’ve never thought myself brave, never.”

“Be that as it may,” Devlin replied, “your actions show bravery.”

“Really?” She seemed to think about this. She offered him a small smile. “You are saving me. Saving my life. I always knew you were a good man.”

Devlin said, “I suppose I am saving you, but don’t think just because I’m known as a good person means that I won’t be hard on you. I will, you know. I’m always hardest on those closest to me. If you don’t believe me, ask Max.”

Callista shook her head. “You’re not like him.”

Devlin said calmly, “You’re wrong. He and I are more alike than most people see. Stubborn, exacting, difficult to please. And I think those might be our good qualities.” There was a smile on his face now.

“I don’t believe it,” Callista said.

Devlin sighed. “You will. So, let me go and tell Max the news.  He wished me to wait, to see if I wanted you after all the lies.  However, I’ve decided there is no reason to wait, so I assume it will happen quickly. Did I mention that we’re both impatient as well?”

“Whatever you wish, my lord.“Again he acted as if she was being amusing.

“Whenever you’re ready to talk to me about how you really feel and think, I’ll be around. In the meantime just understand I know you play a part, the part of the delicate, frightened and sensitive lady. How much of that is really you will be interesting to discover.” He pushed off from the hearth and walked slowly to the door. “Yes, quite interesting. I look forward to it.” He gave her a nod and left her staring bemusedly after him.

As his footsteps died away, Callista said under her breath, “I think you might have deviousness in common with Max as well.” She looked at the door where her husband-to-be had disappeared, unsure what to think now.

Chapter Fifteen

Devlin saw the two of us just before lunch. He said to Max casually, “Callista and I are going to marry. No reason to wait, so as soon as you’d—”

Max rumbled, “Are you certain, brother?”

“Quite,” Devlin said. “I have a feeling Callista won’t join us for lunch, although I could be wrong.”

“Why?” I asked, pleased that Devlin was going to marry Callie.

“She’s afraid of you, for one thing,” he said to Max. “And she’s no doubt embarrassed at the exposure of her activities this morning. It will take her time to have the courage to face us all again.”

Max was giving Devlin a critical look as they entered the hall and sat down. “You look like you had a good morning, but I can’t see how, with all that happened.”

“Let’s just say that I feel the excitement of a challenge.” He grinned. “Callista and I had a talk, or should I say, I had a talk with her. She mostly listened. I think she’s a bit confused by me, and isn’t at all sure of what to think now.” He shrugged. “I warned her that you and I aren’t as different as most people think.”

Max nodded. “Katrina told me she called you stubborn.”

“Damned stubborn,” Devlin corrected. “As damned stubborn as you are, I think she said.”

“Well, at least you’re not being stubborn now,” I said, feeling like they were making fun of me.

“You think not? Perhaps not in the same way, no, I’m not. But then again, Callista isn’t quite what she appeared to be, so perhaps we aren’t so mismatched after all.” He looked over at me speculatively. “Now, can I trust you not to tell her all this? Will you let us work out things between us as we must or will you interfere and make trouble?”

Max said, looking at me as well, “Katrina will not make trouble.”

I looked from one brother to the other. I wanted to tell Callista what Devlin had said. I wanted to find out what Devlin had said to her earlier when he’d asked her to marry him.

Max frowned, “Let me rephrase that for you, Katrina. You will not discuss any of this with Callista. Do you understand me?”

I nodded slowly. I certainly understood he didn’t want me to. What I actually was going to do, I wasn’t sure yet. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to be friends with Callista anymore after all the lies she’d told.

Devlin said softly, “I’ve made my wishes clear to her.  Please don’t cause trouble between us before we’ve even wed.”

Max sought and held my eyes, and I decided I’d better heed his wishes on this one. “I won’t tell her, my lord,” I said evenly.

Max nodded, immediately believing me and trusting in what I’d said. “Good.” It gave me a warm spot in my chest to see his trust in me. I couldn’t tell her now, or he’d take that trust away. And I liked having it.

Devlin excused himself before I was finished, and I said to Max, “I’ve decided that you needn’t send Kasta away unless she cannot adapt to the way things are going to be now.”

“Yes? You are planning changes among your ladies?”

“Well, they aren’t really my ladies. I’ve decided that if they are supposed to be my ladies, then I’ll need to chose among them the ones I like, or at least dislike less. The others will have to treat me with respect or suffer the consequences.”

Max laughed. “This should be interesting. Oh, that reminds me. I am having a sheath made for your knife. I ordered it made so the knife will fit along your thigh. You’ll have to sew some kind of pocket with a hole in it to get to the knife easily. The leathersmith will tell me what measurements he needs. I do not want him measuring your thighs or waist.”

“Like I’d let him,” I said automatically. I was looking at the ladies. They’d made my life here hell. Oh, they were going to regret that. “Max? How much free rein do I have with the ladies?”