Page 4 of Untamed

A grin slid across Cosme’s face. “It seems I’m to always be surrounded by strong-minded women.”

“Is that an insult?” Monserrat kept a deadpan expression.

He let out a genuine laugh. “Not at all.” A glimmer of admiration flickered in his gaze, and he crossed the half-dozen arm spans between us. He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles.

Monserrat’s cheeks flushed, revealing more feelings than she was willing to admit.

My stomach shriveled with guilt. He couldn’t go on believing all was well.

I opened my mouth to speak, but only a grunt released from my throat. Both Monserrat and Cosme furrowed their eyebrows at me. I tried again, but my tongue grew swollen and limp.

“Perhaps you need a drink of water.” Cosme patted my shoulder. “Lucas, would you escort my sister?”

Lucas offered his arm, nudging my side in his enthusiasm. I glared at Cosme who didn’t bother to acknowledge my discomfort at being swept away by his friend.

But Monserrat tipped her head to the side and squinted in accusation. Had she cursed my tongue somehow?

Chapter 2

Laude

“When can I tellBeatriz?” I sliced through a stem with gardening scissors and set another red hibiscus in the basket Jaime carried. We’d spent all morning going back and forth between the garden and the Giddelian palace because I couldn’t resist the beautiful blossoms. Arranging flowers had become the thrilling task I could call my own.

“Soon.” Jaime shifted the woven basket from one hand to the next. His fine tunic already had stains from all the work in the garden, and a leaf clung to his cropped hair. The green in his eyes popped with his we’ve-talked-about-this-before wide-eyed look. How he melted my insides into butter with his attentions after all these months. “Why don’t you focus on talking to the queen about your past?”

“Don’t change the subject. You can’t expect me to keep this secret from Beatriz forever.” I sighed. “And when she finds out that she could have visited Zichri this whole time, she is never going to let me hear the end of it and then—”

“Laude,” Jaime interrupted.

“When she finds out about Cosme visiting him and working with him while she had to sit back and only read his letters …”

“Please, Laude, hear me out.” Jaime placed a hand on my shoulder.

I spun toward him. “You’re going to remind me about King Ezer’s proclamation that Zichri not return until he holds a treaty, and I understand. But why should I get to knowDotadobusiness, and see you, when she’s the princess? Who am I?”

Jaime set the basket on the grass and squared up to me. “You are the señorita I’m going to marry.”

“Señor? I don’t think I’ve agreed to such an arrangement.” I pressed my lips into a firm line, but the corners of my mouth betrayed me.

“No, you haven’t, yet.” His full lips went from smiling to serious in a blink. He scooped my sticky fingers in his and inhaled deeply.

My thoughts raced like waves battering the shore in a storm. Why was he acting so strangely, especially after mentioning marriage? Yes, we’d talked about it, but was he going to make it real? Would he ask me to be his wife?

Ai-yi-yi! I didn’t expect to be sweaty when he did such a thing. Red curls sprang in all directions in my peripheral vision. Should I tell him to hold his thoughts and race into the palace to fix my appearance?

“Laude, Laude.” Jaime’s forehead creased in question. “Did you hear what I said?”

I blinked several times, unsure if I should admit the truth. My mind had wandered, but for good reason. I bit my lip, and he nodded.

“I thought so. Laude, I love you.” His deep voice warmed my heart.

Water sprang to the corners of my eyes, and I tried to blink the tears back because I couldn’t miss a single second.

He smiled and wiped my cheek with his thumb. “You’d make me the happiest man if you’d agree to marry me. Will you be my wife?”

My hands flew over my nose and mouth, which didn’t do much to help me breathe. To think, only three months ago, I wouldn’t have been allowed to marry at all because of the rules about servants and blah blah blah. But the Ancient One answered my prayers.

Jaime reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a thin wooden box. “This was my mother’s, and I want to give it to you as a pledge.” He pushed the latch, and the wooden box yawned open.

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