I relax a little. While this isn't exactly the greeting I've envisaged over the years, I have to admit that it is the most logical way for things to have progressed, especially as we have witnesses. Hopefully, the two of us will get some time to connect before the wedding without people watching over our shoulders.

Chapter 3

It's only as we get further into the castle that I realise we're falling a little behind my aunt and Princess Veronica, who is loudly pointing out different features of the corridors we pass.

"Did the two of you concoct this plan on purpose?" I ask Arthur.

He laughs. "I believe Veronica came up with it all on her own. But I'm not above taking advantage of her generosity for a few moments without anyone to overhear us."

I nod, not really knowing what to say.

"How was your journey?" Arthur asks.

"It was good. Though there was no snow."

"I think that's probably a good thing, given that you were travelling," he says. "But I believe there should be some soon."

"In time for the wedding?"

"Would you like that?" he asks, looking at me with curious, deep blue eyes.

I swallow hard and look ahead rather than at him, watching my step as I move through the castle that's to become my new home. "I don't know what I would like," I admit.

"Neither do I. But there are a few weeks before the wedding, we can figure it out," he promises. "But that will have to wait, we're at your room."

He pauses for a moment, as if unsure what to do now.

"Your aunt is in the adjoining room," he says. "If you'd like us to wait for her so we aren't alone, we can do that."

I frown and look around. "Is it not improper for us to be alone?"

Surprise flits over his face, maybe that's not the answer he expected of me. "It's not considered improper in Falhaven. But if you would prefer that I get my sister to show you your rooms, then it can be arranged." He starts to step away, but I reach out to touch his arm.

"I'd like you to show me," I say quickly. "I just didn't realise that was an option."

He smiles and unlocks the door, holding the key out to me. "For you."

"Thank you." I take it from him, my fingers brushing against his as I take it.

He looks at me for a moment longer than he should, or maybe that isn't true considering that we are going to be married soon. He can look at me for as long as he wants. It's just longer than I'm used to from anyone else.

Arthur clears his throat and breaks eye contact and pushes open the door to my room.

"After you." He gestures for me to enter.

I'm a little nervous about what I'm going to find inside, even though it's not really going to be that different from what we have in Someil.

"This is our receiving room," he says. "For when either of us have guests that we want to entertain."

"These are our rooms?" I ask, looking around.

He nods. "They're yours until the wedding, and then I will be moving into them too," he says.

"Where are you currently?"

"In the same room I've always lived in," he responds. "It's not far from the nursery. All of my siblings have rooms there, but they're meant for children. Or at least, unmarried royals."

"I'm surprised your older sisters aren't married."