Page 16 of The Cornish Princess
He spoke mainly to Bryn, though his voice reverberated throughout the hall. “Considering how you two were discovered, young Durotriges, if I believed you meant to avail yourself of my daughter, I would have your head, here and now.”
“Father!” Gwendolyn protested.
“Silence!” he snapped, without looking at her, and all sound evaporated from the hall, but not before Bryn’s mother cried out in dismay.
Fearful of what was to come, Gwendolyn turned to meet Ely’s gaze, and Ely’s eyes, too, were round and wide. This hurt most of all—the simple fact that she had by now disappointed everyone, not only her mother and father. Sadly, she was accustomed to her mother’s displeasure, but this was the first time in all her life she’d garnered the same from others.
“However, because I know my daughter to be the source of your misconduct, I shall be lenient. From this day forth, you’ll no longer serve the Princess.”
Clearly relieved, Bryn fell to his knees, bowing his head.
“Yes, Majesty,” Bryn said, his voice raw with contrition. “I am deeply regretful for my part in today’s misfortune,” he said, and Gwendolyn couldn’t tell whether it was chagrin or anger that gave his neck so much color, because he wouldn’t look at her.
Suddenly dismissing him, her father pivoted toward Gwendolyn. And she knew that whatever he said to her now—whatever it should be—she would best be served by silence.
His eyes, dark as tempered steel, held her gaze so she daren’t even look at her mother, but then again, why should she? There would be no sympathy or help to come from that quarter.
“From this day forth,” he said, “You’ll be served by Málik Danann.”
“Father!” Gwendolyn cried, but her father lifted his chin, unmoved by the tears that brimmed in Gwendolyn’s eyes.
He offered her the flat of his hand, silencing her once and for all. “So I have said, so will it be! Go now, prepare yourself to greet your betrothed. Do nothing more to shame this house.”
“Yes, sire,” she said, hot tears burning her eyes.
With the entire hall still planted firmly where they stood, Gwendolyn roused the nerve to turn and face them, and then made her way between them, toward the doors. No one dared look at her. Save one…
Málik Danann.
Hisicebourneeyes met hers, and Gwendolyn thought she saw him smile.
ChapterFive
That swiftly, her joy was lost.
Fury fired Gwendolyn’s march down the hall.
Málik?
Málik!
He was cold, taciturn, disdainful, and arrogant, and despite that she didn’t know him well, she didn’t want to know him at all. Only now, instead of taking her beloved friend with her to Loegria, she would be forced to take a soulless elf.
Gods, she loathed him—loathed him to the core of her being. Even more now that she knew he was the reason her mother had found them in the glen.Hewas the one who’d told her where they’d gone, and then he’d escorted her directly.
Certainly, Gwendolyn knew Queen Eseld would have found them on her own, but it was Málik’s scornful face she’d first spied emerging from those woods, with that smug, self-righteous expression she wouldn’t soon forget.
By the eyes of Lugh, she wasn’t in the mood to forgive, regardless of his promotion—no matter that he would soon be her new Shadow. He could attend to her all he wished, but Gwendolyn would never,evertrust him, nor would she care for him the way she cared for Bryn.
Stupid, heartless elf.
“Go away!” she said as he appeared behind her, even knowing he would refuse.
“Alas, Princess, this would be my greatest joy, but I cannot,” he said evenly, and he didn’t miss a step, remaining behind her all the way back to her chambers.
Annoying.
Infuriating.
