Page 113 of Crown of Hearts
“What I’m about to tell you is quite serious, so please remain calm,” I started.
With a gasp, she exclaimed, “You’re with child?”
“What?” I looked down at my stomach and then back up at her again. “No! Cai and I are getting married in secret tonight.”
“Oh, phew.” She blew out a breath. “I don’t know how I would have handled that.”
“Why would you think I was with child?”
“Not important.” She grabbed my arms in excitement. “You’re getting married!”
She took a step back and clasped her hands together. “We have so much work to do.”
* * *
Anesta meant what she said and took her job very seriously. She sat me down in front of my dressing table and proceeded to redo my hair and the makeup that had been applied earlier.
“It’s a shame we didn’t pack any white dresses.” She placed her hands on her hips after digging through my trunk of clothes. “Do you want me to borrow an Argonian one?”
I shook my head. “I’d rather wear a dress of my own.”
“Who’s going to officiate?” she asked while helping me into one of my dark blue dresses. It had a square neckline, which I found the most flattering, and the sleeves flowed out from my elbows.
“Cai said he was going to ask Jack to do it.”
“Oh, this is so exciting,” she said, clapping her hands. I pressed my own to my sides — mostly to keep them from shaking. Why was I so nervous? I’d wanted this alliance for what felt like for ever. But I knew I couldn’t kid myself into believing it was merely about an alliance. I was about to marry Cai.
Married.
Me.
The masked bandit from Fairfrith camp who used to steal food from aristocrats and wear hand-me-down clothes.
You’ll ruin him. Aries’ words ran through my head. I tried to shake them out. I couldn’t believe him. He was only trying to use me to his own advantage. But Cai was kind-hearted and caring and sweet. He looked out for me and trusted me. We made a good team.
We decided to meet on the palace rooftop that overlooked the city.
Downstairs, the party was still going in full force. Normally, guards would be stationed on the rooftop, but Rhen found out that they had been moved to stand guard at the dance.
Cai, Cordelia and Rhen were waiting by the time Anesta and I got there. I’d never seen Cai smile so broadly.
“Where’s Jack?” I asked.
“He’s on his way.” We interlaced hands. “You’re breathtaking,” he whispered.
“This old thing?” I moved the skirts of my dress side to side with a grin before meeting Cai’s eyes again. “This is really happening, isn’t it?”
His expression remained unchanged. “Sure you don’t want to run yet?”
“I think I’d like to stay.”
Five minutes passed. Jack didn’t show up.
“Do you think he’s lost or something?” I asked no one in particular. The longer we waited the more nervous I was getting, and the more Aries’ words crept inside my mind, no matter how hard I tried to push them out.
“I’ll go and look for him. He probably took the wrong staircase or something.”
Cordelia hurried off.
