Page 55 of Crown of Hearts
It was enough for Ray to suddenly push out his chair and stand up. “I’m actually quite exhausted from the journey here, if you would be so kind as to excuse me.” He looked towards Cai. “Thank you for the invitation, Your Majesty.”
Cai gave him a curt nod in response, and I watched Ray walk out of the dining room.
“You can’t ask people you don’t know personal questions like that.” Gwen clapped her brother on the shoulder.
“I didn’t realise my question was so personal,” Thatcher defended himself.
“Ray and I have known each other since childhood,” I said, hoping to break the tension and that no further questions would be asked on the subject. Once everyone had finished their dessert, I excused myself from the table and made my way to Ray’s room.
He didn’t answer the door when I knocked, but I heard a distant voice say, “Come in.” When I stepped into the room, Ray was in the midst of packing a small bag. His weapons lay spread out on the bed.
“What are you doing?”
“Leaving. If we want Eloisa to be found, I’d better get on with it.”
I placed my hand on his arm, forcing him to look at me.
“I’m really sorry about dinner. Thatcher didn’t mean to be rude. He’s just a little—”
“It doesn’t matter, Lara.” Ray pulled himself free and shrugged off the borrowed navy jacket. “I’m glad you’ve found somewhere you are comfortable, but I don’t belong among these people.”
His words stung like a cut. That he thought I was here having the time of my life like I couldn’t care less about the things that mattered.
“At least stay the night. You can’t go out in the middle of the night, and you need the rest.”
Ray licked his lips and rubbed his tired eyes. “Fine,” he responded coldly.
This wasn’t the way I wanted us to part.
I took a step back towards the door. “Please come and say goodbye before you leave tomorrow.”
He nodded, looking out his bedroom window.
“Goodnight, Ray.”
The next morning, Ray came to see me before breakfast. It wasn’t a long or dreary goodbye. After last night, it felt as though some kind of rift had been created between the two of us but there was nothing I could do to change it now. We both understood the importance of Ray’s mission. I could only hope he would find Eloisa.
* * *
It was a mission to arrange a private picnic unlike the one Anesta had explained we were likely to get. However, I managed to get my way in the end, with a simple basket and a large blanket suited for the outdoors. I’d also sent Anesta to the kitchens early in the morning with a note, requesting some particular desserts.
Cai’s expression was bright and eager when he greeted me, almost like he’d been looking forward to the event. I leaned back against the trunk of the tree we were sitting under and paged through the book of poetry Thatcher had suggested. Though I wasn’t overly fond of reading, it seemed like a good pastime.
Cai made himself comfortable lying on the blanket with his hands behind his head, listening to each word I read. I took themoments he closed his eyes to study his face secretly while I pretended to search for a new poem. He hadn’t changed much in our time apart and yet there was something different in his expression. A look I couldn’t quite place.
“‘The birdsong added to the pleasantry then, for the lovers were finally together again.’” I closed the book with a small sigh, having had my fill of literature for the day.
“I’ll admit, I quite liked that last poem.” Cai glanced at me from under his lashes. We were alone again. I understood his new title kept him busy with endless duties, but I had a kingdom on the brink of civil war and I still didn’t have a matrimonial agreement. The late morning had been quiet and sunny, a warmth settling over the palace grounds.
“It wasn’t too bad.”
“You didn’t like it?” He frowned, playing with a blade of grass between his fingers.
“It’s not that I didn’t like it. I simply thought it lacking.”
“Lacking?”
“Yes.” I raised my chin. “While it was sweet, I thought it could have been a little more romantic.”
