Dreamer's Daughter Read Free Page B

gown she had already encountered and been intimidated by. There were endless yards of fabric expertly sewn to give the impression of a terribly tiny waist, a perfect bosom, and an inexhaustible amount of riches. The tiara sitting atop the woman’s black hair didn’t detract at all from her face, which Aisling had to admit was so beautiful it was almost difficult to look at.
    She rethought her decision not to curtsey.
    â€œAnd who,” the woman said, her voice dripping shards of ice, “is
that
?”
    Rùnach took a deep breath. “My betrothed.”
    Aisling felt her own skirts flutter. That was likely because the woman’s intake of breath had almost sucked them right off her.
    â€œThat?” she asked contemptuously, then she turned just slightly and favored Rùnach with a look that would have perhaps brought a lesser man to his knees. “Perhaps you have forgotten in all the excitement of your obvious escape from death at your father’s hands, Your Highness, that you are betrothed to
me
.”
    Aisling felt something sweep through her and it was no longer a desire to curtsey to the woman in front of her. She suspected it was an intense desire to kill the man standing behind that woman.
    Rùnach looked profoundly uncomfortable. “That’s where things become a little complicated.”
    â€œWhich is reason enough to take a bit of air,” Soilléir said cheerfully, “elsewhere. Aisling, perhaps you would care to join me?”
    â€œAye,” the woman said shortly, “take that creature there with you. I’ve a desire for private speech with the apparently still-breathing prince of Tòrr Dòrainn.”
    â€œAnnastashia,” Rùnach said with a sigh.
    Princess Annastashia whirled on Rùnach. “All I want from you is the answer to where the
hell
you’ve been for the past twenty years!” she shouted. “And don’t pretend you’ve been off on some bloody noble quest!”
    Aisling was torn between wanting to see how Rùnach would extricate himself from his current straits and wanting to escape having to listen to what she was certain would be a very unpleasant conversation. The one thing she knew with certainty was that she had no desire to be anywhere near that woman while she had her claws out. Soilléir’s cousin looked as if she were fully capable of doing damage to anyone who got in her way.
    Soilléir paused next to her. “We can back out the doors, if you like,” he murmured. “Keep her in our sights, as it were.”
    â€œI don’t think she can hear you,” Aisling said, “if that worries you.”
    â€œI think I should be more worried about what will be left of Rùnach’s hearing after she’s finished with him,” Soilléir said with a faint smile.
    â€œWill she stab him, do you think?”
    â€œI don’t think she has any weapons. Well, none save her sharp tongue. If Rùnach cannot defend himself against that, there’s nothing I can do for him.”
    Aisling nodded and walked with him to the doorway, wishing she could appreciate his attempt at levity. She paused, then looked over her shoulder. Rùnach was leaning back against the library table with his arms folded over his chest, wearing an expression that very eloquently said he was steeling himself for a conversation he didn’t particularly want to have. Aisling found herself the recipient of a look that she thought might have been a request not to rush off and do anything rash, but it had been a very brief look indeed.
    Aisling decided there was no point in not taking the opportunity to look at what might be the means of finally sending Rùnach to his grave. Annastashia looked less elegant than perilous, and not because she was currently shouting dangerous things at Rùnach. There was something about her that left Aisling with the intense desire not to be in her sights. She considered