Princess at Sea Read Free Page A

muscles. I was fascinated in that I could have sworn that he put the sun card in his sleeve but it was the huntsman he took back out.
    Both our heads rose when Haron stomped downstairs and to his bunk, still grumbling. The first mate had the night watch, and I knew it was too early for him to be up. The faint sounds of Alex alternately trying to calm down Contessa and drive her to distraction grew louder over the creak of rope and wash of water. A sigh shifted my shoulders.
    â€œAre you going to stop him?” Duncan asked when the sharp click of Haron’s door shutting came to us. “She sounds ready to slap him.”
    Weary of it, I shook my head. When I had accepted the position of Costenopolie’s ambassador at my sister’s request, I had thought it would mean I would be smoothing great political problems, not acting as nursemaid and arbitrator between my sister and her new husband.
    â€œNo,” I said, folding my arms on the table and dropping my head onto them. “I told her he’s doing it to see her stomp her feet and put a blush on her cheeks, but she doesn’t listen.”
    â€œMaybe she likes it.”
    â€œThat’s my guess.” I tilted my head to see him past my brown curls. Contessa was anything but even-tempered. Despite being a mirror copy of our deceased mother, one would never know she was a queen by the amount of caterwauling she did. That’s why the nuptial holiday. Under the advice of Kavenlow, I was trying to instill the provincial woman with some polish as she met the people for whom she was now responsible. It wasn’t working. And though I liked Prince Alex, he wasn’t helping.
    The word “execution” and “hungry thief,” quickly followed by “barbaric” were a veritable feminine shriek, and Duncan shifted uncomfortably. The argument about changing Costenopolie’s policy on suspected criminals had started this morning when we slipped from harbor. I should step in—if only to get them to stop talking about executing thieves where Duncan could overhear. He wasn’t a thief; he was a cheat. There was a difference. Sort of.
    â€œMaybe you’re right,” I said, gathering my skirts to rise, pausing at Duncan’s hand on my shoulder. Surprised, I turned, blinking at the worry and the hint of pleading in his eyes.
    â€œTess. You don’t owe her anything. You owe Kavenlow even less. Why won’t you—”
    Pulling from his hand, I stood, cutting him off and catching my balance at one of the support planks over which the deck was built. “I owe her everything. I owe Kavenlow my life for pulling me from the gutter. Nothing is keeping you here. If you want to go, that’s fine, but she needs me. Costenopolie needs me.” Frustration at the old argument made my words harsher than I had intended, but I wouldn’t drop my eyes.
    He made a scoffing bark of laughter, slumping back. “God save you, Tess. Costenopolie won’t fall if you leave it,” he said bitingly, then pinched his brow to soften his words.
    I flushed. Actually, it might. Eventually. But I couldn’t tell him that. He had no inkling that a continentwide game of hidden conquest swirled under the veneer of royal power. Very few did. I had been raised in the palace, and even I hadn’t known until Kavenlow told me of the magic for which he had been secretly building my strength.
    I said nothing while the frustration shifted behind his eyes. He knew he was welcome to stay at court as long as he wanted, but as a player, I couldn’t allow myself to get close to anyone lest he be used against me by a rival. All Duncan knew was that I wouldn’t allow more than a fleeting kiss, and I knew it confused him when he saw my willingness in an unguarded moment. Things had been a lot easier when I’d been the crown princess.
    â€œI’m not leaving her,” I said, stepping from behind the table. “For you,