“I love everything about you, nonsense and all.”
“And I love everything—oh dear, I don’t like sharing you.” He glared at my geese as they waddled closer, once more vying for my attention.
“They’re merely reminding me of my duties—I am supposed to be watching them.” I reluctantly untangled myself from Liam. He leapt to his feet to help me up.
“Then I’ll watch them with you. I want to know everything about your life as a goose girl. But first, might I have the proper introductions?”
I entwined our hands and led him to each goose in turn. “We own seven geese—two ganders and five females—and all are named after some of my favorite insects. You’ve met Bumblebee, so now I’ll introduce you to Mantis, Aphid, Spider, and Firefly. They’re rather attention-seeking birds at times, but I adore them.”
Liam listened to each name carefully, as if trying to commit them to memory, even though he likely couldn’t tell them apart. Most couldn’t.
I pointed to the smaller gander, watching us curiously. “This is Cricket, always trying to attract the females’ attention.”
Liam bowed to him with all the solemnity of meeting a fellow royal before looking around. “You’ve only shown me six geese. Which one is missing?”
“Hornet, the other gander, who likes to think himself in charge.”
As if his name had been a summons, Hornet waddled over with a distinctive gleam in his eyes that indicated he was about to cause mischief. He was the only goose with a black head, making him easily recognizable amongst the rest.
I frowned. “I think he’s about to cause trouble.”
“How can you know that?”
“I know my geese.”
“Well, he’s not causing trouble now, so perhaps—ow!” Hornet had made his move, nipping at our connected hands, as if he disapproved of our affection. All humor left Liam’s expression as he glared at the goose. “He’s rather sinister.”
“He’s normally quite friendly,” I said.
“You keep claiming that, so you and I must have very different definitions of the word.”
Liam led me several yards away but Hornet merely followed, as if he’d appointed himself chaperone. After a wary look at Hornet, Liam took my hand again. Hornet made another attack, causing Liam to drop my hand and nurse his now red-marked fingers.
He glared at Hornet. “There’s something wrong with that goose.”
“So much for your irresistible charm,” I teased. “Hornet dear, don’t bite Liam.”
Hornet’s feathers ruffled and he honked in protest. I gave Liam an apologetic look.
“I’m sorry, I’m not sure what’s gotten into him. Perhaps he’s jealous.”
I knelt in the grass and beckoned Hornet over. He obediently came and allowed me to pet him, honking when I withdrew my hand and reached for Liam’s. Hornet nipped him again.
“That’s it,” Liam muttered. “That bird is going to be the main course at our wedding feast.”
“He’s just protective,” I crooned as I stroked Hornet’s head.
Liam gaped at me. “Protective? I’m beginning to think he’s an enemy to the crown bent on my assassination.”
“Well, he is being rather meddling.” I gave Hornet a half-hearted disapproving look. Liam managed to chuckle.
“Like the rest, you’re wrapped around his wing. How can I compete with a gander?”
“Don’t worry, dear, there’s no competition.”
We strolled away, leaving Hornet behind strutting around the meadow like a peacock. Liam grinned down at the other geese waddling cheerfully around our ankles. “Now these birds I can handle. Will you initiate me into your world of being a goose girl, or in my case, a rather dashing goose boy?”
“You’re really interested?” I asked.
He nodded enthusiastically. “Certainly. I can watch a few geese. How hard can it be?” And like with everything else he did, he jumped into this newest adventure with his usual exuberance. I showed him how to tend and gather them, explained some particularly interesting geese facts—such as how they sometimes ate pebbles to aid their digestion—and encouraged him to hold and pet each one. He did everything with a wide grin.
The afternoon melted away, full of sunshine and the ease we’d always enjoyed in one another’s company when we were married. Being with Liam felt so right. Occasionally, Hornet—whom Liam quickly deemed his nemesis—would appear. He did seem to be keeping quite a close eye on us, almost as if Archer had put him up to spying. Luckily, the other geese took to Liam and he to them. With each of his smiles, I felt as if he not only saw me, but approved of me as well. It was an incredible feeling.
“What are they doing now?” Liam asked when Firefly and Aphid took it upon themselves to gently tug at his shirt sleeves.
“Oh, they’re starting to like you. See? They’re grooming you, similar to how they do with each other.” I motioned to Mantis and Spider nearby, nipping at one another’s feathers.
Liam raised an eyebrow. “I’m being groomed?”
“You don’t need to be,” I said. “You’re already far too regal to pass for a peasant.”
“Perhaps you can help me better blend in.”
I took his hand and led him to the creek, where some of the geese were happily playing. I dipped down for a bit of mud, which I dabbed on Liam’s clothes and streaked along his face before he caught my hands in his. He wiped some of the mud off my finger so he could use it to trace his fingertip on my face.
“What are you up to?” I asked breathlessly.
“Playing connect-the-dots with your freckles, like I promised one day I would,” he murmured. “I’ve missed your freckles. Lavena doesn’t have them, you know.”
“The sun ruins a princess’s complexion.”
“Except for yours.” He lowered his hand, leaving me longing for his touch, and extended his arms. “Do I look more like a goose boy now?”
“Almost.” I burrowed my fingers in his thick hair to rumple it. “There, much better.” Despite having finished, I didn’t remove my fingers from his hair. His hands hooked around my waist and he gently pulled me closer.
“Anwen,” he murmured, sounding as if he was in pain. He leaned down and this time I let him, my resistance weakened from the lovely afternoon we’d spent together and from missing all we’d once shared. He lightly brushed a kiss on my lips, his own soft and fluttery, and I’d just barely begun to kiss him back when…
“Get your hands off my sister.”
Archer had returned from a day of hunting. I supposed it had been too much to hope to spend an entire day without his protective presence. We broke away with a gasp and turned to face my brother, who promptly seized Liam by the shirt.
“What are you doing to my sister?”
“Archer!” I tugged on his arm but he didn’t release Liam. “Let him go. He’s a prince.”
“I don’t care who he is. No one hurts you.”
“It was just a kiss—” Liam began.
Archer’s grip tightened. “Just a kiss? A kiss is rather dangerous when you use it to give Anwen false hope that you two could ever possibly be together.”
I winced. He was right. I’d allowed my defenses to crumble when really I should be building them higher in order to protect my heart from further pain.
Liam took my hand. “I have only the purest intentions towards your sister. I intend to marry her.”
Archer’s eyes narrowed. “And how do you, a prince engaged to someone else, intend to do that?”
Liam frowned. “I haven’t quite worked out the details yet.”
Archer snorted. “Exactly. Until you do, I’ll be keeping a close eye on you. I won’t let you hurt Pillbug. You’ve already done enough of that.”
He finally released Liam and stomped away, but not far, staying within view so he could act as our sullen and disapproving chaperone, which meant we wouldn’t be able to steal any more kisses. It was likely for the best; I was already playing with fire by
toying with the emotions of my heart.
“Are you alright?” I tried to smooth out Liam’s collar where Archer had gripped it.
“Of course I am.” Ever the brave one, Liam glanced warily at him before forcing a smile for me. “First Hornet, now your brother. You have quite the team of protectors. And I thought courting you would be easy, but it’ll definitely be worth it.” After another hesitant look at Archer he tentatively wrapped his arms back around my waist to pull me into an embrace.
I pressed myself closer to him as he held me and stroked my hair. “He’s right. We can’t do this. This will make it so much harder should we not be allowed to be together.”
His hold tightened. “Don’t say that. It’s not over yet. We’ll be together somehow. I promise, Anwen.” He sealed it with a soft kiss on my brow.
And despite our seemingly hopeless circumstances, I believed him, for I was desperate to, no matter how impossible our situation seemed at the moment.
For several minutes I allowed him to hold me. I felt so complete in Liam’s embrace, as if there was nowhere else I was meant to be.
“Anwen?”
I tipped my head back to see that his cheery, boyish expression had settled into one that was uncannily serious.
“There’s another reason I’m here beyond needing to see you.” He cupped my chin, his thumb stroking my jaw. “As we discussed earlier, the deadline for finding a loophole is only a few days away.”
My heart tightened. “I know.”
He pressed his forehead against mine. “Despite trying to assure you and myself otherwise, I’m beginning to fear there isn’t a loophole, which leaves only one solution—I need to abdicate the throne so I can elope with you.”
I gasped. He couldn’t really be saying…was he serious? By his determined expression, I knew he was. As sweet as his sacrifice was, I knew he couldn’t make it for me. My heart both lifted and wrenched at the thought.
“You’d do that for me?”
His eyes blazed with emotion. “I’d do anything to be with you. Please say you agree.”
I ached to. The thought of Liam and I running away together sounded wonderful, but could I really be so selfish as to take him away from his people who I knew needed him? Selfishness was Princess Lavena’s way, not mine.
“I love you, Liam,” I whispered.
His eyes lit up, believing my words were my agreement, but before he could dip down to kiss me—
“But don’t you see? We can’t do this.”
He froze inches away from my lips. “We have to, Anwen. I won’t marry that wench, not when I’m in love with you. Let me stay with you. I make a rather dashing goose boy, don’t I?” He attempted to smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“You have a duty to your throne, your subjects.”
“But I’m not the only one in line,” he said. “I have three younger sisters. Rhea can become the future queen. She’ll undoubtedly do a better job than I ever could, and most certainly better than Lavena.”
“You’ll make a remarkable king,” I said, caressing his cheek, relishing the way he leaned against my touch. “Besides, abdicating and eloping would seriously harm your kingdom’s relations with Lyceria.”
His hopeful expression faltered, his acknowledgement of my logic. “But I need you, Anwen. I can’t live or rule without you by my side. Please.”
“It’s not over yet,” I said. “We still have several days to come up with something. And until then, we can spend time together.”
Liam forced a smile as his arms looped around me and he dipped down to whisper into my ear. “You may have won this battle, but I’m determined—nothing you say will ever get me to let you go.”
My heart both fluttered and sank at his devotion. As much as I yearned to be with Liam, I knew he couldn’t sacrifice his kingdom for me. Surely, he’d quickly realize I wasn’t worth all he’d have to give up. After all, I was nothing more than a goose girl, and goose girls didn’t end up with crown princes, no matter how much they loved them.
Chapter 26
Liam spent the next several days with me, only separating at night when he returned to the local inn to sleep. We spent hours poring over the books and documents he’d brought, desperately searching for the ever-elusive loophole, but no matter how much time we dedicated to the task, the solution remained a mystery. With each passing moment my fears that there wasn’t a way for us to be together increased, but I tried not to dwell on them, not when I was so desperate to be with Liam.
The time we didn’t spend searching for a way to be together we spent in a second courtship of sorts. With each passing day, I showed him more of Anwen. It was one of the most frightening parts about love—to share every bit of one’s heart—but something that was incredibly rewarding. Across dozens of conversations and various spontaneous adventures, I fell more in love with dear Liam, and the more he saw of common, insect-loving, geese-adoring Anwen, the more he seemed to care for me, dispelling my previous fears that he wouldn’t love the real me.
It was dusk of the third day Liam had spent with me. I’d just finished gathering the geese for the night, giving each a kiss before closing the paddock and accepting Liam’s extended hand.
“I love watching you with your geese,” he said. “You’re so kind-hearted and gentle. You’ll make the perfect queen.” He’d brought up my capabilities multiple times during his visit, as if trying to get me used to the idea of an outcome he believed to be set in stone.
I raised my eyebrows. “You’re suggesting I treat your subjects the way I do my geese? I don’t believe they’ll appreciate being locked in a paddock every night.”
Liam laughed and squeezed my hand. “You never fail to make me smile. I’ve really enjoyed our time together these past few days. No matter how much time I spend with you, it’s never enough.”
“As have I.” Although enjoyed was such an inadequate word for the pleasure I’d experienced from being with my Liam.
We paused outside the door to my cottage, both reluctant to part from one another. As was the case every night, Liam came up with an excuse to extend our time together. “Are you opposed to a walk before I’m forced to leave you?” he asked hopefully.
“An evening walk sounds lovely.” We headed towards the meadow, passing Archer along the way, who as usual watched us through narrowed eyes in his usual chaperoning pose.
“Liam and I are just going for a walk,” I told him. He nodded curtly but said nothing.
Liam glanced over his shoulder as we walked away. “His scowl isn’t quite as pronounced as it was before. Perhaps I’m finally earning his good favor.”
“I hope so,” I said. “He really isn’t as surly as he’s seemed these past few days; he’s simply protective.”
“As he should be. I’m quite the shady character. I’m afraid I’m incapable of holding back my spurts of mischief, even from you.”
I’d give anything to be subject to Liam’s mischief forever if it meant I could keep him.
We continued our stroll hand in hand. The settling dusk bathed the meadow in ruby-rose light. I slowed as we approached the nearby grove, my breath catching when I caught sight of the dancing golden balls of light. “Lampyridae.”
Liam’s brows furrowed “Lamp…what?”
“Fireflies.” I opened my mouth to share all manner of interesting facts about them before closing it again with a heated blush, still shy to share my insect obsession, as Archer liked to call it. Liam grinned, proving once again I had no need to worry.
“I love how you use fancy terms for your insects. It’s just like a secret code. We should create an insect army, using their proper names to discuss them like generals strategizing for battle; no one will know what we’re talking about, providing us the element of surprise when we attack.”
I giggled. “You’re only proving that you’re indeed quite the shady character.”
“It keeps life interesting.” His attention quickly became recaptured by the fireflies. I w
atched them too, marveling at their beautiful glowing waltz against the night.
“Have you ever caught fireflies?” I asked.
“As a boy and admittedly as an adult as well.” He grinned mischievously. “Have you?”
“All the time.” Memories flittered through my mind like the surrounding fireflies. “Archer and I used to spend hours watching them. There’s something magical about creatures that are able to shine in darkness. I’ve spent hours studying their patterns and the various uses for their light. As larvae, it’s used as a warning to predators; as adults, while it’s sometimes used to lure their prey, its primary function is to attract mates.”
Liam grinned as his arms looped securely around me. “If I catch some, perhaps I can use it to attract my mate.” He traced his finger across my warm blush, likely deep enough to be seen even in the fading light. “I love how you blush for me.” He leaned down to lightly kiss both of my blush-coated cheeks before lingering inches away from my lips. “Anwen…”
His saying my real name gave me the confidence to meet his soft kiss. I hooked my arms around his neck and held him closer, basking in him and the beautiful moment.
A mischievous glint filled Liam’s eyes when he eventually pulled away. “Shall we have a friendly competition to see who can catch the most fireflies?”
“If you don’t mind losing.”
He chuckled and pressed another soft kiss to my brow. “It appears my Anwen is going to be a formidable opponent. That ought to make things interesting.”
“It’ll make things very interesting. Is your princely ego prepared for such a defeat?” I reluctantly untangled myself from him. “I’ll go fetch the nets.”
“I can get them. Where are they?”
I explained where to find them in the shed and smiled as he bounded off with enthusiasm to fulfill his quest. As I waited, I stared out into the settling night. The fireflies’ glow flickered in and out as they waltzed against the velvety darkness. It was mesmerizing. I became so lost in their hypnotic dance I didn’t even hear Liam return.
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