Casimir must have felt her move, because he put one arm around her waist and lifted her up. She didn’t realize until she was this close how big he was. She let her nails run up his neck to curl in the hair at the base of his head.
Abruptly, Casimir lifted his head from hers, and gently set her down.
“What’s wrong?” Thea felt dazed.
“Nothing. Nothing’s wrong. But if I don’t stop touching you, I might do something that we should not.” He lowered his head while speaking, looking at her through hooded eyes. “You are so beautiful.” He backed away, putting more distance between them.
“So are you,” she said.
“Thea, I’ve rumpled you. You need to find a place to tidy yourself. I’ll go and get ready for dinner this evening.”
She caught his hand. “No. Oh, Casimir, please stay with me. Don’t leave, not yet.”
His voice broke. “I can’t be with you and not be touching you, Thea. It’s agony.”
“Then let’s sit somewhere in the open, where we must behave, where we can be seen, and neither of us will be tempted to do something we shouldn’t.” She didn’t want to let him leave. She couldn’t be sure whether she’d see him alone before the final day. She didn’t want to squander the chance.
“Then let us sit in the gardens. I’ll deal with my armor, and we can talk. It will be innocent.”
“Casimir,” she said, after he’d put his things away and they moved towards the gardens. “I nearly burst into flames just looking at you. There is nothing innocent in being near you. Particularly when you are looking so…so….”
“Yes?” He was amused.
“Manly,” she finished.
Casimir laughed out loud. . “You’re right, Thea, it’s not innocent. That one word makes me want to show you how manly you make me feel.”
“I might not survive it,” she muttered.
“We’ll survive it together,” he said seriously. “I meant it. Once I tell your father the answer to the mystery, the next stop is the priest.”
“Aren’t you worried about Sebastian?”
“Somewhat. He does have a prior claim. But I shall have you.” He bent down, unbuckling his practice leathers. Without looking up, he asked, “Have you considered not being queen of Gallivas?”
“What?” That was not what she thought he was going to say.
“That was callous of me. Let me try this differently: Do you think that Sebastian has feelings for one of your sisters?”
“Yes. I believe it’s why we have not been disturbed.”
“I don’t mean to be insulting, but do you feel his interest in you is because you are the heir?” He must have worried how his words sounded because he rushed on. “I think he’s a fool. You are worth more than ten kingdoms, but what I am trying to say is that I think he would withdraw his claim if you passed the crown to Adelaide.”
Thea sat down heavily onto one of the benches that were scattered throughout the gardens. “I’ve never even considered not being queen, Casimir.”
“But you would be queen. Of Ethion.”
“You would be willing to give up Gallivas? You realize that you would be forfeiting just as much as I would?”
“I do. I don’t need two kingdoms. I think it would be difficult. While we are neighbors, our countrymen do not think of themselves as brothers. More like cousins. Distant cousins. To live together takes work. Personally, I think Sebastian would struggle, but I am willing to give that up. Only if you are, though.”
“You have been doing a lot of thinking.”
“I have. I’ve been watching Sebastian a lot. And you. And your sisters. I think we can remove all the obstacles from our path, Thea.”
“You’re missing one.”
“What do you mean?”
She looked at him. “What did you discover last night?”
“That the wine you serve is strong. I fell to sleep directly.”
“Cas, my father considers your agreement binding. You cannot break it.”
“I will solve the mystery, Thea.” He reached down and touched her chin.
“Why didn’t you propose this before agreeing to take on the mystery?”
“It hadn’t come to me then. I was considering if he and I had equal claims, what could I offer that would make him give you up entirely. I never thought of you as anything other than the queen of this kingdom. I know what I am asking you to give up, but…” for the first time, Casimir looked shy.
“What?”
“I will make you happy, Thea. I will make sure that you never regret any sacrifice you make for us. I’ll love you forever.”
The honesty on his face made her burst into tears. She covered her face with her hands. “You…you can’t know…you can’t know what will happen. What if you do not discover anything, and you have to stand in front of my father with nothing?” The thought made her cry harder.
Casimir knelt down next to her and carefully removed her hands from her face. He gave her a handkerchief to dry her eyes with, then he put his arms around her and gathered her to him. “I love you, Thea.”
She buried her head into his chest. “I love you.” She hoped it would be enough.
***
Three days later Thea remembered that conversation in the garden. She sat with her parents and sisters and the Privy Council in the reception room. Casimir stood in front of them.
“Prince Casimir, what have you learned about what goes on with my daughters?”
Casimir met the king’s eyes, and said, “I have learned nothing. I cannot tell you what happens or if they go somewhere. I do not have the answers you seek, the answers I promised to give.”
Thea forced herself to keep looking at him. Of course he didn’t. She’d given him the potion for the second and third nights, as directed by Catrin. Last night, she’d wept as she poured the cider. Casimir had asked for an ale the second night, stating that the wine was too potent. Last night, he’d requested cider.
Through it all, until this moment, he’d maintained optimism that he would prevail. But now, looking at him, Thea knew it was over.
Aland sighed. “Is there nothing you can share with us, Casimir?”
“I am sorry, Your Majesty. I wish that I could, but I will not lie. I cannot.”
“Very well. You know what comes next?”
“I do. I will not falter on the agreement we made.”
“Take him.” Aland gestured to the guards.
Thea thought he looked very aged at that moment.
“Your Majesty, may I make a request of you?”
Aland held a hand up, staying the guards. “You may. I will do what I can to grant it.”
“May I stay in the same room I’ve been in for the past three nights? Your daughters are fine company. I’ll accept whatever guard you’d like to have there. I merely wish to pass my last night pleasantly.”
Aland exchanged a glance with Ceridwen. He turned back to Casimir. “You may. I will, however, have two men at your door. Additionally, the queen will be in chambers. Will you give me your word you will not try to escape?”
“I will, and I thank you.”
“Daughters, do you wish to accompany the prince back to your quarters?”
Nearly as one, Thea and her sisters rose. “We do, Father.”
“Then I will allow you to remain in chambers until tomorrow morning. My dear,” he turned to Ceridwen. “Will you go with them now?”
“Of course.” Ceridwen stepped out and next to Casimir. He offered her his arm. With a guard on either side of them, they walked out of the reception room. Thea and Adelaide walked directly behind them, with the rest of the princesses behind them. Adelaide gripped Thea’s hand. Thea squeezed it back, hoping that Adelaide didn’t do anything else. She wasn’t sure she could maintain her dignity as it was.
Ceridwen was leading them through the lesser traveled corridors, for which Thea was grateful. She didn’t want to see Sebastian. She might shriek at him like a fishwife if he said
one ill word about Casimir. Thankfully, they didn’t encounter anyone and made it back to their chamber.
She was determined to be strong until the end. She also determined that she would not marry Sebastian. If that meant she gave up the throne, then so be it. But she would not marry him.
Once inside, Ceridwen called a maid in. Thea could hear her giving orders for food and drink. The maid left, and Ceridwen turned to them.
“Ladies, I think that we need to give the prince a little privacy.” She shooed everyone but Thea forward, and looking over her shoulder, gave Thea a pointed look. Thea smiled. Her mother was giving her the best she could.
“Your mother is a kind woman.”
“She knows I want to spend the day with you.”
“This is not going to look good for you, Thea.” He was worried.
She half-laughed, half-sobbed. “You are facing the executioner tomorrow and worrying about my reputation? I would venture a guess that it’s already suffered.”
“Just because I will be dead does not mean I stop loving you. I want the best for you.”
“I love you.” She stepped closer to him and let him encircle her with his arms. In spite of everything, she felt safe within them.
“And I love you. Forever, until I see you again.”
“Stop it. I’ll start crying and I’ll never stop. That’s not how I want to spend my day with you.” She threaded her fingers through his and led him into the solarium. What she wanted to do was lead him into the bedchamber and close the door, but her mother would not allow it. She wouldn’t even ask.
Instead, they sat on the balcony outside the solarium. They held hands. Sometimes, her sisters would come over and talk to him. Even Isobel, who cried when she walked away from where Thea and Casimir sat. Thea watched her, unsure of how she felt. She set it aside. She’d have plenty of time to work through those feelings later.
As the day passed into night, everyone sat in the solarium, eating and talking. By silent agreement, they talked of light subjects, of times when Casimir was fostering. Surprisingly, there was a great deal of laughter. The main door opened, and Aland slipped in.
“I would have been here earlier, but I had business to attend to.”
“Father, what about dinner?” Thea stood and walked to him, Casimir at her side.
“I let it be known that we would not be dining in the hall out of respect for Casimir. I am sorry, young man,” he said, putting an arm on Casimir’s shoulder. “I don’t see a way out of this.”
“I understand. My father will as well. He won’t be happy, but he and I discussed this possibility.”
Aland didn’t speak. Thea thought he might not be able to. Casimir was such a good man. This is the man who should have ruled with her.
“My dear, how fortunate that we have just sat down to have something to eat,” Ceridwen said to him, drawing him over to a chair. She brought him a selection of meats and cheese and sat next to him.
In spite of the coming day, they all sat together. Finally, Aland stood. “I must go. But you will remain here. You,” he said to Casimir, “Will say goodnight, and go to your room. I will give you a quarter of an hour to say your goodbyes. I will instruct the guards to join you after that.” He kissed Ceridwen and looked at all his daughters.
To Thea, he looked as though he was holding back tears. He then hurried from the room.
Ceridwen stood. “Ladies, we shall retire. Casimir, bless you.” She walked into the sleeping chamber, the princesses following.
Thea was left alone with Casimir.
“We have a quarter of an hour,” she said.
He took her hand and practically ran to his room. Wrenching open the door with his free hand, he dragged her inside and shut the door behind her.
Without words, he pinned her to the door with his body. He was looking into her eyes as he leaned down and kissed her.
Every other kiss he’d given her paled. In this she felt all that he’d wanted for them. All the love that he’d not been able to express. She felt his want and his need, and she put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.
As in the stairwell, he lifted her up, balancing her against the wall. He kissed down her neck and onto her collarbone.
Suddenly, he buried his head into her shoulder, breathing heavily. “I need your strength tomorrow, Thea.”
“Whatever you need, you have it from me, my love.”
“I’m afraid I’ll lose nerve at the last moment. Will you look at me until the end?” He lifted his head and she could see that he had tears in his eyes.
“I will. Let that be the last thing you see. My eyes, filled with my love for you.”
He kissed her again, but gently this time. The tears fell from his eyes, and hers mingled with him. Too soon, there was a soft knock at the door.
Casimir opened it. Ceridwen stood outside. Thea could see that she’d been crying. “Thea, it’s time.”
Casimir took her hand and stepped outside. He bent over Thea’s hand, lingering. A soft brush of his lips, and he stood up. “I shall love you always.”
Thea couldn’t speak. She touched her lips with her fingers, and ran to the bed chamber. Flinging her clothes to the floor, she got into bed and pulled the pillow over her head, and allowed her heart to break.
***
When she opened her eyes, they felt swollen. She ran her fingers around them. They were. Casimir was to die tomorrow, and she and her sisters still had to get up and dance. Well, let’s see if they could break the curse tonight. Unlike the previous three nights, she’d not had to add anything to Casimir’s drink. There was no potion left.
She kicked the bed where her mother slept. Ceridwen didn’t stir. She stormed over to where the lady-in-waiting sat in her chair. She shook the chair. The lady nearly fell out. Thea caught her and set her back up as best she could.
Thea then went to the room where Casimir slept. As she opened the door, she felt someone behind her. It was Adelaide. Together, they walked into the room.
Casimir looked peaceful. Thea kicked the bed as hard as she could; he didn’t move. She shook his arm. His head just moved back and forth, but his eyes never opened.
She said his name, over and over, and as the tears started again, she let them fall onto his face. Finally, she stopped speaking. Leaned over, and kissed his lips for the last time.
Adelaide took her arm. “We must go.” She led Thea to the door. Thea couldn’t take her eyes from Casimir.
“Oh, my love.” She whispered.
Adelaide closed the door. “We must go. I’m sorry.”
Thea got ready, not really paying attention to what she wore or what she looked like. As they walked down the stairs, she stumbled, not paying attention.
She stared off into space as Roderick met her, as he did each night, and helped her into the boat. She let him lead her into the castle, and she danced with him. When she did notice him, she saw that he didn’t really even pay much attention to the fact that she wasn’t speaking.
Catrin didn’t make an appearance that night either. She’d been hoping, on one of these nights, to see her. But Catrin had not appeared since she’d come to Thea’s dream and told her to use the potion.
Finally, the night ended. Thea fell into bed fully clothed, not caring who might see. She woke when the maid woke Esmay.
Unlike last night, she took care with her appearance. She put on her best dress and some of her most elaborate jewelry. She dabbed her face with cool water to ease the swelling, and decided that even though she was very pale, she would not disgrace herself or Casimir.
She walked with her family to the courtyard. As before, the scaffold was set up in front of the grandstand box. The Privy Council and Sebastian were already there. Sebastian was managing to look solemn, but just barely. Thea turned from him. She would not sully this day by worrying over him.
They took their seats, and then Casimir came out, surrounded by guards as Ulric had been. Like Thea, he had also dressed in his best.
He looked even more beautiful than normal.
From the moment he had been brought into the courtyard, he met Thea’s eyes. She did not look away. As he was led up to the scaffold and up the steps, he was forced to look at something other than her.
The moment he stepped onto the scaffold, he turned around, and found Thea again. A priest hurried towards him, but he waved him away. The guards stepped back, and still looking at Thea, he moved behind the stone.
As before, there was a crowd. They were so silent, however, that Thea barely noticed them. She paid attention to nothing but Casimir. She didn’t smile, but she let her love for him show in a way she’d not been able to do before. She knew she exposed herself, and she didn’t care.
Casimir spoke to the executioner, and handed something to him. The executioner tucked it into his belt and stepped back.
In ringing tones, Casimir said, “I do not regret that I give my life today. I would do it again.” He looked at Thea, and held two fingers to his lips.
“Those whom I love, I love always.” He kept looking at Thea. She could hear some of her sisters start to cry.
As he knelt down next to the block, Thea knew that life would never, ever be the same again.
***
Casimir laid his head on the block. He couldn’t look at Thea any longer. The tears he saw streaming down her face threatened to unman him. While he still struggled with the idea that he really was going to die, he didn’t want to be unmanly, to disgrace himself, his father, his country…and her.
He couldn’t help it—he opened his eyes to look at her once more. Unwittingly, his lips curved into a smile. Even with her crying, she was so beautiful, dark hair, fair skin and dark eyes. Those eyes were the last thing he wanted to see, wanted to remember. She never looked away from him, never wavered. She’d promised. He smiled at her. Like it or not, here he was.
He was ready. The axe blade fell.
Epilogue
The old woman stood at the edges of the crowd brushing at her eyes with a brown and wrinkled hand. “Stupid,” she muttered. “Stupid.” She swiped at her cheek and patted the donkey that stood next to her, hitched to a small cart. “Well, we need to move now, Constantine. We’ll need to be swift.”
Thea's Tale (Sisters Of The Curse Book 1) Page 29