Kingdom of Cinders: The Kingdom Tales Book Three by White Deborah Grace

Author:White, Deborah Grace
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-922636-02-7
Publisher: Luminant Publications
Published: 2021-08-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Rian soaked in Penny’s amazed expression, enjoying the way her eyes lit up at sight of the small parcel he held out to her.

“Prince Rian,” she greeted him, sounding dazed. She sank into a curtsy that was noticeably more graceful than the last time he’d seen her. Rian felt a little stab of regret. He would miss her clumsy attempts. But then again, if she’d been practicing, it meant she’d been thinking of their upcoming meeting, preparing for it. He’d take that as a good sign.

“Penny,” said Lady Amaranthe, sounding a little taken aback. “You didn’t tell me it was your birthday.”

“It didn’t seem important,” said Penny, her cheeks tinged with pink.

After a lifetime surrounded by the careful masks of the court, Rian couldn’t help finding it endearing how often Penny seemed to blush. It didn’t hurt that the color made her fair face even more attractive, of course.

She looked up into his eyes. “I can’t believe you remembered, Your—Prince Rian.”

He smiled. “It’s almost the only thing you’ve told me about yourself,” he said lightly, “so it wasn’t difficult to remember.” He jiggled his outstretched hand expectantly, and Penny took the gift at last, blushing more furiously than ever.

“I have a feeling I shouldn’t accept,” she said skeptically, but she pulled the simple string tied around the package nonetheless.

When the brown paper opened to reveal a velvet-covered jewelry box, Rian heard Lady Amaranthe’s intake of breath. He sent her a small frown, hoping she wouldn’t spoil the gesture. She clearly recognized the box as issuing from the highly overpriced jeweler patronized by the royal family, but Rian was counting on Penny being blissfully ignorant of the value of the trinket.

Lady Amaranthe met his eyes, her own expression hard to read. But she kept her peace, and that was all he cared about for the moment. He returned his gaze to Penny, enjoying her poorly suppressed excitement as she flipped the box open.

She let out a soft “ooh” at the sight of the silver charm nestled in silk. It was delicately wrought, and twinkled with tiny gems.

“Now I’m sure I shouldn’t accept,” she said, but she made no move to return the box.

“Of course you should accept,” said Rian quickly. “It’s your birthday. And it’s not as valuable as it looks.”

He could feel Lady Amaranthe’s wry gaze, but he kept his eyes on the charm. It was true that the gift wasn’t as valuable as it looked, he reasoned with himself. It was considerably more valuable, because the jeweler always overcharged, doubly so if the client was royal. But Penny didn’t need to know those details.

“It’s lovely,” Penny whispered. “I shouldn’t take it…” She glanced up at him, eyes dancing. “But I really want it.”

Rian laughed. “I’m glad.” He gestured to her wrist. “I noticed last week that you wear a bracelet. I thought perhaps the charm could be added to it.”

Penny touched the bracelet, twisting it around her slim wrist. “It was my mother’s,” she said softly. “The only jewelry I have of hers, actually.

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