The Beholder by Anna Bright

Author:Anna Bright
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2019-03-26T16:00:00+00:00

34

Bear crossed the room amid pleased murmurs, parting the crowd. Far from his typical worn leather jacket, tonight he wore a green tunic and sash, a golden crown on his head. We match, I thought faintly.

Silence reigned. My arms and legs began to shake.

“Him?” Lang demanded. His eyes tracked Bear as he joined the prince and king.

“As it happens, I’ve been married to Igraine for some time now,” said Prince Bertilak, taking the hand of the kind princess I’d been told was his sister. “So I’m not searching for a wife, myself.”

“And you?” My words to Bear were paper-thin.

Bertilak answered instead. “The seneschal-elect was here as potential bride to my only son, Prince Arthur of England, on whose behalf I would like to propose their marriage.”

I stood rooted to the ballroom floor, able only to gawp at the contented family before me. Basking in her husband’s magnanimous glow, Igraine smoothed the hair back from Bear’s forehead. Bear—Arthur—her son—ducked his head, grinning.

I had fallen for Bear. And it had been him all along. This changed everything, solved everything.

Didn’t it?

I’d hoped for this—for him—though I couldn’t stay, had never planned to stay. I’d never mentioned that point, the last piece of the truth, to Bear.

And if this solved everything, why was my stomach twisting itself into a knot?

I swallowed, finally meeting his eyes. Bear eyed me, expectant, smiling hesitantly. “You used a false name?” I asked, frowning.

“Bear’s a nickname. Not even a very creative one, I’ve just always been tall.” He gave a nervous laugh. “Surely you didn’t think I’d been baptized Bear Green, even when I was merely a guard.”

Bear’s exultant smile faltered as I stepped around Perrault, moved leadenly toward him. “You might’ve been. I didn’t think about it,” I said. My mouth didn’t want to work properly. “I didn’t think you’d make up something like that.”

I stared at him, stricken.

“Well, you weren’t completely forthcoming yourself, Your Grace,” Prince Bertilak cut in, twinkling. “We had a bargain.”

“Wh— Huh?” I’d half forgotten Bertilak’s presence.

Bertilak raised his eyebrows at me, feigning hurt. “Our deal. Our exchange at dinner. I brought my quarry to our table every evening, but you failed to do so yourself. Completely ruined our game, lying about your romantic dash through the rain.”

Constantine chuckled.

“What are you talking about?” I demanded. My breathing was ragged.

Bertilak faltered at the crack in my voice. “I’m sorry. Do forgive me,” he said, all traces of mirth gone from his voice. “That was unbecoming. But I— Selah, dear, I was only joking.”

“Joking?” I breathed. “You find this funny?”

“No, I’m merely—” Bertilak broke off, dismayed. He glanced to Constantine and Myrddin as if for help.

Myrddin stepped to His Highness’s side. “It had to be this way, Seneschal-elect,” he said simply. “We rather thought you’d be pleased to learn the truth.”

Understanding was a series of clicks and snaps in my brain, the sound of the truth fitting itself into place, unfolding itself into its natural shape.

Why Bertilak had left me alone, day after day. Why Bear hadn’t feared the wrath of his prince or Perrault.

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