Chapter 90

Kit explained the situation to her father. “Well, I have grown very close to a few of them. There’s Cassius of Warchester Keep. I’ve Roomed him already. He’s quite strong and has a wonderful personality. I’m sure you’d be fond of him if you had the chance to speak with him for only a few moments.”

“I remember him from the day his delegation arrived,” Remont nodded, turning his chair so that he could face her. The duke had been present when she’d greeted all of the Representatives, though he’d had no say in anything and had stood far in the background amid the other nobles. “He seemed like a charming lad. Bulging biceps on that one.”

Kit laughed, clapping her hand on her knee. “Yes, that is certainly the case. Then, there’s Reeve of Erast Hollow. His family owns a ranch, so he’s highly skilled when it comes to working with animals.” She didn’t mention the horrendous scar Reeve wore from an encounter with an angry horned sheep. “Jate of Rockdale is sweet and talented with a bow and arrow. I think you’d appreciate how kindhearted he is.” A memory of Jate telling her he had never been with a woman before Kit entered her mind. Her father would appreciate that, though she didn’t plan to tell him.

“They all sound like good men, solid choices for you.” The duke was smiling, but Kit could see in his eyes that he wasn’t entirely happy. She imagined he was thinking back to her childhood, of the little girl he used to bounce on his knee, and reminiscing about days of old, times that could never come back to either of them.

“Yes, they are good men. But there are others. I haven’t quite made up my mind about Reeve and Jate, though I’ll likely be Rooming them. There’s also Landon. He has blond hair and a friendly smile. I am hoping to get to know him better at the fox hunt tomorrow.”

“Where is he from?” Remont asked, leaning back in his chair and resting his hands on the outside of one knee.

“Brendrake,” Kit replied. “So, naturally, I assume he is a strong fisherman and swimmer.” Brendrake bordered the Compazional Sea. “I know he is talented with a slingball.”

Remont chuckled. He’d been quite skilled at that game himself. “What of the lad from Farlington? Do you know much about him yet?”

Farlington had been her father’s province. Located near the middle of the realm, so not as distant as the name would indicate, most of the families who hailed from there were farmers or ranchers, similar to the neighboring province of Erast Hollow. “Danyen is nice and has an interesting sense of humor. I haven’t gotten to speak with him as much as I’d like to.” She remembered dancing with him the night before. “I hope to soon. Do you know his family?”

“I knew of his grandmother. She was acquainted with my mother. But I’m afraid I was already at the castle before Danyen was born.”

Kit nodded. “They must be well-respected or else he wouldn’t have been elected as the Representative, I suppose.”

“Oh, yes. He certainly comes from a strong family.” Remont smiled and for a moment, Kit was certain he was lost in thought. “Tell me, darling, are there any Representatives you are certain you will not be keeping?”

A loud sigh escaped her lips before she could hold it in. Aware that the guards were still listening and that her mother had forbidden her from dismissing anyone just yet, Kit kept her voice down. “There are a few. I should like to speak to them again at least one more time before I send them home, but narrowing my selection down a bit shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Her father’s head rocked back and forth slowly, an indication that he understood what she was saying, even though she wasn’t forthcoming with her decision. “Well, I do hope it all goes smoothly, my dear. I am so proud of you for the way you’ve handled yourself, especially considering the difficulties you’ve already encountered.”

It was easy to identify the fact that her father was talking about the situation with Jecob. He had been present during her speech and the subsequent ruling of the queen. What he didn’t know was that Eli had spared Jecob from the axman and that Armant had performed the castration in a much more humane way than Rona had ordered. Kit wasn’t about to reveal that secret to her father. It would do no one any good and put her friends at greater risk, should her mother ever discover the truth. “Thank you, Father,” she said, raising her eyes to meet his. “It has had its difficulties, no doubt. But so far the journey has been worth the hardships.”

“And it will continue to be so,” he assured her, his smile broadening. “I am certain you will find the perfect mate, someone who will do all he can to support you in every way possible.”

Her eyebrows lifted as she tried to ignore the idea that a man’s duty, first and foremost, was to make sure his wife was always pleasured significantly so that she could fulfill her duties to the highest degree. The thought that her own father was suggesting that she should focus her search on a man who could serve her best in that arena was not one she was willing to entertain. Nor could she tell him her plan—to select a man who was capable of contributing to her rule as an equal. A man... or men....

Rather than reveal the truth, Kit only said, “Thank you, Father. I truly hope so.” Her eyes flickered around the room once more, and a sense of despair began to settle around her. The drab accommodations, lack of natural sunlight, and feeling of isolation was enough to change her mood if she lingered too long, and as much as she loved her father, she knew it was best if she ended their conversation and headed back to her side of the castle, perhaps even back outside where she could soak up some sunshine and possibly find a friend or two to lighten her mood.

“You should probably get back to your chambers,” the duke suggested, obviously picking up on her train of thought. “I am sure you are quite busy these days, what with all of the attention seekers you have running about the castle.”

She giggled at his description, more out of politeness than humor. “You’re right, Father. I should be making my way back. I wanted to share what has transpired so far with you. I knew you’d be pleased with my choices thus far.”

“Oh, yes, I am.” His smile was genuine and it reached his eyes. “You take care on the fox hunt tomorrow as well.” His expression shifted to one of longing, and she remembered a time when he used to accompany the noblewomen on the hunt, though that was many years ago. Her father was always highly skilled when it came to tracking the creature in question.

“I will.” There wasn’t much else for her to say, so Kit rose, took a few steps over to him, and then bent down and kissed his cheek. “I love you, Father,” she whispered in his ear.

“I love you, too, Kit, my darling.” He patted her back, kissed her temple, and then released her.

As Kit approached the door, she turned to see he was still gazing at her, smiling warmly, and she promised herself she’d be sure to come and visit him more often, at least once a week, no matter how crammed full of duties her schedule and no matter how difficult the topics at hand might be to discuss with someone who cared about her so deeply. She owed that to the man who’d brought her into this world, the one person who’d been her champion since the day she was born.

Back in the hallway, Kit caught the eyes of the guard with the scar. His were a deep gray color, his hair beneath his guard’s cap a glistening ebony. He snarled in her direction, though he didn’t move or make a sound aloud, and Kit hurried her steps, thankful when she was around the corner and out of his sight. There was something about that man she did not trust, and she would be grateful if she could avoid him for the foreseeable future.