Maybe that was because my father hadn't seen me for three years, and probably couldn't even remember what I looked like.
"She is beautiful indeed," Gerald said. "Such striking eyes, wouldn't you agree?"
I'd always wished to have my mother's eyes rather than my own. Hers were kind and loving, eyes that radiated peace. Instead, my eyes had the look of trouble. Wasn't that what Lord Endrick had said?
"Shall we eat?" Gerald politely gestured to our seats.
The table in this room was small, though it was larger than the three of us needed and certainly more elaborate than I'd been accustomed to for some time. Gerald took a seat at the head of the table, then Basil pulled out a chair for me at the far end and chose the chair nearest to it for himself. As a protector would be expected to do, Simon stood against the wall directly behind me. Basil never gave him more than a passing glance, but as I turned back, I noticed Simon's full attention was fixed on Basil, much like a wolf observes a sheep.
Plates were brought in piled high with candied plums, goat cheese, and rye bread. I was ravenously hungry and wanted more than anything to dive face-first into the food. Darrow's training from the past three years echoed in my mind, however.
"Patience brings victory," he often said. "Do not be in a rush."
He might have had different advice if he'd known I was starving, but as it was, all I could do was remember his words and know that I had the whole evening to eat as much as I wanted.
"Can we begin by agreeing this is awkward?" Basil reached for my hand. "We've just met, but it's already settled that we will be married."
I smiled insincerely and pulled my hand away to stuff a cube of cheese into my mouth. If he noticed, it didn't stop him from talking.
"We'll make our home in Reddengrad, of course, though allowances will be made for you to visit your father as often as you might want."
"I haven't been here for three years," I said. "I didn't miss this place even once."
"Ah." Well, now it was awkward.
"What sorts of activities do you enjoy?" Basil asked. "Sewing? Dancing?"
Sword fighting. Riding horses. Occasionally shooting disks into hay bales dressed like anyone who had annoyed me that week, if I was in a bad enough mood.
Of course, I didn't say any of that. I only nodded and ate another cube of cheese.
He broke some bread and, while eating pieces from it, said, "Let me tell you about myself, then. I'm good with a staff--"
I'd choose a sword over a staff any day. I preferred weapons with a pointy end. Darrow used to joke about that.
Used to ... I wondered if Darrow was still alive. If Celia had been rewarded for her treachery, or if the Coracks had decided she was no longer useful to them. It was increasingly difficult to tell the difference between innocents and enemies.
Basil was still talking. I'd probably missed a few things on his list. "I have a great deal of family money--"
As did I. Which was merely luck on both our parts, not a character trait. Unless he did consider that a character trait, which would be another strike against him.
"--and I'm kind." He leaned forward. "I'll be kind to you, Kestra. Always."
Behind me, Simon coughed, probably one he'd faked. He mumbled an apology, but it wasn't at all sincere.
After the first course, a spiced pea soup was brought in. To his credit, Basil had excellent manners, a reminder of how relaxed Darrow had been with the proper training I should have received while he was teaching me to drop from a tree onto a moving horse instead. No wonder I had driven Celia to betrayal. It was a miracle she hadn't done worse to me.
As we ate, Basil told me all about his estate, our future home, which had been given to him by his father, the king of Reddengrad. Basil would inherit the throne one day, though he anticipated that was many years away. His father was in excellent health and expected to live a long life, or something like that. I'd mostly quit listening by then.
Midway through his monologue, I turned to Gerald. "When do you think my father will be finished with his business for Lord Endrick?"
Gerald seemed surprised to have been remembered and looked up from his soup. "My lady, I don't know."
"Another hour? All evening? Until tomorrow?" In other words, if I got rid of Basil, would I have time to search the library?
"With the Lord of the Dominion, anything is possible," Gerald said.
Then my attention went to Basil. "What is your opinion of Lord Endrick?"