I sat up, acted as though I was too weak to stand, and lay back against Tristan’s chest. “Perhaps I should lie down somewhere instead of trying to make it to dinner.” The worry left Tristan’s voice, replaced by skepticism.

“You want to miss dinner?”

If it meant kissing a bunch of people’s hands, yes. “I don’t think I’m up to it.”

Into my ear Tristan whispered, “Would you be willing to swear to that in front of the Black Knight?” I stiffened, but didn’t answer. It was aggravating how easily he could see through me. “Is there somewhere in the castle that I could lay down?” Princess Margaret turned to her lady-in-waiting.

“Theodora, take our guest to my room and see that she’s brought some broth and bread for dinner.” A measure of smugness crept into her voice as though she enjoyed de-priving me of real food. “I fear anything stronger would upset her stomach.”

Tristan stood up, then held out his hand to help me to my feet. I didn’t let go of his hand, even after I stood.

“Perhaps we’d better just head back home.” 240/431

“I’m sure you’ll be fine,” he said. “I’ll check on you after dinner.”

Lady Theodora had already curtsied a good-bye to Princess Margaret and was motioning me to follow her, but I hesitated. “You won’t stay long?” He let out a chuckle that told me I should know better. “The king’s dinners can go on for a while.” Which meant there was no hope of leaving tonight. I dropped his hand from mine with a frustrated sigh.

Princess Margaret absentmindedly slipped the ring she’d been clutching back onto her finger, her anger at its bestower apparently forgotten. She held out her arm to Tristan. “That leaves you to escort me to dinner. I trust it isn’t an imposition.” Without another look in my direction he took Princess Margaret’s arm. “It would be a delight.” I would have felt snubbed by all of this, but I was too surprised to allow for any lesser emotions. I’d gotten a glimpse of Princess Margaret’s ring as she held out her arm to Tristan. Three golden hibiscus flowers. It was the ring I’d given Simon.

Chapter 16

Lady Theodora walked briskly through the castle hallways. I followed after her several steps behind. I didn’t care that she wasn’t speaking to me or even pretending to be hospitable. My mind was back on the ring and how it had gotten from Simon to Princess Margaret’s finger.

Was that who she had been planning to meet? And if so, why? On the other hand, the wizard and his apprentice both sold their wares. It was possible someone had purchased the ring from Simon and given it to Princess Margaret.

I also thought of Princess Margaret’s proclamation that Tristan was a would-be suitor and the way she’d taken hold of his arm with the self-satisfaction of a cat settling down on a favorite windowsill.

Lady Theodora reached the doorway of a tower. I could see the beginnings of a circular set of stairs. She turned to me with impatience and said, “This way, m’lady,” then disappeared through the doorway without waiting to see if I followed.

I went after her, holding up my skirt with one hand and keeping the other on the rough stone wall. The stairs twisted upward, one steep and rugged stone after 242/431

another. I didn’t dare climb them as fast as Theodora.

No banister curved along the wall and if I made one mis-step, I’d tumble down the whole thing.

I heard another set of footsteps echoing down the stairs and then an angry voice. “Is my sister with you?

I’ve been looking all over for her and that—”

“Your majesty,” Theodora cut him off. “I’m taking a guest to Princess Margaret’s room. The former page, Tristan, is escorting your sister to dinner.” Her voice had an edge of contempt when she said Tristan’s name.

“He’ll be telling of his adventure with the Black Knight tonight at dinner.”

“Will he?” the prince said dryly. His voice sounded familiar but I couldn’t tell whether it was the elder brother, Edmond, or his younger brother, Hugh.

The next moment I rounded the corner and caught up with the two. Prince Hugh looked down at me from several steps above. He seemed unchanged from the time I’d seen him eight months ago. The wavy brown hair, square jaw, confident stance. Your basic Prince Charming.

He gazed at me, one eyebrow slightly lifted as he took me in. “And you are?”

“Tired of climbing stairs.” I leaned against the wall, ready to slump into a faint again if he held out his hand for me to kiss. I threw in a curtsy as an afterthought.

243/431

Theodora pointed a reluctant hand in my direction.

“This is Lady Savannah. She came from Tristan’s land to bring him funds for his quest.” The prince momentarily twisted his lips and a flash of disapproval crossed his face. “Is that so?” I curtsied again even though I probably wasn’t supposed to. “Yes, sire.”

“You are his sister? His betrothed?”

“No, sire, just a friend.”

“Certainly you must be more than that to travel such a long distance to bring him funds.”

“No, sire.”

“Then you are a very good friend indeed.” I blushed. No one would consider me a good friend if they knew I was the one who got Tristan sent here in the first place. “I’m trying to be,” I said.

His gaze grew intense, his voice a little stiff. “And you are hoping that your friend will be able to defeat the Black Knight?”

The question stabbed me with remorse. I wasn’t sure anymore, but whether it was Tristan who defeated him or the castle guard who dragged him inside for Edmond to kill, I would be the cause of the Black Knight’s downfall. I swallowed hard, my gaze on the stairs.

“You don’t have an answer?” Prince Hugh asked, and I blushed again. It was his brother who was being 244/431

challenged, his family that was in danger. He wasn’t likely to understand my sympathies or feelings of regret.

My gaze flickered over to his eyes. “I just want Tristan to come home safe and sound.”

Prince Hugh let out a half-laugh and tilted his head.

“Then I suppose you wish for your friend’s defeat.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked.

Prince Hugh shrugged as if it was obvious. “If Tristan is able to do all that my father asks, he’ll win my sister’s hand in marriage and live here in the castle.” My heartbeat stopped altogether. Tristan was trying to wed Princess Margaret?

With a growing sickness in my stomach, I chided myself for not figuring it out beforehand. What had I expected? That after Tristan had destroyed the cyclops, killed the dragon, and beaten the Black Knight, King Roderick would just hand over part of his kingdom for Tristan to rule? Tristan was going to be made a prince by marrying a princess. That’s how all the fairy tales worked.

Prince Hugh’s gaze turned concerned and he took a step toward me. “Are you well?”

“She’s feeling ill,” Theodora said. “That’s why she’s going to Princess Margaret’s room to lie down.”

“See to it before she topples down the stairs.” The prince pressed himself against the wall in order to let us pass, but I didn’t move. I just stared at him. All of 245/431

this was so that Tristan could marry Princess Margaret?

I was helping Tristan to become Prince Edmond’s brother-in-law? Ironic, since if I’d married Prince Edmond, I would have been his sister-in-law.

Prince Hugh took hold of my arm and half-pulled, half-led me the rest of the way up the stairs to the princess’s room. He told me that he wished for my speedy recovery, but I hardly heard anything he said.

• • •

Princess Margaret’s room was on the top floor of the tower. A tapestry depicting unicorns lay against one wall, a fireplace stood at the other. That’s how you know you’re royalty. You have your own fireplace in your room.

Her bed had an ornately carved frame, and linen hangings were tied back to the bedposts. Two less glamorous beds— pallets, they called them, lay in the room; I supposed for her attendants.