Heir of Pendel (A Pandoran Novel, #4) (22 page)

He was very handsome—there was no denying that—and deep down I knew my betrothal could've been
so
much worse, but I didn't want to think about Danton in that way. It would've been easier feeling sorry for myself if he'd been ugly.

"I was expecting your mother," I said.

He didn't respond, because he was too preoccupied letting his eyes slide over my body, as if it were time for dinner and I was the main course. The desire simmering inside of him made me so uncomfortable, I fought the urge to hide behind the door, and after much too long, his eyes settled back on my warm face.

"You wear Orindor well," he said in a tone that made me feel as if he'd started eating.

Anna had chosen a blood-red dress for me with black lace trimmings. The dress was fitted from head to toe, with little cuffs for straps that rested right on my shoulders, and in place of sleeves, I wore long, black, lace gloves. It was the neckline I'd had a particular problem with. It plunged in a low "V" in front and was completely open in back. Way too much visible skin to flaunt around his promiscuous lordship. A translucent black veil fell from my waist in back, spilling on the floor behind me in a train, beaded all over in black swirls that shimmered when they caught the light. It was a beautiful gown, and I might not have minded wearing it had the man standing across from me, looking at me like that, been someone else.

"Thank you," I managed, gripping the edge of the door. "You look nice yourself."

"Nice…" His eyes smiled. "I'll take it. May I…?" He nodded toward my room.

No. Never, ever, for as long as I live—no. "Oh. Uh, yes. Sure." I stepped aside, still gripping my door as if it were a lifeline. He strode past me and into my room. The room felt too small with him standing in it.

His eyes did a quick sweep. "How do you like your room?"

I closed the door, leaning back against it with my hands clasped behind me. "Truthfully? I liked the other room better. There's so much pearly dragonstone here, I feel like I'm sleeping inside of a clam shell."

He laughed and looked back at me. "Well, try to make the most of it. Besides, you'll be moving into my room in a few days." His eyes moved over me again, as if he were undressing me where I stood. There went one glove…the other glove…the fastening around my neck…

I cleared my throat. "It isn't nice to stare."

He looked back into my eyes. "It isn't nice looking like that when I can't do anything about it."

My cheeks burned hot.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm making you uncomfortable. I forget that you're a bit more unversed than what I'm…" This time, he cleared his throat, and I felt his embarrassment. "Never mind. I, ah, came because I have something for you."

I glanced up. In his hand was a red box, tied with a black, satin ribbon. It was a good-sized box—much too large for a ring, which gave me some sort of relief. Even though I knew I'd be wearing one eventually.

Danton took slow steps forward, as though he were approaching a trapped bunny, and he stopped a few feet before me, holding the box between us. His eyes searched mine, hesitant and hopeful, and, to his credit, when I took the box from his hands, he didn't move any closer. He watched me as I tugged the ribbon free and lifted the lid.

My lips parted with a soft gasp. It was quite possibly the most beautiful necklace I'd ever seen, and it had to be worth a fortune. It looked like it belonged in England with the rest of the crown jewels. A web of diamonds and onyx tapered in the shape of an upside-down triangle, and dripping from the point of that triangle was a multi-faceted ruby half the size of my palm, carved in the shape of a teardrop. The box was surprisingly light for something this size. Awed, I reached out and grazed my fingertips over the large stone.

"Do you like it?" Danton asked.

I'd almost forgotten he was standing there. "It's…beautiful," I said, and I meant it.

"Good." He sounded pleased. "It's yours."

I blinked up at him. "Danton, I can't accept this."

He looked at me as if my response was unfathomable. "Why ever not?"

I shook my head and shoved the box at him, but he stepped back, looking confused and now a little offended.

"Look," I said, "it's not that I don't appreciate it—I do. It's the most beautiful piece of jewelry I've ever seen in my life. I mean it. Truly. It's just…too much. I've never owned anything so…expensive."

Understanding softened the brow that had been hardened by offense. He then reached out and placed his hands around my other hand. "Well, now you do. You will be Orindor's pride, as you are mine, and as future Lady Pontefract, it's fitting you have something that suits you."

Yes, his pride. The very thing I'd wounded before and was supposed to be salving now. "It's very generous of you, Danton, but I really can't—"

He stepped closer, leaned forward, and kissed me. I froze—my words, my body, my breath. It was as if my spirit were suddenly in some other person's body, letting this man I didn't love kiss me. My heart screamed to run away, but my mind reminded me I couldn't. My mind also told me to kiss him back before it got awkward, but my heart wouldn't listen and my lips refused to move. I just stood there like a statue, letting Danton's lips press against mine. Thankfully, he pulled away before he noticed the battle my heart and mind were having.

He stood closer now, trailing the backs of his fingers along my jaw. I swallowed, feeling completely at his mercy and hating every moment of it.

"You'll wear it. For me." His voice was soft, but even amidst the tenderness, there was finality to his words. Just like there'd been last night, when I'd brought up the subject of Alex.

I swallowed. "Yes."

"Good." He cupped my chin, and I thought he was going to kiss me again—
please, no
!—but he didn't. "I'll help you put it on."

Without a word I turned around and handed him the box, lifting the large curl Anna had arranged over one of my shoulders. Metal and stone touched my skin, there was a cold pressure upon my chest, and the stones filled the empty space of gown with a shimmering "V". The ruby teardrop fell right between my breasts. Danton's hands moved light as a feather upon my skin, tickling my neck as he fastened the clasp. When he was done, he paused, his fingers still on my neck while his heat sweltered behind me. I released my hair, letting it fall back in place, and he moved his palm to my shoulder, turning me back around to face him. His eyes settled on the necklace—or ruby, rather—and then his fingertips followed. I didn't like his hand there, even if he wasn't actually touching me.

"Perfect," he whispered. By the way his eyes roamed, I wasn't sure what he'd referred to when he'd said perfect. "Waiting for you is going to be difficult."

I couldn't be sure, but it seemed as if the light in my room dimmed a little. I took a small step back. "You're a strong man, Danton. I know you can do it. Consider it a test of willpower."

He smiled at me. The lights hadn't brightened. "I didn't ask for such a profoundly difficult test."

"Profoundly difficult?" I laughed. "Do you always get what you want? Actually…" I held up a finger. "Don't answer that."

He grabbed my finger and brought it to his lips, and I could feel their warmth through my lacy glove. "I will be faithful to you," he whispered on my fingertips.

"You know, a man is only as good as his word, so be careful what you promise." I really wished he'd let go of my hand.

Instead, he turned my hand over and started kissing the underside of my wrist in a way that made me feel dirty. "I always am." He started pulling me toward him, slipping his other hand around my waist.

I leaned away, feeling flush, but he only pulled harder. "Did you forget already?" I asked, trying not to sound as frantic as I felt.

"This is hardly breaking any promises," he said along my arm. "I just want to kiss you."

But this did not feel like kissing. Not even close. I wanted to run away, but I couldn't. There was only so much pushing away that I could do, because I'd promised him I'd try to be a wife. That was the only reason he'd agreed to marry me. His mouth moved to my jaw, and I swallowed.

Just then, there was another knock on the door.

"Yes?" My voice could've passed for bewildered or panicked, and I just hoped Danton's ego persuaded him it was a result of the former.

Danton's lips moved toward my neck, and that's when I started squirming.

"Your highness, it's me: Lady Pontefract."

Oh, thank God
.

I was so happy I could've screamed like a fangirl. With my welcome excuse, I twisted, escaping Danton's hungry claws and headed for the door, my skin hot and crawling all over. I twisted the handle and opened the door with so much gusto, Lady Pontefract looked startled. And then she looked past me, into my bedroom.

She was an elegant woman, just as Danton had said, but I didn't see a hint of timidity. Her presence was authoritative in a way that made everything in the background seem out of focus. Reserved? She looked about as meek and mild as a lion. And she was—without question—his mother. Danton may have inherited those cold blue Pontefract eyes, but the rest of him belonged to Lady Pontefract. Fair hair, lean build and fine, high cheekbones. Even the set of their thin lips, the way they settled in a line, tapering downward at the ends as if they were born with a cynical disposition. Lady Pontefract's hair was a bit more grey than blonde, but somehow this only added to her regality.

She frowned past me. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

Translation: I had better not be interrupting anything inappropriate, or so help me (insert threat here).

The floorboards creaked as Danton moved to stand beside me. "Good evening, Mother." He reached out and grabbed Lady Pontefract's hand. "You look lovely." He kissed the gaudy gem on her finger. "And no, you haven't interrupted anything. Her Highness and I were just talking."

Lady Pontefract raised a sharp, pale brow. "I assure you that you and I share very different interpretations of the phrase 'just talking.'"

He released her hand with a light laugh. "And I assure you our dear princess is ever as prudent as you are, my darling mother."

I still didn't know where he got the idea I was so prudent, but I wasn't about to correct him.

"Thank the spirits one of you is." Lady Pontefract wasn't amused.

"Believe it or not, I'm glad too. It makes for a balanced team." Danton rested his palm on the bare small of my back and glanced sideways at me, while Lady Pontefract let out something of a dignified snort.

"I'll see you soon." Danton bent his head to brush his lips against mine, and then he bowed his head to his mother. "Where's Father?"

"In his study, with Carter," Lady Pontefract replied. "He asked that you wait with them there."

Carter was here. I was anxious to meet him, but it looked like I'd have to wait till the banquet.

Danton nodded, and with one last longing glance at me, he strode off down the hall with a cloud of satisfaction hovering all around him.

I looked back to find Lady Pontefract watching me. She was looking at my necklace.

"Did my son give that to you?" she asked. Her tone was almost friendly. Almost.

"Yes, my lady. He—"

"Cora."

"Sorry?"

"My name is Cora. I'm going to be your mother, so there's no need for us to address one another by title."

"Cora," I repeated, and she looked pleased. "Danton gave it to me just before you knocked."

"You don't like it?"

"Oh, no—it's not that at all. It's just…I've never owned anything this valuable."

Those cynical lips turned into a smile so warm it surprised me. "You'll have to get used to it, I'm afraid. Orindor is the jewel capital of the world. It would never do for a Lady Pontefract to go about dressed like a pauper. The Pontefract men's egos would never allow for it." There was a knowing glint in her eyes as she looked me over. "Come." She grabbed my arm and linked it with hers. "I'll take you to the hall."

I already liked this woman.

"That necklace belonged to the first Lady Pontefract, you know," she said as we walked.

"I didn't know that, my la—Cora."

She patted my arm. "Yes, it's an original Je Quai."

"I'm not familiar with that term," I said.

"Oh, forgive me. I forget you haven't grown up in this world. Je Quai was a world-renowned artist and jeweler from the city of Mosaque—perhaps you know where that is?"

My heart squeezed just a little. "Yes, I do."

She nodded. "Je Quai lived centuries ago—during the rise of Cristo Pontefract, the first Pontefract to rule as lord of Orindor. It was Cristo who commissioned Je Quai for that piece to give to his new bride. All of Je Quai's
pieces cost small fortunes, but the piece you wear around your neck was his pride. He spent years finding the right stones—he didn't want the necklace to be too heavy, you know. It's rumored Cristo Pontefract spent the rest of his life paying it off. That ruby was named after his wife—Estrella—and it's the largest one known. The Pontefracts have kept it in the family ever since."

"I don't doubt it." I didn't like that she was telling me all of this. I already felt like a liar, marrying a man I didn't love, and wearing his family heirloom made me feel like an imposter on top of it.

Our next steps went without conversation as servants bustled past. Once they cleared, Cora inclined her head to me. "My son is making a bold statement by giving you that gift."

The way she'd said that made me ask, "What kind of statement?"

She clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth. "My husband's philosophies have drifted far from those of the early Pontefracts. All of this is somewhat exacerbated by the current situation. My husband chooses to barter his power rather than build from within. He proposes to gain strength through alliance rather than fortify Orindor and let it stand on its own, as the first Pontefracts had done. My son believes his father devalues our borders by doing this."

I was surprised she was telling me this. I also didn't like the fact that Danton was using my image as a counterargument. "Do your advisors fall in line with your husband's thinking, or Danton's?"