Midnight Pearls Read Online Free PDF Page B

sitting at the table beside him. What would she try first? He yearned to have her dine with him. He had never been able to even show her the castle, though. He felt his cheeks burning with shame. For all her talk about the difference in their stations and her reluctance to speak with him in public, he was just as bad. He had never even spoken her name in front of his father.
    “So, Prince James is of an age to take a bride”
    Startled, James looked up from his plate and stared at Sir Stephen.
    King Philip nodded slowly. “Yes, he is.”
    “I imagine there are any number of eligible ladies eager to be his wife. It must be hard to choose between them.” The duke picked up his goblet and took a swallow. He set it back down on the table and with exaggerated nonchalance continued. “I have had several requests from young suitors for the hand of my own daughter, Elizabeth”
    James glanced uneasily at his father. He noted that the king was looking at Peter. Peter shook his head ever so slightly, and the king turned back to face the duke.
    James wasn’t sure what the interchange between Peter and his father meant, but he didn’t want to risk finding out. He didn’t like where the conversation seemed to be headed. “I’m sure one of them will make a fine husband for your daughter,” he spoke up quickly. “Having them be the supplicants for her hand puts her in a position of power, and you, as well,” he added pointedly.
    The duke flushed. James had touched a nerve. If the duke asked another to wed his daughter, it would put him in the weaker position, that of supplicant. The duke was sensitive enough to the subtleties of power to appreciate the difference, and to not enjoy being reminded of it. James was relieved. There would be no talk of his betrothal tonight at least.
    James turned his head away from the duke and caught sight of Robert, who had been quiet up until now, smiling wickedly. The smile did nothing to alleviate the crackling cold of his gray eyes. James met his eyes and was startled to see arrogance, rage, and hatred lurking in their crystal depths. A shiver slid up his spine.
    During the rest of the meal James was quiet, watching and, in turn, being watched. It was unnerving and it was with relief that he excused himself at the end of the meal.
    He quickly climbed the stairs leading to the living quarters, eager to be alone with his thoughts. Inside his room he strode to the window and stared out toward the sea and Pearl’s home.
    Of late he had found himself thinking more and more about her and often at the strangest times. Things were changing between them, in some subtle way that was hard to detect and even harder to understand. Maybe we’ve just grown up, and this is what it will feel like from now on.
    He didn’t know how long he’d been standing there before he heard a slight noise behind him. He turned around to see Peter standing a respectful distance away. “What is it, Peter?”
    “Your father wishes to speak with you.”
    “What about?” James asked, at once suspicious and curious.
    Peter just shrugged.
    “Don’t know or won’t tell?”
    The ghost of a smile touched Peter’s lips. “Perhaps a bit of both. He’s in the throne room.” With that, he turned and left, and James found his curiosity heightened even more.
    He left his chambers and made his way toward the throne room—further proof that whatever it was had to be somewhat serious, else they would have met in his father’s chambers. When he reached the room he found his father standing, staring out a window, much as James had just been doing upstairs. Silently James joined him, and together they stared out into the darkness.
    Without turning toward him, his father spoke. “You did well in speaking to the duke tonight. You discouraged him from his purpose and saved him the embarrassment of rejection.”
    “I couldn’t marry his daughter”
    King Philip turned to look at him. “You’ve met her?”
    “No, I’m sure