One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns #2)(20)

“Suitors,” Jules says, and grins.

Arsinoe pulls her light summer quilt up over her head. She had been so focused on Mirabella that she completely forgot about Tommy Stratford and Michael Percy.

“Wake me when it’s over,” she says with a moan.

“Well, if that won’t get you up, how about the fact that on the way back from the southern field I ran into Madge and she said that Billy’s mainland boat put in this morning?”

Billy arrives at the Milone house just after noon, as Arsinoe is walking her bear in the far west part of the yard.

“Well, well,” says Billy. “Joseph told me it was true. I almost didn’t believe him.”

Arsinoe grins. He is such a welcome sight. She had not realized how much she had been waiting for him, how much she missed him while he was away.

“His name is Braddock,” she says.

“Braddock the bear. Seems fitting enough. Is he safe?”

Arsinoe strokes Braddock’s large forehead. She has been with him since the morning, getting him used to the smells and sounds of people. The Milones are naturalists, and their gift puts the bear at ease. But giftless folk will see him at the feast as well, and clueless mainland suitors besides. No matter how docile the bear seems she must take extra care. With his sweet face shoved into her hip, it is easy to forget that theirs is a bond of low magic, not of familiars.

“He is safe for now,” she says. “He’s stuffed full of ripened apples and striped bass. Plus one of the children who came round to spy on him.”

Billy cautiously slides his fingers into the bear’s brown fur.

“He’s . . . ,” Billy says, and swallows. “Softer than I thought. And he doesn’t smell like the last one.”

“The last one was old. Diseased. It was a mistake. Or maybe it was the price for this one.”

“Low magic, right? You never know the price until you’ve paid it.”

Arsinoe shoves him playfully, and Braddock raises his head.

“What would you know about it, mainlander?”

“Less than nothing,” Billy says. Then his eyes lose focus on the ground. “I have some news.”

“News. I’m beginning to hate that word. It is never anything good anymore.”

Billy does not smile or tell her to stop being so glum. But it cannot be so bad when he has just returned.

“I’m afraid I’ve been sold to the Westwoods,” he says.

“What?”

“I’ve been appointed Queen Mirabella’s royal taster. My father’s punishment for refusing to take part in the courting. I’m leaving for Rolanth tonight on pain of disinheritance.” He smiles ruefully. “Always on pain of disinheritance. But he let me come back here to tell you. He gave me that, at least.”

“But,” Arsinoe sputters. “You can’t!”

“I must.”

At her anxious tone, Braddock bobs his head and wanders away.

“Junior! Don’t be an idiot. You can’t be her taster! Doesn’t your father understand the danger? She . . . Katharine is already sending poison to Rolanth. One of Mirabella’s maids has already died in a poisoned dress!”

“It was not a poisoned dress,” Billy says. “It was a poisoned glove. And she did not die. They cut off her hand in time. They don’t even know if it would have killed her or if Katharine is only playing.”

“The Arrons do not play,” Arsinoe insists. “And how do you know all that?”

“My father discussed it with the Westwoods at length.”

Her brow furrows, and he smiles charmingly and slips his hand onto the back of her neck, beneath the fall of her hair. That stupid, mainland bluster, but she cannot seem to move away.

“Do all mainlanders think themselves immortal, or is it just you?”

“I will be perfectly safe! My father wouldn’t put me at risk. And when he’s done being angry, I’ll come back to you, I promise. In the meantime, I can be your eyes and ears on Mirabella.” He caresses her mask with his thumb. “I heard what happened in the woods. You shouldn’t have gone up against her like that. You great half-wit.”

She pushes his hand away from her mask.

“Are you sure that your father wouldn’t make some other bargain? He is always in Indrid Down, with the Arrons.”

“He likes Indrid Down. It’s more like home. Civilized. He’s looking forward to ousting the Arrons when you are queen.”

She rolls her eyes and he laughs, trying to cheer her.

“Don’t be so worried! I’m his only son. And where I come from, that means something.”

“Can’t anyone change your mind?”

“No one,” he says. “Not even you.”

“So you’ll leave. When?”

“We’re sailing for Rolanth today.”

“But you’ve only just returned.” Everything inside her is suddenly heavy. She takes a clumsy, half step forward and throws her arms around Billy’s neck. After an initial “oof” of surprise, he holds her tight.

“Don’t be daft,” he says into her hair. “No matter how far I go, I’m still your person. We stand together now. We are together now, aren’t we?”

“Are we?” she asks.