After we reached the inn, I decided that it was better to arrange everything on my own.
I stayed back with the horses while Deryl and his entourage went to procure rooms. Why unravel a mess when I could just do it right the first time? As soon as he was settled, Lish and I would handle things on our own.
I didn't realize that that was already giving the prince too much credit, and not five minutes later I watched Deryl stormed off down the road with his three attendants in tow.
Alright. New plan.
“Should we wait until they get back?” Lish whispered, asking for direction.
I shook my head and walked towards the front door. “No, let’s settle in and we can deal with His Highness when he returns… if he returns.”
“The Waddling Wombat is the best inn for miles,” Lish pointed out, “I can’t see our crown prince settling for anything but the best…”
She was right.
I decided to just go ahead and do the job myself, booked the best room still available for my prince, a standard room for his attendants, and a two bed suite I could share with Lish.
“Can we have dinner in our room?” I asked the elderly human at the front desk.
She nodded, “Of course, Miss. Here's the menu and your keys.”
I left the other room keys at the front desk for when the prince returned, and headed upstairs to the third floor.
That was when I saw him.
The man in the portrait.
He stood guard outside one of the rooms, and was in the middle of running a hand through his sweat-streaked and tussled hair.
Silver eyes met mine, widening slightly in recognition. The pair of us stood fixed, openly staring.
He was just so… big. There was a lot to see; from his slightly pointy ears, harsh cheekbones, and strong jaw to his heavily armored boots. When I dragged my eyes back up to his face, I noted with amusement that he was just as busy staring at... my hands?
I reflexively clenched and opened them under his scrutiny, and his eyes flicked back to mine.
Lish let out a subtle cough. In sinc, my potential betrothed and I stiffened straight.
“Ah–”
“Greet–”
He spoke at the same time I did and the we both cut short for the other. My cheeks burned, and even the tips of my ears felt hot under his intense gaze. Technically it was impolite to speak with another noble before an official greeting… but there was only Lishinia in the hallway to introduce us.
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I looked over my shoulder at Lish with an almost desperate plea.
“Miss Peregrine?” The man’s soft voice sent a shiver down my spine. It wasn’t too deep, but it carried, and there was a roughness to it that I liked. He knew my name, which was doubly embarrassing because I had absolutely no idea who he was! Curse that stupid prince!
I decided to fall back on something I did know.
“Greetings, Sir.” Dropping into a delicate curtsy and standing straight again, I self-consciously brushed my hand over my riding clothes; I was currently as disheveled from cross-country horse travel as he was. “I wasn’t expecting, that it to say…”
“--What my lady means,” Lishinia stepped in front of me as if shielding me from threat, “Is that this is no fit place for introductions, and she would like to retire to freshen up after her long days travel.”
The knight nodded, a hint of chagrin in his soft smile, “Of course…”
Lish grabbed my hand and practically dragged me to our room at the other end of the hall. I couldn’t help looking back over my shoulder at the knight.
I even waved a small farewell as Lish pulled me into the room and closed the door behind me.
“Wow.” I breathed, standing there in a bit of shock.
I wasn’t expecting to see him in person so soon.
I wasn’t expecting how large he was. Those muscled arms were so thick it might take both of my hands to wrap around one bicep.
That was going to be my husband?!
I covered the grin that played across my lips, trying to compose myself.
“I’m so sorry you had to suffer that.” Lish said. The maid was busy glaring at the door before turning back and offering me a reassuring smile. “I’ll pour you a hot bath and you can enjoy some quiet while I fetch dinner.”
“It’s alright, Lishinia–” I tried to say, but Lish shook her head.
“You deserve some rest,” Lish said strongly, “And it’s too soon to expect you to entertain suitors! Now let’s get your bath ready.”
I glanced back but did I was bid.
…
Lishinia prepared the bath, washed Lady Peregrine’s hair, cleaned her nails, and then left her mistress to soak while she ordered them dinner. Luckily, by that point that man was no longer blocking the hallway.
She couldn’t believe they wanted to marry off her precious mistress to such a lout! Lish could forgive the knight that he wasn’t from Sumbria and might not know their customs, but it was common etiquette not to greet other nobles before proper introductions were made.
And to try and strike up a conversation in some inn hallway! Completely inappropriate! The proper thing would have been no more than polite acknowledgement as they passed.
And the way he’d looked at Lady Peregrine! She wanted to hit him over the head for audacity. She almost had when his eyes lingered on her mistress.
Lishinia needed something to do to work out her restless frustration, and set about turning their room into proper living quarters.
She used Peregrine’s storage ring to store all of the original furnishings and then replaced them with a nicer bed, soft covers, and a dining set with plush leather seated chairs. For herself, she pulled out a small cot and down feather blanket more fit for a royal. It had been a birthday gift from Peregrine three years back and Lish loved it.
The food arrived just as Lish was helping comb out and braid her ladies hair. The potato bacon leek soup was rich and creamy, paired with a thick-cut garlic butter toast. Dinner helped mollify Lishinia’s temper a bit, but she was already set in her decision.
There was no way that her mistress would marry that knight. Lishinia would save her mistress from her forced engagement if it was the last thing she ever did.
