SABINE
“Good morning, Sabine,” Ian says as I walk to Lord Cavinder’s waiting carriage. “How is my lovely intended this morning?”
I give him a cool glare, desperately hoping Frederick will find the contracts in time.
Alaric speaks quietly with Alex near the carriage, both men looking solemn. It seems the prince is going to join us as well.
“Did you sleep at all?” Alex asks when I reach them.
“Not well.” And I doubt I’ll be able to rest on the trip to Kellington with our traveling partners.
“Frederick will be here shortly,” Lord Cavinder says. “He was feeling under the weather this morning, but I insisted he come. I’m sure he’d hate to miss a chance to see the Auvenridge Court.”
Alex turns his head sharply toward the man, just as startled by the news as I am.
Frederick can’t be coming—he’s supposed to stay here so he can continue to search the townhouse for the contracts.
“Frederick is joining us?” I say, trying not to sound as horrified as I am.
“He wasn’t going to, but I found him in my study last night.” Lord Cavinder pins me with his gaze. “He’s obviously overworking himself, so I decided he should accompany us. It will be a holiday.”
Alex looks ill, and it doesn’t escape Lord Cavinder’s attention. The man smiles to himself as he steps into the carriage.
Frederick and Phillip arrive only a few minutes later. When Frederick looks my way, I widen my eyes to ask if he found them.
He shakes his head, avoiding my gaze.
My stomach drops, and I take several deep breaths. My mind races as I try to think of another plan, but there is nothing. As soon as Alaric releases my magic, the contracts will be binding. There’s no way around it.
We find our places in the carriage—a tight fit when there are seven of us. When I try to sit between Alex and Frederick, Ian says, “Sabine, don’t you believe my future bride should sit beside me?”
Alex tenses, but I glance at him, silently telling him it’s not worth a fight.
I move to the other side of the carriage, taking the place between Ian and Lord Cavinder. Phillip squeezes in between Frederick and Alaric, the four men looking ridiculous crammed into the small space.
“Cozy, isn’t it?” Lord Cavinder says, his tone entirely too chipper for the occasion.
No one answers, and very few words are exchanged during the drive. The day is long, with only occasional stops. We stay the night in a small inn and tavern in Thornborough, and then we begin again the following morning.
By the time we reach the border, my back is stiff, and my tensed muscles are sore from two days of trying to avoid touching Ian and Lord Cavinder any more than necessary.
“We’re in Kellington.” Lord Cavinder peers out the curtain. Beyond, evening falls across the rolling hills.
“We’ll go to Sabine’s brother’s estate tonight,” Ian says like he’s in a position to make such decisions. “And then we’ll travel to Auvenridge tomorrow.”
“Can you remove Sabine’s ring now?” Lord Cavinder asks Alaric. “It’s been several days.”
“It’s difficult to work while traveling.” Alaric doesn’t smile, but there’s a crooked tilt to his lips. “You’ll have to forgive me.”
“It seems peculiar that removing the curse would require so much time,” Ian says, obviously not fond of the king’s eldest son.
“Does it?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever encountered such a thing.”
Alaric’s bland look becomes a smirk. “I suppose when you work the curse, you are able to remove it at will?”
Beside me, Ian stiffens. “I’ve never worked that particular spell.”