“Why haven’t you been involved in politics recently? I thought that was mandatory for a princess,” he said. He took a seat on a concrete bench with birds carved across the back of it.
Serena sat next to him, thinking how to frame her answer and not give away what she had been doing while at her beach house. No one except Iliana knew she had been selling her artwork and building her career as a painter. “My sister was to be the queen. I didn’t think my future entailed a throne, so I found other interests to pursue.”
“Tell me about them.”
Casimir hadn’t asked about her art directly, but she wanted to tell him. They had shared an experience that had changed her life and now she wanted to share this piece of her life with him. “I like to paint. And do yoga.” She spoke quickly, feeling strangely vulnerable.
“What do you like to paint?” He sounded both calm and interested without censure in his voice.
“The sea.” The beautiful sea, a source of calm and joy for her.
“I’ve never had much success with art. Or yoga. But I’d like to try it.”
“I could teach you to paint.” She offered quickly, without checking the words before she spoke them. It wasn’t like her to talk without thinking. She wanted a connection with Casimir, something to keep him in her life.
“Then it’s date. I’ll be in Acacia tomorrow to meet with my boat builder. Do you have time tomorrow?”
Tomorrow was Boat Day, a national holiday celebrating the water, and her schedule was full, but she would make time. She agreed, both nervous and excited about seeing Casimir again. Though this couldn’t end in a friendship—or something deeper—perhaps another day with her rescuer would satisfy her curiosity and she would stop thinking about him.
But looking at his handsome face in the soft lights of the patio, she had the impression it would be hard to forget a man like Casimir.
* * *
Casimir was glad he’d arranged an excuse to be in Acacia before tonight’s dinner party. His plan was unfolding as he had wanted, without as much manipulation as he’d expected. Tonight was about keeping the door open to his connection with Serena.
Convincing Fiona, the Countess of Provence in Rizari, to attend this party and bring him along had been easy. Making it clear that their relationship was platonic was trickier. He had been careful to keep their association on neutral ground. It worked out better for his plans for Serena. The princess had to see him as available.
Going through a traumatic experience, Serena’s heart would be guarded. Casimir would have to be diligent to breech those shields.
He had learned through a friend that King Warrington had been with his mistress that afternoon. Based on the king’s tardiness at tonight’s dinner party, he may still be with her. The idea disgusted him. Had Warrington considered Serena’s feelings before inviting her tonight and booking time with his lover earlier in the day?
The silver lining was that, for once, the situation was progressing to Casimir’s benefit. The king was missing in action and Serena had been drawn to Casimir immediately.
Casimir had to help her see that she would be miserable married to King Warrington. Though Warrington could give her some freedom, mostly because he cared only for her position and not for her, she would be bound by her marriage vows. Casimir sensed she was a woman who would keep those vows sacred. She would be loyal and true and consequently, she would be lonely and disappointed. The king would see no reason to stop seeing his mistresses on the side.
He wouldn’t treat Serena as an equal; he would devour her. He would exploit her, sleep with her, marry her and then keep her in his life in some superficial manner, maybe use her to give him legitimate heirs. He wouldn’t give her the respect and love she deserved. It incensed Casimir to think about it.
Granted, almost everything King Warrington did or said fueled Casimir’s anger. He wanted the man to suffer for what he had done. Killing his father, and dooming his mother to a life of misery, came at a heavy price and Samuel would pay it. That Samuel had killed, or arranged to have killed, his own father as well, spoke to the depths that Warrington would descend for power.
The doors to the patio opened and Samuel’s mother exited the dining room. Katarina strode toward Serena, looking regal in a red dress. Her dark hair bounced as she walked. Casimir recognized the glint in her eyes. She, like her son, was hungry for power and she would do anything necessary to secure an alliance with Acacia.
Underestimating Katarina’s ruthlessness would be a mistake. She held sway over her son and according to Casimir’s mother and rumors, she was vicious. Casimir wasn’t sure what role she played in the king’s and her husband’s deaths, but he guessed she was at least aware that her son had been responsible for it.
“Princess Serena, what are you doing out here?”
Serena blinked in the dark and rose from the bench. “Hello.”
“I was concerned when I saw you exit the dining room.” She glanced at Casimir and narrowed her eyes. “Do I know you?”
Casimir had been introduced to her twice before. Nice of her to remember. “I’m a friend of your son’s. My name is Casimir Cullen.” The word friend burned his tongue.
Katarina narrowed her eyes. Did she see the resemblance to his father? That resemblance had been difficult for his mother and she had made no secret of it. “Please excuse us. I would like to speak to the princess alone.”
Serena held out her hand. “If you think something improper was occurring, I must correct you. My guards are with me,” she gestured over her shoulders, “and Casimir saved my life.”
“Did he now? And how is that?” Katarina looked irritated.
Serena swallowed heavily and Casimir detected a tremor in her lips. She blinked and Casimir saw the tears shining in her eyes. Speaking about the night her father and sister had died was difficult for her.
“I was close to the princess during the massacre at her castle. I prevented one of the assassins from attacking her.” Short and to the point. No use drudging up the gruesome details of that night or saying “killing her.” Hearing him mention the tragedy had to be hard enough for Serena.
Serena looked at the ground and Casimir knew she was trying to compose herself. Grief was a brutal, unrelenting animal. He would have done anything in that moment to take away some of Serena’s pain.
Katarina folded her hands in front of her. “I see. Then allow me to thank you on behalf of my son for saving his bride’s life.”
Serena’s chest lifted and lowered as she took a deep breath. She seemed to be pulling herself together and when she lifted her head, her expression was calm. “Has His Highness arrived?”
“Not yet. Please, Serena, let’s have a little girl talk. What do you say?”
Before she could answer, Katarina turned to Serena’s guards. “You may wait inside.”
Serena straightened. “My guards stay with me.”
“The king has guards to protect his palace. You are not in danger while you are on the premises.”
“As you can imagine, after what I have been through over the past several weeks, I would feel better if my guards remained close.” Serena’s voice was saccharine sweet but there was no mistaking the edge in it.
“Very well.”
Casimir bowed to the women and strolled inside. Serena was timid in some ways, but when pushed, she wouldn’t hold back defending herself. He had thought Serena would be easy to manipulate, but seeing her strength in action was impressive. Made his plan harder, but notched up his respect for her.
* * *
Serena