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“A foreign princess or local noblewoman certainly would.” Toren ground his teeth together at the thought of all the women he’d considered over the past month. “I cannot believe my brother is insisting on upholding this. We only have a handful of years.”

And therein lay the reason for next week’s announcement. Toren hadn’t quietly found someone willing to enter a breeding alliance—not anyone he would trust, at any rate—so he would begin to search beyond the courtiers and nobility. It was foolhardy to throw that intention out there, but his brother’s missive made action imperative. Ber would return within the year to issue a formal challenge.

The bastard couldn’t even wait for the full century to pass.

“Have faith, my love,” Mehl said softly, taking hold of his hand. “We’ll find someone.”

Dread curled through Toren all the same.

* * *

Ria trailedher father through the marketplace lining the main road up to the palace. Here, the wealthy nobles sent their servants to buy luxury goods, but she and her father were well known among the cloth and dye vendors, too. Where else would they acquire what they needed to outfit the elite clients her father sought?

When they neared the outer stall in front of the dye merchant’s shop, Enry caught sight of her and waved her over. Ria’s breath hitched. Had he finally found it? She sped up until she walked near her father’s left hand, though she was careful not to get ahead.

“Pardon me, Father,” Ria said, careful to stifle any hint of excitement. “But I believe Enry wishes to speak to you.”

Her father scowled. “We are needed at the palace.”

Drat. If he refused to stop, she would have to find a way to sneak back by, and then her father might think she’d found a new lover. That would never do. He grew even more obsessive about her if he believed she might bear a child he could abuse.

“Of course, you are correct. I only wondered if he’d found that royal green dye you wanted. If so, I’m certain he would hold it for you until later.”

“That would be a benefit for this appointment,” her father mused softly. Then his ill-humor dropped, replaced by the fake affability he used in public to mask his perfidy. “Come, now, Ria. We may take a moment’s pause.”

His loud, cheerful announcement wasn’t intended for her, and they both knew it. But far too many of those around them had no clue. “As you say.”

Any observers might have thought she’d been trying to talk him out of the stop, but she had long ago learned that others’ perceptions made no difference to her life. They saw what they wanted, and what they neverwantedto do was help. Even if they’d noticed how cruel her father could be, they never would have confronted him on her behalf. They were too busy convincing themselves that they must be mistaken.

What wealth didn’t hide, it suppressed or erased.

Ria was taking enough of a chance trusting Enry, and even he didn’t know the full extent of it. Thankfully, the glance he gave her held no hint of the mission he’d undertaken. He greeted her father normally and did his best not to give her special attention.

“We’ve been summoned to the palace, boy,” her father said, his voice ringing proudly around them. “So I must keep this brief. Did you find what I requested?”

Enry inclined his head. “I did, Sir.”

“Good. Give the parcel to my daughter, then, and send the bill to my workshop.”

Normally, she would have paid upon receipt for such a costly dye, but Enry ducked into the shop to retrieve the packet without argument. Was it because of the mission? Gods, she hoped so. It would be magnificent if he delivered her freedom right in front of her father without him realizing.

Enry rushed back through the door, every inch the earnest apprentice. Her father called him a boy, but Enry was twenty-five, only a year older than she was. It wouldn’t be long before he’d learned enough to set out on his own or at least manage a different shop beneath his mother’s supervision.

“Here you are, Ria,” Enry said politely as he handed over a small waxed-paper bundle. “There should be ample for your needs.”

Her heart slammed in her chest. That was the code they’d developed between them. He’d truly done it.

“Thank you,” she answered. Ria tucked the bundle into her basket and hoped her father didn’t notice how her hands trembled. “Your service is well-timed.”

“You are welcome.”

Enry gave her the briefest smile before turning away. Almost as soon as he had, her father grabbed her elbow in a firm grip just short of painful and directed her back to the path. His pleasant expression didn’t slip, but when he spoke, his voice was low and brutal.

“I warned you I would not allow you to wed. Do not think to defy me with Enry. Lovers only, and not with customers or clients.”

“I have no romantic feelings or intentions toward Enry,” Ria said. Quiet earnestly, since it was the truth. Her defiance had nothing to do with marriage. “I promise. A hint of familiarity earns us more dye for our coin, but I would never give him cause to consider courting.”

His hold loosened. “Just remember that you and any children you might bear belong to me. It is the least I deserve after marrying your mother for your sake.”