Page 63 of Thus with a Kiss I Die

He had been truly disturbed by seeing me with Lysander, and I was sorry for that. “Cal, I swear to you, I won’t dishonor you. Lysander’s my first love, my first passion—”

Cal’s eyes slitted open to stare at me.

“—But you and I are betrothed. Perhaps the deed was done by a dishonorable trickery on your part—” I caught myself, recalled that harping on the past was a betrayal of my vow to my mother. And bitchy, considering there was no going back. Added to that, Cal was injured. “Nevertheless, Lysander is not just another pretty face. You know that. You gave him the commission for the lights on the tower.”

“He’s got an inventive mind,” Cal allowed.

“He does. He was also quite clear that the lamps were your idea, as was the different colors, so—”

“Don’t patronize me!”

I blinked at Cal’s vehemence.

“We’re different men. Lysander’s only responsibility is to prove himself to his family and the world. He will, perhaps, make a never-to-be-forgotten mark with his unique ingenuity. I carry the same burden every ruler has carried since the dawn of time. I’ll be remembered only in case of some great disaster during my reign. If all is well, I’ll be but a fond remembrance that rapidly fades.”

I was fascinated by this glimpse of Cal’s inner thoughts. “Do you seek greatness and the long tail of memory?”

“If greatness comes with keeping the peace in Verona, then yes, I seek it. The long tail of memory? No. Death finds every man. Time erodes the slab on which he rests. His name and body become dust.”

Wow. Way to raise all our spirits, Cal.

“Let death not find you tonight,” I instructed.

“Tonight will bring a finish to this crisis, one way or the other, but the challenges will never stop.” The pallor of the dungeon, always faintly etched on Cal’s face, increased with his weariness. “I do seek a home with the woman I . . .”

I hung on his hesitation like a piece of meat on a hook.

“. . . I respect.”

Way to rip that hook right out of me.

Elder spoke in my ear. “Either the boy handles you so cleverly, I am all admiration, or he handles you so badly, I fear for his long life.”

I whipped my head around to find Elder hovering beside me. “You, sir, are the winner of the ‘Least Desirable Father-in-Law’ contest.”

“I’m the only contestant.” Elder seemed to think he was being logical.

I wanted to be able to slap his smug, ghostly face, but I didn’t want to pass through his miasma. “I am not a stupid woman. I observe human nature. Cal may not seem like you now, but you’re his father. You’re his kinandhe knew you, so he well remembers what you’re like. Sooner or later, he’s going to get comfortable enough with me to be just like you.”

“With some of his mother mixed in,” Elder said.

“Not enough of his mother. Not enough to compensate for you! Knowing you does not make him a value-added husband!”

“Humph. Most women think I’m charming.” Elder vanished.

Cal watched me as if nothing of my one-sided dialogue could surprise him anymore. “You don’t like my father?”

“He doesn’t know how to keep his tongue between his teeth.”

His mouth twitched. Just once.

I easily saw what he so badly wanted to say.

Who was I to talk?

“Shut up.” I stood and flounced to Nonna Ursula’s side.

Who knew I could flounce? Not me.