“Boy, fetch the lady—”
“His name is Jamison,” Renna inserted, and Trev winced at the judgment in her tone. Apparently, she wasn’t impressed with the fact that he didn’t know his own stable hand’s name.
The boy visibly beamed with appreciation. That, or he was smitten with Renna too.
“Jamison,” Trev tried again. “Will you please fetch Dara for Miss Degray to ride this morning?”
Jamison’s eyes went wide with surprise. “Dara? Your Highness, I thought she was promised for—”
“It’s all right.” Trev kept his eyes locked on her. “She’s perfect for Renna.”
The boy bowed and scurried off. Renna turned her attention back to the horse in front of her, stroking the mane and whispering into his ear. For a brief moment, Trev wished he was the horse. It was a laughable thought.
With each passing second of silence, his nerves grew worse.
“Are you going to talk to me?” he asked.
“That depends on whether you are going to act like a complete jerk again.”
“I wanted to talk to you about that. To apologize for how I behaved last night.” His voice lacked his normal confident tone.
“Which time?” She turned to face him, anger burning in her eyes. “There are so many bad moments to choose from.”
“For it all. For the things I said. I don’t know what came over me.” He could see by her flashing eyes that he wasn’t getting very far with her. “There is a lot of pressure surrounding this marriage alliance. But when I thought you were the princess, I was excited for my future. Then you weren’t actually the princess, and I didn’t know how to handle my frustrations, so I acted like—”
“An ass.” She cut him off before he could finish, her eyes searing into him.
“Yes, an ass,” he said quietly.
Her expression was still stern as her focus went back to the horse, stroking his snout evenly.
He wished she would look at him so she could see how sorry he felt. “I really did enjoy our time together.”
Her hand paused its gentle movements as a new emotion swept across her face, but she quickly wiped it away. She cleared her throat and turned back to Trev. “I told myself last night that I didn’t want to be angry anymore, so . . . I forgive you. I can see how it was all just a silly misunderstanding,” she said, extending her hand for him to shake. “And I’m sorry for the assumptions I made about you.”
Her forgiveness was guarded and judging by the formal handshake she extended to him, things weren’t quite back to normal. But then, their normal had been so charged with attraction. They would have to find a new normal. Was that even possible?
He took her hand and immediately chills formed on the back of his neck, which made his heart start racing faster. He didn’t let go of her hand—just kept it there—the current spreading like fire between them.
“Friends?” he managed to get out.
“What else would we be?” Her words came out in a whisper.
What else could they be?
Nothing.
“That is, if you can handle being friends with me.” Her playful banter was coming back. That was a good sign.
He smiled with relief. “I’m sure I can handle it.”
Hearing sounds of Jamison’s returning, they both dropped their hands and shuffled apart from each other. The boy entered the stable with a stunning mare in tow, her coat sleek and black.
“So this is Dara?” Renna asked, admiring the beautiful dark horse.
Jamison led the black mare to where they stood. The horse seemed uneasy with her surroundings, pulling her head back against the reins.
“Hey girl,” Renna calmly whispered to the horse as she leaned in closer. “I’d like to be friends with you. I just became friends with the prince.” She eyed him with a whimsical gleam. “So maybe we can be friends too.”
Being friends is better than nothing, Trev told himself as he watched her.
The mare settled with each of Renna’s soothing words. “I think she likes me,” Renna said, her smile big and animated.
It’s impossible not to like you.
“My Lord, which horse should I prepare for Princess Seran now?” Jamison asked.
“This horse was meant for Seran?” Renna asked with guilt.
“Yes.” Trev nodded. “But I think she prefers you. Jamison, find Princess Seran a different mount. It looks like Dara and Miss Renna are friends.”
Jamison nodded and left.
Renna leaned her forehead into Dara, and Trev noticed the smile on her face. He had made her happy. Things were definitely looking up from yesterday.
“I feel bad taking Seran’s horse,” Renna said, still staring into Dara’s eyes.
“Don’t. We have plenty more.” Trev admired her as she stroked the horse’s thick mane. It was just another part of her that was attractive—the way she could put anyone or anything at ease.
“She’s great, you know.”
“Dara?”
“No. Seran,” she said, finally looking at him.
Trev swallowed. “Yeah, she seems wonderful.”
“Did you guys talk much at dinner?” After she asked the question, her face colored a bit like she remembered the dinner fiasco all over again.
Trev pretended not to notice. “I didn’t have a lot of time alone with her to talk.”
“Well then I hope you get a chance today.” Renna nodded, her smile tight.
He respected the way she was trying to turn his attention to Seran, but at the same time, it hurt. Somehow her efforts at being a good sister made him feel rejected.
“So do you ride as well as you dance?” he joked, wanting to get back into their usual banter.
Renna straightened her back. “I do dance well, but I am even better at riding.”
“Right,” he teased. Without even thinking, he took a stray lock of her golden hair and tucked it behind her ear. His hand brushed down her ear and then to the side of her neck unnecessarily. Her breath caught beneath his touch.
Behind them, someone cleared their throat, startling them both. They turned, and Trev recognized the guard who had found them at Wellenbreck standing in the stable doorway. It was like an alarm went off in this guy every time Trev touched Renna. Which was good, since he shouldn’t be touching her at all.
“Miss Renna, your mother requests an audience with you.”
“Miss Degray is joining the entourage for a tour of the countryside this morning,” Trev said to the guard with perfect timing.
The guard gave a stiff nod. “Of course, Your Highness. I will let her majesty know to expect her daughter later this afternoon.”
“Thank you, Mangum,” Renna said.
Trev raised his eyebrows in interest. So this was Mangum—the guy Renna had pretended to drown for. This made Trev like her even more. Unfortunately.
“Princess Seran is waiting just outside the stable for you, Your Highness,” Mangum said with a stern, pointed look at them both. Then, with a quick bow, Mangum disappeared out the barn door.
Renna took a step back from Trev, her expression guarded again.
“I guess I’ll see you out there,” she said tonelessly. She pulled Dara’s reins and led her out the back, leaving Trev standing in the stable alone.