out between us? I don’t want to grow to regret that decision or you.”
“I’ll spend every day making sure you don’t.”
“What if you experience a Calling? Then I’d be stuck here—”
“Shhh.” Gently, he touched his finger to my lips. “You’re worrying over things that may never come to pass. If you stay, I’ll give you my heart and never ask for it back.”
It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever heard. Just when I thought my feelings for Duncan couldn’t get any deeper, he rocked me to a whole new level. I kissed him again, like the world was coming to an end, but it wasn’t enough. Nothing would ever be enough.
The realization hit me like an avalanche, freezing me to my core. I wrenched myself out of Duncan’s arms and scrambled away before he could change my mind. No amount of lip locking could change the fact we lived in two different worlds.
As Duncan came up behind me, I fixed my eyes on the palace as if for the very last time. Although he didn’t touch me, he stood close enough to ward off the chill. “You’re not staying, are ye?”
Unshed tears caused the image of Castle MacCrae to swim in front of me. If I stayed, I would always be afraid of losing him to a Calling and to regrets of choosing him over my ambition. Not trusting my voice, I shook my head back and forth.
“Then take me with you.” Duncan bridged the distance between us by wrapping his arms around me. He pressed his lips against my shoulder and proceeded to kiss a trail up the sensitive skin on my neck. His teeth softly nipped at my earlobe and then he whispered, “Promise you won’t leave without me.”
My world shifted yet again. Was he asking what I thought he was asking? To leave Doon for me like Uncle Cameron had eventually done for Aunt Gracie? I twisted in his arms to search his face. “What about Doon?”
“It doesn’t matter.” As if sensing my skepticism, he placed his hand over his heart. “I promise.”
Could that be true? Could I really have both—the boy I cared for and my dreams of glory? It almost seemed too good to be true. With a flutter of his lashes and a flash of crooked smile, Duncan banished any lingering doubts. “I’m in agony, here. Please say yes to me, woman.”
Seizing the moment, I took his hands in mine. I made my promise and sealed the pledge with a perfect kiss. Standing under the stone archway, the gesture felt monumental, like making a sacred vow.
As I basked in Duncan’s adoration, everything felt right for the first time since coming to Doon. His guileless smile warmed places in my heart that had never known summer. In the face of such beautiful sincerity, I wanted more. Surprising both of us, I said, “I’ve changed my mind. Shall we dance?”
CHAPTER 30
Veronica
Sinking my teeth into my third chocolate eclair, I tried to disregard the silence that swept through the room like a wave. The new king of Doon had arrived at the ball. But I refused to give him the satisfaction of staring and twittering behind my hands, like every other female in the room. Instead, I’d drown my sorrows with as much fancy French junk food as a girl of my small stature could consume without puking.
Raising a flute of champagne to the light, I watched tiny bits of strawberries bob in the iridescent bubbles. It tasted so delicious that I drained the entire glass, strawberries and all, in very short order. Blissfully, I popped the remainder of the eclair into my mouth, set the empty flute on a nearby table, and turned in search of more bubbly. Overflowing dessert plate in hand, I came face-to-face with the newly crowned king and his exquisite future queen.
“Oh, hi,” I said through a mouthful of pastry, so it sounded more like, “Ow, hho.”
Sofia gave me a sweet, sympathetic smile as if to say, “Poor, ill-mannered girl. I feel embarrassed for you.”
Jamie smirked, shaking his head. “I dinna think ye would take it so literally when I said this would be my first edict.” He waved his hand toward my overstuffed mouth.
With one gulp, I swallowed the lump of sugary goo that now tasted bitter on my tongue. Under different circumstances, his comment would’ve made me laugh—but not tonight. Since I was out of here at midnight anyway and had nothing to lose, I replied, “Appalling manners seem to be one of your special talents, your majesty. I was only trying to make you feel more comfortable.”
Sofia made a choking sound and covered her mouth with a delicate hand.
“I see,” Jamie remarked with an imperiously arched brow. “And what would some o’ my other special talents be, Miss Welling?”
Uncontrollable heat rushed up my neck at the implication in his words. No way was I letting him get away with embarrassing me, especially in front of the too-perfect Sofia. I tapped my index finger on my chin, pretending to think.
“Hmm … let’s see. Bossiness comes to mind.” I held up one finger and began counting off his faults. “Arrogance, extreme stubbornness, an ugly temper … Shall I go on?”
“Nay.” His eyes narrowed. “Sofia, would you please excuse us for a moment? I wouldna want to expose you to anymore o’ Miss Welling’s drunken accusations.”
“I. Am. Not. Drunk. You … conceited pig!” I didn’t think this was the kind of “fighting” Kenna had been talking about, but I’d never intended to follow her advice anyway.
“Och, lass, I could have ye thrown in the stockades for callin’ me that.”
I stepped toward him and glared up into his insolent face. “I’d like to see you try, your highness!”
Jamie stiffened his spine, taking full advantage of his height. “And I saw ye down a whole glass of champagne with my own eyes.”
We glared at each other for several seconds. Disconcerted by his unwavering stare, I broke eye contact. But then I was staring at his delectable mouth. Vivid memories of those scorching lips on mine sparked a flutter low in my stomach. Desperate to diffuse the tension building between us, I started babbling, “I wasn’t trying to get drunk, the champagne tasted good and … and I like strawberries,” I finished lamely, glancing away from him. “Now look what you’ve done. Sofia’s gone.”
“I asked her to leave. Unlike some people, she knows how to listen,” he snarled between clenched teeth, taking my plate and setting it on the table behind me.
“An important trait if she’s going to get along with you for the rest of her life,” I spat, just as I realized he was reaching for my hand.
“What’re you doing?” I asked, my muscles stiffening in rebellion.
“Dancing. I thought that was obvious.” With a show of teeth, he ordered, “Smile.”
Sweeping me into his arms, I could tell he was still angry, but clearly didn’t want everyone in the kingdom to know it. So I complied with a pasted-on smile as my body began moving effortlessly in time with his.
“I think you should know, my dance card is full, your eminence,” I said with undisguised sarcasm. Despite the glittering circlet on his head, I couldn’t think of him as a king. He was still the beautiful boy from my visions, who laughingly spoke with his mouth full and kissed me with so much passion I felt it all the way to my toes.
“Dance card, eh?”
“Yes, as we speak you’re stealing me from some poor soul who asked for my first dance hours ago.”
Something dark flared in his eyes, his smile fading. “Let me see it.”
“See what?”
“Yer dance card.”
There was no dance card and we both knew it.
“I lost it?” I said, glancing up at him hopefully.
His loud laughter drew the attention of everyone around us. “Verranica, ye never cease to amaze me.”
Longing and sorrow swirled in my chest, threatening to erupt. I knew this was the end—the last moments I would spend with the boy I loved more than my own life. I tried to console myself with the fact that even if he did choose me, he’d leave me eventually, like every other man in my life. But the thought was petty and I knew it.
“Hey, where did ye go?” Jamie asked, squeezing my hand and trying to catch my eye.
Afraid to meet his gaze and reveal the ache burning inside me, I concentrated on the slope of his shoulder.
