“You look well, today, daughter. Green suits you.” A tender light lit his eyes as he added, “It was your mother's favorite, you know.”
Josselyn's chest warmed with pleasure at her father's words. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
Lady Merridale pursed her lips, looking toward the closed door.
“It seems we're only missing our visitors from Antos.” She sniffed. “I do hope they aren't planning to keep us waiting for long. It would be inexcusably rude to Your Majesty.”
King Frederic gave her a patient look. “I'm sure the prince will be along shortly. He was quite eager to meet with us when he arrived.”
Lord Burgund hummed in agreement. “Indeed, Sire. I've heard great things about this young prince. He seems to be quite the promising ally.” He glanced at Josselyn. “Very promising.”
Josselyn raised an eyebrow at the adviser but was prevented from questioning him by the sudden opening of the doors. A young man strode into the room, going straight to the chair on the opposite end of the table before giving a smooth bow in the direction of the king. He wore a black doublet with silver embroidery, along with black breeches and polished black boots. His golden hair was short and meticulously combed.
“Your Majesty, I appreciate you arranging this meeting. I'm sure you'll agree with me that it is long overdue, yes?”
He grinned, his face the picture of confidence. King Frederic watched the young prince, his expression guarded.
“Indeed it is.” He gestured toward the table. “Please, join us, so that we may begin.”
General Weston spoke up, looking back at the door. “Is it only you that is coming, Your Highness? Did you not bring any of your advisers with you for this meeting? You arrived with such a large party of men earlier...”
The prince leaned back in his chair, spreading his hands out palms up.
“As you see.”
He looked over at Josselyn and winked. “Why fill the room with noisy men who are all simply going to agree with everything I say? I find this way to be far more efficient. So let's get right to point, shall we? We're here to discuss a way in which we can settle our differences so that both kingdoms are satisfied.”
He paused, giving Josselyn an appreciative glance. “And I believe you'll find my proposal as pleasing as I do.” His eyes drifted over Josselyn's face, then dipped lower. As his gaze came back up to meet her eyes, he grinned. “Most pleasing, indeed.”
Josselyn kept her expression stoic, while a cold shiver made its way up her spine. “Oh? And just what is this pleasing proposal you have for us, Your Highness? We're all ears, I assure you.”
A hard glimmer flickered briefly over the prince's eyes, and he clapped his hands together. “Just so, princess, just so.”
He turned to the King. “What I propose, Your Majesty, is a marriage alliance between your daughter and myself. With such an alliance, Antos would have free access to use your water ports for trade and Eldour would have the protection provided by our very extensive and well trained army.” He looked around the table.
“Surely, you can all see the wisdom in such a plan.”
Shaking her head, Josselyn muttered under her breath. “You have got to be kidding me.”
She glanced at her father, who was watching the prince with a speculative look, before turning to address the prince. “With respect, Your Highness, I'm afraid marriage is not on the table. I am the only heir to my father's crown, and, as such, it is only fitting that I marry an Eldourian. One worthy of being Eldour's next king.”
The prince appeared undeterred by her rejection, keeping his sole focus of King Frederic. “What say you, Your Majesty? May I have your daughter's hand in marriage? It would be a glorious alliance, I assure you. A much deserved peace between our kingdoms.”
It took all of Josselyn's self control to keep her temper in check. Visions of leaping up onto the table, charging the prince, and shoving her foot into his face danced through her mind. How dare he go over her head, when she had already given him a clear answer. It was easy to forget, when one lived in as progressive a kingdom as Eldour, that women in other lands were treated like children who didn't know what was best for themselves. To allow a man like this to become the next King of Eldour would be an atrocity. He'd set them back a hundred years!
Her father, it would seem, was of a like opinion.
“The future queen of Eldour has already given you your answer. I would not force her hand in such a thing, nor do I think such a marriage would be appropriate. To have an Antoski prince become our next ruler...” He shook his head. “We would be handing our kingdom over on a silver platter. Antos would absorb our small kingdom, and where would that leave our people? No, it will not be done. I'm certain we can come to simpler terms than that.”
Prince Stefan sighed, shaking his head in dismay. “Alas, I have discussed the matter with my father at great length, and I'm afraid this is all he gave me leave to offer.”
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his clean shaven chin as if he were deliberating over something serious.
“But perhaps... perhaps I could stay for awhile and talk things over with my advisers. We came here to find peace, and I'm not one to give up so easily.”
His eyes met Josselyn's at this last part, and she cringed. It's for the good of your kingdom, Joss. You'll just have to put up with this arrogant prig for a bit longer than you thought, that's all. She forced the corners of her mouth up into a smile.
“Thank you, Your Highness. That is most reasonable of you.”
“Indeed, we would be delighted to have you prolong your stay with us,” Lady Merridale chimed in, her face aglow
