“No,” she said softly. “I was angry at myself. I almost said yes to him just because his kisses dazzled me. What a fool I was! Desire is a foolhardy way for a young woman to secure a livelihood.” She glanced at me. “Not that I mean to accuse you of falling into love with Andevai just because of his looks, or his kisses.”

“I suppose I was dazzled by his looks from the beginning.” I tried to stop myself from smiling and could not. “But he courted me with radical principles. And food.”

“This is a new expression for you, Cat. You were always so heartless and sensible before. Now you look absolutely stupefied.”

I laughed, but quickly sobered. “Did you really trade yourself and your beauty and your dream walking to the Taino for the security and wealth of the palace and a noble station?”

“Of course I did. Our marriage was arranged for political gain. I didn’t go in expecting to love him. But I liked him. He’s restful. I didn’t realize how pleasant it is to be with a restful person.”

“Are you saying I’m not a restful person?” I teased, essaying a joke, for I hated her tears and wanted desperately to make her laugh.

“I think you’re a restful person, Cat.” Rory brushed the corners of his lips with the back of his hand as if smoothing down quivering whiskers.

“Not that I mean this in a critical way, Cat, but neither you nor your cold mage is restful. Honestly, I can’t imagine how you two will get on once you have to manage daily life together.”

I pressed a jacket to my cheek. “I will keep his dash jackets in good repair.”

“That’s a skill he will certainly appreciate!” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “Did you know that in Taino country women can divorce men with the same legal rights as men can divorce women? Now that we’re back in Adurnam I can’t help but reflect that I would have been left penniless and ostracized if it had happened to me here. Strange to think I should be glad it was a foreign man who divorced me instead of a local one!”

I opened my mouth to make a joke, but no sound came out. My chest felt hollow, for she had sacrificed her grand marriage for me. I could not throw that in her face as a jest.

She kept combing, grip tight. “His relatives wanted him to denounce me in front of the entire Taino court, but he refused to do it. He merely let people assume I was returning with the general to Europa because I was Europan and obligated to serve my people. ”

I said nothing, waiting for her to go on.

“He was so angry. Not like Papa gets angry, shouting and stomping, but distant and formal.”