“I know. That’s why I’m asking,” he said, sounding exasperated, before he shoved a bite of oatmeal in his mouth.

Nara glanced at Reid. “I’ll explain everything later,” she mumbled to Dexter.

“I’d like to know,” Reid said. “After I finish eating, I’m going to write to my father to ask why he agreed to the match.”

“You already know,” Nara said. “Land and title.”

“Why did you agree?” Reid asked. “I don’t understand how Axian benefits from the union.”

“I’ll explain it to you both over supper tonight when Prince Henrick is present. Is that all right?”

They nodded.

“Excellent. Until then, I have some business to attend to.” She stood, then left them alone in the room.

Reid swallowed the lump of oatmeal in her mouth, observing Dexter across the table.

He set his spoon down, the expression on his clean-shaven face wary. “I know my father wants me to marry you to stop a war, but I don’t want to wed you.”

She chuckled, the sound hollow and humorless. “Don’t worry. I don’t want to marry you either.” Shoving her chair away from the table, she stood. “You should have married Gytha when you had the chance. Then we wouldn’t be in this disastrous mess.” Turning, she swept out of the room without a backward glance.

Chapter Five

Anger coursed through Reid as she aimlessly stomped along the corridor, not paying attention to where she was going. How was she supposed to marry a man who didn’t want to marry her? What sort of marriage would they have when neither could stand the other? And why were other people always dictating her life? Frustrated, she stopped before two open doors. Inside, books filled the four-story room from floor to ceiling. She recalled the tour she’d taken the last time she’d been here. The guide had said scholars from all over Axian had the privilege of using the library whenever they wanted. The county encouraged reading, studying, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Which meant Reid should be able to peruse the hundreds of books in the library. Particularly, books relating the history of Marsden written by Axian authors—not the history books from a northerner’s point of view she’d already read.

Inside, a dozen tables were situated in the front section. Several people sat around them, most reading or writing. Men and women, which was something King Eldon would never allow. He wouldn’t understand or value women studying to gain knowledge. She couldn’t even imagine him opening his home to others like this.