A Little Fate by Nora Roberts Page A

day in such a place is a joy.”
    â€œAnd do you ride out again today?”
    â€œI go into the city, with your permission, my lord, in hopes to find something appropriate for the masque. I don’t wish to dishonor you or the prince by arriving at such a spectacle in my country garb.”
    â€œYou go unescorted, lady?”
    â€œI have my men, sir, and my women.” She fluttered up at him. “Will I not be safe enough?”
    He chucked her under the chin and made her spine freeze. “Beauty is never safe enough. Do you not seek the company of the prince?”
    â€œAlways, my lord. But . . .” She offered a slow, sidelong smile. “I fear he may become bored with me if I am too accessible. Do you not think that a man desires a woman more when she is just out of reach?”
    â€œYou’re a clever one, aren’t you?”
    â€œA clever mind is a valuable tool to a woman. As is amiability, so if you prefer I forgo this venture and wait upon Prince Owen’s pleasure, I will do so.” She glanced over as Rohan brought her carriage into the courtyard. “Shall I send it away again, sire?”
    â€œGo, and enjoy. I look forward to seeing what catches your eye in the shops.” He helped her into the carriage, and was obviously pleased when she peeked out the window and sent him one last smile.
    â€œHe makes my skin crawl,” Aurora said as she flopped back against the seat.
    â€œHe would have you for himself if he could.” Rhiann nodded wisely. “There’s a look in a man’s eye when he imagines such things. Having you for his son is his next choice.”
    â€œWhat he’ll have is my sword at his throat. And a happy day that will be. How much have we left to spend?” she demanded.
    Rhiann carefully counted out the coins in her purse, and had Aurora blowing out a breath.
    â€œI hate to waste it on foolishness, but I have to make a showing. Lorcan will expect it now.”
    â€œYou can be very particular,” Cyra said, and worked up a smile. “Turning up your nose at the offerings, sniffing at materials, waving away baubles.”
    â€œI suppose. I’d rather be inside the taverns listening to the talk, but we’ll leave that to Rohan.” She glanced out the window of the carriage, and her heart ached at the sight ofchildren begging for food. She thought of the taxes levied, all the coins stored inside the palace.
    â€œI have an idea, something that might distract Lorcan and help our army move into the forest unnoticed. Chaos,” she declared, “is another kind of weapon.”
    Â 
    F URIOUS , Owen stalked into the stables. He’d wanted Aurora, but she was off—with no word to him—to the city. He’d planned another ride, with a picnic by the river. And a seduction.
    If he were to choose her, and his mind was nearly made up, he expected her to be available at his whim. It was best she learned that now.
    There were others with more beauty, others with more generous attributes. If she refused to come to heel, he would take one of them as queen, and make the intriguing Aurora a consort.
    He pushed his way into a stall where Thane was wrapping a foreleg for the mount of one of the soldiers.
    â€œSaddle my horse.”
    Thane kept his head lowered as he continued to wrap the leg. “Yes, my lord.”
    â€œNow, you worthless nit.” He struck out, slapping Thane in the face with the back of his hand.
    Thane took the blow, and though he knew it was foolish, he checked his grip on the halter so that the frightened horse shied and canted, driving Owen into the wall of the stall.
    â€œYou’ll pay for that, you ham-handed bastard.”
    There was enough satisfaction in watching Owen go white as bone and scramble out of the stall to take all the sting out of the next blow. “A thousand pardons, my lord prince.”
    â€œI’ll deal with you later. Get my horse, and be