The Pearls by Deborah Chester Page B

are. Such fire and indignation. Such a righteous view of how life should be lived. Your time at court has not seasoned you at all. You remain quite fresh, quite adorable. It’s a marvel.”
    His mockery—delivered so openly this time—hurt. She had nothing else for her defense except the simple honesty he’d just condemned. She could not even shame him.
    Frowning, struggling to maintain her composure, she said, “You have my permission to return to your duties.”
    Hervan’s smile grew tight. “Ah yes, the easy way out. As you wish, my lady.” Bowing so low that his helmet plume fell forward over his shoulder, he gave her a jaunty little wave and spurred his horse forward to the head of the column, making it cavort and prance as though to display his excellent horsemanship. “Sergeant!” he called out. “Close up the men.”
    â€œAye, sir. Men! Close up ranks!”
    â€œPopinflare,” Thirbe muttered, coming up beside her. “Bold as brass and twice as polished.”
    She stared straight ahead, fighting to hold back tears.
    Thirbe’s keen gaze watched her face. “Needs his guts reamed for making love to you.”
    â€œHe wasn’t—making love to me,” she said unsteadily. “He was hateful!”
    Thirbe made a little noise in his throat. “Aye. That’s what love is.”
    She flashed him an astonished look. “No. It can’t be. Not like that, so angry and wild. Love is a harmonious union of—”
    â€œHa! M’lady, you been reading too many scrolls. There’s poet’s drivel and there’s real life.” Thirbe cast her a look of appraisal. “Perhaps it’s time you knew the difference.”
    â€œI—I don’t believe you,” Lea said, without much assurance. “The Choven are—”
    â€œBegging your pardon, m’lady, but the Choven way ain’t ours. Love’s sweet dream is dead gone for you—”
    â€œI don’t understand what you’re saying.”
    â€œYou do.” Thirbe glanced at her and snorted. “Enough.”
    â€œBut it isn’t like that. You heard him. He was horrid.”
    â€œCourse he was. You ain’t meeting him halfway. Ain’t even interested. You think a conceited young donkey ass like that is going to take kindly to rejection?” Thirbe laughed in his curt way. “Probably the first wall of indifference he’s ever hit. Do him good.”
    Bewildered, Lea sorted through all that Hervan had said. “Does he really think I’m doing this on purpose, to keep his interest? But I’m not!”
    â€œDon’t care a knucklebone for what he thinks. It’s you I’m to see about.”
    â€œBut I don’t—”
    â€œBe easy, m’lady,” Thirbe said gently. “I know it. If you did take to that conceited wart I’d have you across my saddle and go galloping back to New Imperia as fast as this horse could run.”
    â€œOh.”
    Thirbe’s keen eyes raked her. “He ain’t worth a twig, m’lady. You can do a lot better, and will.”
    â€œDo you mean Caelan is negotiating a marriage for me?” she asked, horrified. “But I don’t intend to come ba—”
    Realizing that she was about to betray her secret plan, she hastily amended her sentence. “I mean, I don’t intend to marry.”
    â€œYou will.”
    â€œNo, Thirbe,” she said with decision.
    â€œSeventeen’s a bit young to set your life’s track.”
    â€œI’m almost eighteen,” she said fiercely. “I know what lies ahead of me, and it isn’t an arranged marriage to the House of Hervan. Or any other. I’ve seen no one at court to tempt my heart.”
    â€œAnd you breaking their hearts right and left.”
    Her laughter rang out. “Oh, Thirbe, what a romantic you are under all those fierce grumbles. I