Norah gaped at her, thoroughly confused. “Wait. What’s your idea?”
“No time!” the regent said as she swept out of the room. “I’ll see you this evening.”
Norah snorted in disbelief.
Alexander sat in his study, looking through a stack of parchments, yet not reading them. He couldn’t seem to keep hold of his mind. His thoughts kept returning to her—Norah.
He told himself what he always had: she had a path, one that would save Mercia, a path that he couldn’t interfere with. But when she was near, it all came crashing back. The way she smiled, the way she laughed, the way she used to look at him. Used to.
“I thought I might find you here.”
He looked up to see his brother.
Adrian smiled as he leaned against the doorframe. He stepped into the study and crossed the room. “You probably haven’t eaten all day,” he said as he put a plate with a pear and a biscuit in front of Alexander.
Alexander sighed, leaning back in his chair and giving a small smile at the pear. “Thank you,” he said. Alexander loved his brother. They were very close; they had been ever since Adrian moved to the castle to be with him after their mother died. Adrian had been young, and her death had hit him hard. With their father busy with the duties of being lord justice, Alexander played the role of both parents and managed Adrian’s studies while he himself trained. Where he fell short, there was always Catherine, who tended to them both as her own. In fact, Adrian took to her much like she were his own grandmother, as Alexander did as a child, although Adrian seemed to get away with more than Alexander ever could.
But now it was Adrian who often looked after Alexander. Adrian glanced around for a wine pitcher. “Do you want a drink?”
“No. Thank you.” He could use some wine, but he had more work to do yet.
Adrian moved around and dropped into the wingback chair in front of the desk. “Are you all right?” he asked.
He couldn’t answer that. “It’s been a long day.”
Adrian sighed, and Alexander knew he wasn’t happy with his response. Adrian saw through him.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Adrian pressed.
Alexander closed a book that was open on the side of the desk. “Why do you keep asking me that?” He knew Adrian could see Norah was different. At least he didn’t know—
“Because she doesn’t remember you.”
Alexander’s eyes shot up, locking with his brother’s. “What did you say?”
“Norah. She doesn’t remember you. Or anyone else here.”
The breath left his lungs. “She told you?”
Adrian bobbed his head to the side. “After I guessed.” His voice softened. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Alexander sighed and rose from the desk. “The fewer people who know, the better.”
“But I’m your brother,” Adrian argued. “I can help you.”
“You can help me by doing as you’re told,” Alexander said shortly.
“You should’ve told me. Why didn’t you?”
“Catherine wouldn’t permit it.” He looked at the desk as he reached down and leaned his weight on it. “And I couldn’t. You would… know what it meant, and I can’t take another face looking at me… with pity.”
They sat in silence.
Adrian finally broke the quiet. “To be fair, I have a much better pity face than Grandmother,” he said, trying to lighten the air.
Alexander let out a snort, accepting his brother’s effort. “Everyone has a better pity face than Catherine.”
Adrian smiled.
They sat in the quiet, letting the ease return between them.
“Are you going to tell Norah?” Adrian asked.
Alexander sobered. “You can’t call her that anymore. Things are different now. You must use her titles.”
“Will you tell her?” he asked again.
Alexander shook his head slowly, staring at the three-candle holder on the desk. One candle had burned to the bottom, and as its flame died, a line of smoke trailed up until it disappeared into nothing.
“What if she remembers?”
Alexander shrugged. “What if she doesn’t?” Then their story would be like the candle.
Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t want her to?”
He didn’t want to talk about this. “It’s not about what I want. It’s about what’s best for her right now. And what’s best for Mercia.”
“You should tell her,” Adrian pressed.
“I don’t have the right!” Alexander snapped, momentarily losing himself.
Adrian fell quiet.
Alexander drew in a long breath, calling his patience back. It was only because his brother loved him that he pushed as he did. He softened. “It’s better if she forgets,” he said quietly. “That part of her life, anyway. It’s better if you forget too.”
Adrian sighed. He stood and started toward the door, then he paused. “But will you be able to forget, brother?”
The answer haunted him.
Chapter thirteen
Norah’s silk shoes fell silently on the stone as she made her way through the halls from her chamber toward the dining room for dinner. She glanced over her shoulder at her guard behind her. They always felt closer than they were. Especially Titus. Underneath his serious brow, his stern eyes were always on her.
She shifted her focus back in front of her and paused in surprise as she saw Catherine hurrying toward her.
“Come, child,” the queen regent said as she grabbed Norah’s hand and pulled her back toward her chamber.
Confusion muddled her mind. “Are we not going to eat?”
“Later. You’re tired now.”
Except Norah wasn’t tired. She was hungry. But Catherine’s tone told her to go along, and she did. She glanced at Titus as Catherine practically dragged her along. He gave no reaction at all; he simply followed.
When they reached the chamber, Catherine closed the door behind them, leaving Titus and Aaron outside. “Get your cloak. We’re going to meet someone.”
Norah raised a brow. “Who?”
“Someone with a special gift.” Catherine pulled Norah closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “You know of seers? Those who can see visions of the future? Well, there are rare people, travelers, seers with a greater power—one that allows them to journey into the minds of others.”
Norah’s heart skipped a beat. “Can someone with this power help me remember?”
“I don’t know. But if they can, wouldn’t you want them to try?”
“Of course I would.” It shouldn’t have even been a question.
Catherine grasped Norah’s hands. “It’s important no one knows of this visit, not even Alexander.”
“Why?” Norah was growing tired of secrets.
“Travelers are forbidden in Mercia. Many believe their power to go into one’s mind is the work of great evil, of dark magic.”
“Is that what Alexander thinks?”
Catherine snicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “Hardly. But he wouldn’t approve of us flitting off in the night to meet an unlawful mind worker.”