Curses Snippet (Patreon)

I am barreling down on the end of Curses, so hopefully my editor will give this draft a thumb's up. In the mean time, here's a fun snippet for your day. (For clarity, I should mention that in this part of the book, Tevin is pretending to be a rich industrialist named Padraig. That's why someone calls him that. Just FYI.) I can't wait for you all to see the new book!

*****

“Fine day for it.” Fredrick grinned as he surveyed the countryside. “Nothing quite like being in nature. Good for the spirit!”

Merit couldn’t quite see the link between adoring nature and shooting it with a hunting rifle, but she didn’t argue. Tanner grunted in response. He’d clearly overindulged last night and was slumping a little in his saddle.

Fredrick leaned over and winked at Merit. “This could all be yours, you know.”

Merit blinked at him. “Pardon?”

Fredrick grinned. Now that he was out riding he did perk up, looking more alive than he had yesterday. She wasn’t sure if it was that he didn’t like ballrooms and society, or if it was because he would have a harder time keeping a drink in his hands and holding the reins at the same time.

“This.” Fredrick waved one hand out to encompass his lands. “Heard you were in the market for a beau.”

Merit finally caught up to what he was aiming at and couldn’t help but be amused. Fredrick seemed about as interested in marrying as he was in ballrooms. “And you think you’re the chap for me?”

He shrugged. “Could do worse, right? Would make our parents happy, wouldn’t it?”

Merit thought on this. Would it? Fredrick did tick a lot of the boxes her mother wanted, but Merit also didn’t think they had much in common. They weren’t very close friends. She only knew him about as much as she did other lords on the society circuit, which was only in a superficial way. “That’s quite a proposal, Freddie.”

He blinked in surprise. “You didn’t want me to get down on one knee and all that rubbish?” He sniffed. “Always seemed the practical sort.”

“All the dancing lords, Freddie,” Tanner said, his words rough. “Here I thought romance was dead, but you’re currently beating the corpse just to make sure.”

“What?” Freddie asked, genuinely surprised.

“It’s alright,” Merit said with a sigh. Romance, after all, was for a certain kind of people. Charming, gorgeous creatures that called love to them like an errant falcon. Even before she was a beast, that wasn’t her.

“I didn’t think Merit would want that kind of frippery,” Fredrick argued, exasperated. “Flowers, chocolates and all that rot. She’s sensible.”

Be still my beating heart, Merit thought. I’m sensible.

Tanner groaned again. “You’re killing me, Freddie. Talk about damning with faint praise.”

“I was being complimentary.” Fredrick continued to be perplexed. His face brought to mind a puppy being scolded for piddling on the new rug.

Tanner leaned over his saddle, his brown curls bouncing with the movement of the horse. “She’s not a hunting dog. Have a little charm.” He jerked his thumb back over his shoulder. “You think the chap in back that’s courting her is calling her sensible? He seems like a smooth one. Bet he’s been writing her sonnets. All you could manage is a dirty limerick.”

Fredrick was surprised now, glancing back at Tevin and then to Tanner. “Padraig? But he’s human. Surely she’d pick me over him. I may be third in line for the barony, but at least I’m in line.”

Tanner laughed. “Of course, my lord, wouldn’t want to forget that. After all, no lady’s head would ever be turned by a handsome, smooth-talking lad with pockets full of money. No, she’ll definitely think of pedigree first.”

Fredrick spluttered. “She wouldn’t pick him.” Then he looked at her, suddenly unsure. “Would you?”

“Oh, did you remember that I was here? Shall I take part in the conversation you’ve been having about me?” Merit’s tone was breezy, meant to only partially take the sting from her words. “How lovely to be able to discuss my own proposal.”

“Don’t be like that,” Freddie said, his voice cajoling.

“Fine. Of course I’ll consider your quasi-proposal, Frederick. I am, after all, sensible.” She ground that word out, her eyes half-lidded.

“That’s a compliment!” Freddie said while Tanner snickered.

“It is a compliment,” Merit conceded. “And one I appreciate, but it’s not what one usually leads with in a proposal and it makes the lady think you’re not mentioning her other charms because they are lacking.” Her tone was gentle now. Fredrick hadn’t meant any real harm, so she was hoping he’d listen and not make the same mistake in the future. “I like being sensible, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not vain enough to want to hear some frippery.”

When Fredrick looked confused, Tanner sighed. “It’s like this, Freddie.” He turned to Merit. “That’s a fine outfit, Merit. The color brings out your eyes. Did you pick it yourself?”

“Why yes, Tanner,” Merit said, playing along. “I did. Thank you.”

Fredrick still looked confused. “But Merit knows I don’t think of her like that. We’re pals.”

Tanner looked skyward, either begging for patience or for lightning to strike him down. “Yes, Freddie, I know. Doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to hear nice things anyway.”

“I just don’t see the point,” Freddie grumbled.

Tanner turned in his saddle. “Hey! Padraig! Ride up, will you?” He turned back around. “Watch. Bet you he can have her blushing in under a minute.” When Freddie started to splutter a rebuttal, Tanner just shook his head. “Just watch and try to learn something.”

Tevin pulled his horse up to them, his expression calm, though Merit could catch a wary glint in his eyes. “Gentlemen?”

Tanner leaned back in his saddle and waived a hand at Merit. “I was just complimenting Merit here on her choice of outfit. Brings out her eyes, don’t you think?”

Freddie stared hard at Merit’s eyes, jumping in before Tevin could respond. “They’re just a normal shade of brown. Nothing spectacular. Pedestrian, really. They’re just eyes. No offense, Merit.” She shrugged.

Tevin tilted his head, looking at her as if he’d never really thought about her eyes before. “I see. Yes, rather pedestrian.”

Merit couldn’t help it. Her heart sank, and she had to tighten her jaw to not lash out.

“Of course, there can be beauty in everyday things,” Tevin said slowly. “Her eyes might bring to mind the richness of soil after a good rain, when everything feels new and filled with promise. Or they might bring to mind the sweetness of chocolate, and that moment of undeniable decadence when it first hits your tongue.” Tevin tilted his head the other way. “It’s possible you could say that the shade and sharp intelligence in her eyes brings to mind the majestic eagle, as it spreads it’s wings, owning everything in it’s shadow.”

Everyone was quiet now, hanging on Tevin’s every word. Merit’s throat was tight and she could feel her skin flushing, but she couldn’t look away from Tevin. He’s playing a part. He has to say these things over the top ridiculous things. Her heart wouldn’t listen to logic. No, her heart couldn’t even hear her whispers over it’s own shouts for more.

“Yes, you might say these things.” Tevin said, finally looking away from Merit. “Or you could say pedestrian. I rather think it depends on who’s doing the viewing and the speaking.” He tipped his hat. “Gentlemen. Lady Merit.” Then he turned his horse and went back to riding next to Val.

Tanner looked at Merit and laughed, smacking the side of his leg. “Now, that is how you do it, Freddie.”

“But he didn’t even really say anything. He just said ‘might’ and ‘possibly’.” Fredrick looked between him and Merit before throwing up his hands in surrender. “I will never understand women. I give up.” 

Tanner looked skyward again. “You’re useless, Freddie.

Freddie sighed. “My proposal still stands, Merit.”

She couldn’t respond. Had Tevin made up those things to flatter, to charm, or did he actually mean them? And did she care?