Chapter 4: A New Life I

The blustering wind-filled sails cause the ship to lurch to the side. Josina and Edmund shiver. I can't tell whether from fear or because of the cold air piercing their clothes.

The journey has been an arduous one. The farther south we travel, the greater the distance from our homeland, the colder the weather becomes, almost as though it mirrors the chill in my heart.

I stiffen my resolve and stand tall, unwilling to let the others see my fear. As a princess, it is up to me to show them how much I am looking forward to our new life. I can't let them know how nervous I am, journeying across the sea to marry a complete stranger to seal the alliance between two powerful nations.

For as long as I can remember, I've been told that, as a princess of The Blood, I have one job and one job only - to marry to strengthen the state and our family's hold over it. I've always known this was to be my fate, but I had hoped not to be sent so far from Nataria. Although, to be fair, I had grown up with most of the single Natarian nobles, and I would not choose to spend the rest of my life with any one of them.

At least coming to Hand is a sort of adventure. No one knows me or my past. It is a perfect opportunity to become the person I want to be. Surely that will make up for the cold weather and the aching loneliness in my heart.

"This is a new start," I tell myself over and over, and it helps calm my nerves, and my stomach begins to settle. The ship lurch again, and my breakfast threatens to make a reappearance. The straight between Hand and Port Marden was rumoured to be treacherous even in the best weather, and it's living up to its reputation.

Gripping the rail, once again, I straighten my spine and force myself to stand proud. When I arrive, I want the people on the Island of Hand to see who a princess of The Blood really is.

After what feels like an age, but is probably only a few minutes, a landmass draws closer, and activity around me increases. The Captain advances over the rolling deck, feet as certain as if he walked on land.

'Your Highness, it's best if you return to your cabin now as I need everything clear for docking.'

I open my mouth to object, but his lips tighten in anticipation of my argument, so I paste a smile on my face. 'Thank you, Captain. Please let us know when we may disembark.'

The Arian words sound odd coming from my mouth, but I am thankful Edmund has been helping me brush up on my pronunciation during the journey.

Below deck, the motion of the ship is magnified, and as I enter my cabin, I groan in frustration. My future husband's first glimpse of me will be of a woman laid low by sea sickness. I want him to see me as the strong, independent person I am, not someone who needs to be coddled and cared for.

I lie on my bed and close my eyes, imagining myself back on the balcony of my room at home with the sun warming my skin, and the time passes more quickly. I sit up at the sound of a knock on the door. It's the ship's boy.

'Captain says you can come back up now.' He turns to leave, but my maid Josina reaches up from her seat on the bunk and touches his arm.

'We can leave the ship?' she asks him, forming the words slowly in the unfamiliar tongue.

'No, ma'am. The Harbour Master must check the paperwork before we can begin unloading. After that, you can leave. Captain says he will send a man for your things, but you can wait on deck.'

As we make our way into the fresh air, the ship shudders one final time as it nudges the wharf below, and I get my first sight of the place I am to call home. The houses sprawl from the flat land behind the docks, up the sloping edges towards a palace that sits atop one of the hills surrounding the harbour. The dwellings closest are mostly grey stone, but the ones higher up are whitewashed, and some are painted in blues and yellows and reds, lending a little colour to the otherwise dull day.

While the ropes are thrown down to secure the ship, I survey the people who are to become my new subjects. Their clothing is sombre, but their faces are warm and friendly as they move back and forward while they work.

The docking process is swift, and I soon find myself leading our group down the gangplank and to a plain black carriage with a gold insignia on the side, which I take to be the coat of arms of my betrothed's family - the insignia of the ruling family of Hand. The door is opened by a liveried official, and I am surprised there is no one inside.

'The duke sends his apologies, Your Highness. Something came up that required his immediate attention. He extends an invitation for you to join him in the family quarters for a meal this evening.' He bows and ushers us inside.

'Well, I - ' Josina starts, but I hold up a hand to silence her. Even though her words are Natarian, that is no guarantee they will not be understood.

'Thank you,' I say to the man and take my seat with as much dignity as I can muster, having not yet regained my land-legs. Once I am seated, the door closes, and we are on our way to our new home.

'This is not a good sign,' Josina says as the carriage starts to move and no one can overhear us.

'The duke may be dealing with an unavoidable situation,' Edmund answers. He is always the voice of reason.

I say nothing and work at keeping my face impassive. I do not want anyone, not even Josina and Edmund, to know how bereft I am, entering my new home alone rather than on the arm of the duke. I am very aware I am a symbol of the people who conquered Hand, a duchess forced on them as part of the peace treaty at the end of a long, bloody invasion. Their acceptance of me relies totally on my new husband's support.

Before I left home, father assured me the duke was a fair and caring man - a man who promised to treat me with respect. He trusted this foreigner's word, and that trust bolstered my resolve to travel to Hand and to do my duty. As the carriage made its way through the streets to the castle, I hoped my father's trust had not been misplaced.

Through the window, I watched as the houses grew more ornate and realised we must be close to our final destination. I schooled my face into a polite smile as we passed through a gate in the defensive wall around the palace precinct. The carriage sweeps in a wide circle and pulls up.

The footman jumps down and opens the door, and I glimpse marble steps leading up to the main entrance. A carpet in the blue of the Natarian royal family has been rolled out, and a tall, gaunt man with tufting grey hair moves forward and bows stiffly before offering his arm.

'Your Highness, I am Bertram. I offer the sincere and heartfelt apologies of my duke. Please be assured that only a matter of the gravest importance would prevent him from being with you today.'

I nod once, accepting his apology as custom dictated, and place my hand on his arm. Holding my head high as we walk, I hope I am hiding the hurt and worry churning my stomach from the crowd who has gathered in the courtyard to catch their first sight of the new duchess.

'I will escort you and your companions to the guest chambers.'

As Bertram leads us up the main stairs and along the first-floor corridor, he wears the blank mask of a professional diplomat. It was from the faces of the servants we passed on the way that I draw the conclusion we are not welcome in here.

'Your Highness,' Bertram said as he stopped and opened a stout wooden door.

The rooms inside were sumptuous. The fire in the grate welcomed us, as did the light snack waiting on the table by the window. I could make out two doors leading from the main sitting room. I turned to Bertram to ask about the rest of our accommodation to find he had moved across the hallway and opened the door opposite.

'If your companions would sleep in here tonight, we can find them suitable quarters after the ceremony tomorrow when we move you into the family rooms.'

'Thank you, Bertram. This will suit us well.'

He bowed and backed away. 'I will leave you to settle. His Grace hopes to come and escort you to dinner himself just after sundown. I will send one of the maids to prepare a bath for you.'

'Thank you, that will be most welcome.'

As he left, Josina took control of the servants who had followed us bearing our belongings from the ship. In an effort to keep out of her way, Edmond and I retreated to my sitting room, and we each filled a plate with food, then warmed ourselves by the fire.

After maintaining formalities for the first few days of our travels, I fast learnt we would get along much better if we dispensed with them when we were in private.

Josina had been my personal maid since we were both little, no more than children. The only person closer to me had been my older sister. Edmond had been my tutor, and I was grateful he had agreed to come to Hand as my personal advisor. Until I found my feet, these were the only two people I trusted in my new home, the only two people I could be almost myself with.

We were nearly done eating when Josina joined us, and I excuse myself, retiring to my bedroom. My bath is ready, and I intend to make the most of the hot water, adding some bath salts I brought with me before stepping in and allowing the rose-scented liquid to soothe away my tensions.

Once the water cools, I towel myself dry, and wrap a warm lounging gown around my shivering form. Not wanting to rejoin the others, I slip under the covers and curl into a ball. The next thing I know, Josina is knocking and calling through the door.

'Your Highness, Bertram is here with some news.'

I rub the sleep from my eyes and sit up. After checking in the mirror to ensure I'm presentable, I open the door. Bertram straightens himself before bowing.

'Thank you, Bertram, but I am sure we can dispense with these formalities unless it is a state occasion,' I say. 'Is there news for me?'

'Your Highness. The duke has sent word that he will be tied up for the evening. Everything.... Things were worse than he first thought.'

'Is it anything I can assist with?' I ask. I do not want to become the wife who sits at home waiting for her husband, when she can aid him in his duties.

Bertram wasn't quite quick enough to hide his shock at my offer. 'Thank you, but I'm sure everything will be under control before the ceremony tomorrow.'

'The men who brought our luggage from the docks said the council was meeting today. Some of the nobles vehemently objected to your wedding and threatened to expel the duke, intending to replace him with one of his cousins,' Josina says in Natari.

'It is not as bad as it sounds,' Bertram blusters, confirming my suspicions that he can understand our language. 'A few details need to be ironed out before tomorrow, that's all.'

Although disappointed at not being able to meet my husband before our wedding day, at least I now know why he's not with me. He's fighting for the very peace I had come here to cement.

'Thank you for letting me know, Bertram. We will take our supper here.'

I returned to my room and close the door before anyone can see the tears threatening to spill from my eyes.