She nodded. “Four weeks next Sunday. Never worked as a lady’s maid before, but I’m a fast learner.”
“Have you ever met either prince?”
The girl’s eyes flashed to me briefly before returning to Keelynn. “Neither one, milady.”
Keelynn’s brows lifted as she glanced at me. I nodded.
Keelynn let out a loud sigh. “You’re hired.”
Thank feck. I was nearly asleep with my eyes open.
Millie looked at Keelynn with such reverence, you’d swear the human had hung the stars herself. After a torrent of heartfelt thanks, Millie skipped out the door with a giggle. Just what this castle needed. More giggles. If the blight weren’t consuming our land, I’d have found somewhere else to live. Somewhere empty and dark, like my mood.
The door creaked open, and a woman with short cropped black hair slipped into the room on silent, bare feet.
Keelynn waved her off. “I’m afraid you’re too late. We’ve already hired someone.”
Shona quirked a questioning brow at me.
I launched to my feet and gave the back of Keelynn’s chair a shake. “Up and out, princess. She’s not here for you. She’s here for me.” It was about damn time the selkie showed up. I almost forgot I’d asked her to come.
For once, Keelynn minded her own business and left without a word.
Shona settled on the chair across from me, her legs crossed at the ankles beneath her rust-colored muslin dress. “To what do I owe this request?”
No sense mincing words and wasting both our time. “I need information about a pirate.”
If my words surprised her, she didn’t let it show. “I don’t have much to do with pirates now that Wills and I have settled on Syren Isle. We’re too busy with the children.”
Ah, yes. The children. How could I forget? The reason she made me wait weeks for her to visit. I should ask about them, some menial question about their wellbeing and about her wife as well. But I didn’t because I didn’t give a shite about any of them. “He’s fae,” I said instead.
She eased forward, her expression darkening as she rested her forearms on the desk. “Well, that certainly narrows it down. His name?”
“Merriweather.” Stupid name, that.Merriweather. You’d think an immortal pirate would have the good sense to change his surname to something less jovial.
“Caden Merriweather?” she breathed.
A thrill danced down my spine.Finally. “So you have heard of him.”
Her head bobbed. “Aye. He’s a smuggler, mostly. Doesn’t attack ships unless provoked. Never heard of him losing a battle though. Cunning. Handsome.”
Please. He wasn’t that handsome. His face had been average at best. “If I needed to find him, where would I look?”
For some reason, the corners of her lips lifted as she stared down at her hands. “The rogue is from the fae lands in Iodale, but I’ve heard he spends most of his time at sea.”
Wasn’t that feckin’ brilliant? If he stayed on the water, I’d have no way to get to him. Even if I did manage to board his ship, my magic would be useless after a few minutes, and catching the pirate unawares a second time would be nearly impossible, especially if I couldn’t maintain a glamour. “What’s his lineage?”
“Fae mam, merrow da.”
That explained his ability to wield magic over the water. One didn’t hear of many fae mating with the male merrow—they were notoriously hideous. If only the pirate had inherited his father’s looks. Then Aveen wouldn’t have set foot near the bastard.
Shona’s long nail clinked against the decanter on the corner of the desk. I probably should’ve offered her a drink but really didn’t feel like entertaining her longer than necessary. “Is there any particular reason you’re inquiring after Captain Merriweather?” she asked.
As if I’d tell her. “That’ll be all, Shona.”
Her eyes flared but she quickly hid her irritation behind a tight smile. “Always a pleasure, Prince Rían.”
The lie made me smile as I watched her saunter out of the room.