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Ross snaps his fingers and points one at her. “I won’t let you down.”

He moves to close the stall, and I hold eye contact with the kelpie as his hooves bat at the straw. I can’t convey a message without my Ocean Voice, but I make a silent promise to help him.

“Sorry about Ross,” Darcy says after we diverge from him on the path, with us tracking back up to the castle while he skips down to a tavern in the village. “He showed up at the gambling den and insisted on showing us his bounty. I’ve known him since we were children. He would’ve been unnecessarily loud if I didn’t give in to his demands.”

Nothing about the Duchess aligns with what my sailor told me. The woman I loved wouldn’t have folded so easily for a mediocre man. It makes me wonder what other falsehoods she’s sold me.

I lift my chin. “Do you frequent the gambling dens?”

“I wouldn’t say that I frequent them.”

“Do you see other women?” I ask, the question flying out of my mouth. “Intimately?”

Her brow furrows. “Occasionally, but there are never feelings involved, and I’m always discreet. I don’t expect exclusivity from you either, just as long as you’re careful not to attract rumors.”

“I can’t believe this.” I ate up all her lines.

There must be something wrong with me. I always believe in things that are too good to be true because I want them to be.

My ability to revive the Undine. My sailor. Before her, there was the pirate. And for a time, I even believed all the tales about Zephyr the Fearless.

I never learn my lesson.

“I want to be honest with you,” she says. “Please don’t make a big fuss about this.”

“I won’t.” I quicken my pace to walk ahead of her.

The sailor I knew was so different. She wouldn’t have ignored me or kept me out of important conversations. She always seemed so sure of herself. I couldn’t imagine that woman pulling me out of bed because she couldn’t say no to a friend.

Nor could I see her seeking kisses elsewhere when she’d row out in the middle of a summer storm to steal a few from me.

Tears sharpen behind my eyes, but I push them back before they can liquify.

“Where are you going?” she demands. “I thought I made my intentions clear when I asked for your hand.”

“You did,” I snap back. “That’s why I’m going my own way.”

I know she’s under a lot of pressure from the village. Sure, she’s not contending with the sea witch, but I’m not the only one who needs this marriage.

I don’t have to pretend that I’m pleased with her in private.

She lengthens her stride to match mine. “I didn’t meant to upset you.”

I’d move even faster to get away from her lying ass, but I haven’t perfected the art of running without falling, so I settle for looking straight ahead. “I’m not upset.”

“Listen, I know this probably doesn’t feel like a fairytale, but I’m not trying to hurt you. It’s complicated—” Her head tilts toward a faint ringing coming from the sea. “What is that?”

We round the cliff, and she holds me back from the ledge as we peer down at the triangle of a sail bobbing in the waves below. The white material is being furled.

“Someone’s on the water after curfew,” she groans. “Come with me. I don’t want you walking up to the castle alone.”

There’s a snippy comment I could make about how much I doubt that, but I keep it to myself. My nosiness prods me to follow her down to the cove.

When we reach the bank, the sloop’s bow is beached on the wet sand, its port side tipping as a tall, slender figure hops into the shallow water.

“Excuse me, but your vessel has entered a restricted area. You’ll need to move it in the morning,” Darcy shouts, stomping down to meet the sailor wading ashore.

“My apologies.” The velvety chest register of the voice that responds catches me off guard. “I’m not looking for any trouble.”