Page 31 of Untouched Queen by Royal Command

‘Giving her ample opportunity to manipulate the parade itself,’ Benedict offered with a hefty helping of sarcasm.

‘If I don’t like what I see I can always look elsewhere.’ Augustus was famously picky when it came to choosing women to keep company with. ‘It’s not as if I haven’t already looked. I need to broaden my horizons. This is one way to do it.’

‘Are you intending to bed your former courtesan while you wait for your potential Queen to amble by?’

‘No.’ But his brain conjured the image of Sera on her knees before him and then another one of her naked beneath him, a writhing, pleading mess as he sent her soaring, those expressive grey eyes blind to everything but the feel of him. ‘That would be potentially off-putting to said future wife.’

‘Tempting, though.’

‘Very,’ he admitted through gritted teeth.

Benedict smirked. ‘I see your dilemma. Fewer scruples would help.’

‘A king leads by example. Sera of the High Reaches needs to leave my employment in the same state in which she entered it.’

‘Right. And meanwhile you…’

‘Go slowly round the twist, yes.’

Sera knew Augustus was avoiding her and, frankly, that suited her just fine. Courtesans weren’t meant to blush at the memory of a man’s mouth on her. She wasn’t supposed to crave Augustus’s attention the way she did. Anything would do. A touch, a glance, the merest shred of his attention. Anything to feed the bubbling cauldron of emotion he’d awakened in her. The desperate need to satisfy his desires and hers. The things they could do, and feel. They could be fearless together…

She read texts on controlling sexual situations, because that was his way, was it not? She read texts on how best to stay safe while surrendering control. She did everything he asked of her. Put artwork from the High Reaches on display in his palace and the libraries and galleries of Arun. Arranged speaking engagements for herself and spent hours crafting speeches to fit various target audiences. She set about reinventing her role here and part of her relished the challenge even as another part mourned the loss of tradition. She purchased clothes more suitable to a corporate banker than a courtesan, and when the Winter Solstice ball came along she attended it as the events co-ordinator, dressed fully in nondescript black. Black boots, black trousers, fitted black blazer and her black hair pulled back in a high ponytail. Communication pack at her waist and an earphone in her ear, she was quite clearly working the event and not there as a guest.

It didn’t stop people—mostly men—from staring at her regardless or luring her to their side under the guise of making a complaint and then asking for her phone number or simply asking her what she was doing later. No finesse, but most accepted her polite brush-offs with equal civility. Those who pressed their suit met Ari and Tun. Augustus might have requested her presence here tonight but he hadn’t been stupid enough to leave her unprotected.

Small mercies.

Just because he had no desire for a courtesan, didn’t mean others were equally restrained. Augustus had relinquished his claim on her in the most public way possible—by putting her to work, very visibly, in another role. Others were singularly inclined to pick her up where he’d left off.

It made it extremely difficult for her to competently do her job.

When Augustus’s long-suffering secretary caught her eye and wordlessly directed her to the service doors, Sera made her way towards them. He met her there, his face impassive.

‘The King respectfully requests that from this point onwards you leave all requests for your personal attention for either me or your guards to deal with,’ he began.

‘With pleasure.’

‘He also requests that you stop deliberately attracting attention.’

Deliberately attracting attention?‘Are my black clothes not modest enough?’

The older man hitched his shoulders in a wordless gesture signifying who knew what.

‘Shall I overcome years of comportment training and walk with a slouch?’

Another shrug. ‘I’m just the messenger.’

‘Then you can tell the King that this is no more and no less attention than I ever receive. People look and people want. There is no “off” switch. The relationship between King and courtesan is often mutually beneficial in that once he stakes his claim the unwanted attention afforded a courtesan will stop. Of course, this King is far too enlightened to understand that the course of action he insists I follow has consequences he knows nothing about.’

‘I’ll let him know,’ the older man said, and strode off.

The next time a guest beckoned her forward, she sent Ari to deal with him.

The next time the King’s secretary approached she summoned her gentlest smile.

‘The King suggests you supervise the event from the upper west balcony,’ he said. ‘From behind the lights.’

‘Of course.’ There were two ways to reach the suggested balcony. By the servants’ entrance or by the central staircase. She chose the stairs. Head held high and the six-inch heels of her boots very much on show, she made her way straight up the middle with Tun and Ari falling into place on either side of her and two steps behind. She didn’t bother looking back.

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