Page 41 of Oath of Rebellion

His eyes stopped briefly on Eirwyn, and he gave a small twitch of his lips. Every time they'd spoken this week, she felt a slimy feeling down her spinet, like when they'd been children. Usually it meant something bad was about to happen.

Bella knelt in her pale yellow lace gown, and the priest said some boring, colorful words before placing a crown on her head. The king offered her a hand, and she stood.

Then the priest introduced her as Queen Bella. The crowd stood and clapped as the two walked down the stairs and aisle to the end of the giant cathedral in the middle of town.

She and Bella had snuck out in the middle of the night and woven a spell, making the entire cathedral shine like new. It had been nice to have the old Bella back. They'd talked like the good old days at the tavern before going back to the castle.

The illusion on the cathedral would wear off in a few days. Less, if it rained. Bella's magic had been something they had bonded over five or six years ago. Eirwyn had taught Bella all the things she'd learned, had snuck her a few books here and there. But Bella said Eirwyn never paid enough attention to the details, which frustrated the knowledge obsessed Bella.

Eirwyn hung back, clinging to the few shadows in the church. There was to be a celebration at the summer palace tonight, and then the King and Queen were going to take an extended honeymoon and tour the kingdom, eventually landing at the winter palace just in time for seasons to change.

Eirwyn would be staying in Demerel at the summer palace, so that was a blessing at least. She was looking forward to having the run of the palace without her arrogant, condescending brother breathing down her neck.

The townspeople had mostly forgotten about the war in their excitement about the wedding of one of their own beloved to the king. Even the Robins had quieted in town, although she'd heard there was more movement in and out of the country.

She'd listened to more gossip from the servants, but they rarely discussed the Robins or the war. Helga waited at the back of the church, and Eirwyn stood and shook out her blue silk dress.

With head held high, she followed her brother and now sister-in-law down the aisle. Helga stepped into the aisle and helped her put on her red cloak before falling into step behind her. Together they walked to the second carriage, this one enclosed.

Gastone and Bella were stepping into the first open-air carriage, waving to the peasants who lined the streets. Guards stood shoulder to shoulder to keep them from pressing too close.

The carriage door shut, and Eirwyn tipped her head back with a sigh. Her stomach still twisted and turned, and she couldn't wait until tomorrow when this nightmare week would be finished.

"How's your stomach?" Helga asked.

Eirwyn sighed. "It'll all be better tomorrow. Just a few more hours, then I'll be free."

The swaying of the carriage almost lulled her to sleep. She jerked when the carriage rolled to a halt in front of the palace. The footman opened the door, and Eirwyn waited until her brother and friend ascended the stairs before she stepped down.

Gastone had been very clear on his instructions. He didn't want anyone looking at Eirwyn. He wanted all eyes on him and his beautiful, loving bride.

Eirwyn didn't mind, and she wasn't going to do anything that might make him angry on his big day. She hoped Bella would be a calming influence on him. Maybe they could be a real family now.

She went up the steps, dread sinking into her stomach like a brick. She glanced over her shoulder at Helga and said softly, "I need to go to my room before the reception."

Helga frowned and nodded. "I'll inform the butler, then I'll be right up to help."

Eirwyn waved at her. "No, I'm just going to lay down for an hour. I think it'll help settle my stomach. See if anything else needs done, if the housekeeper needs anything for the reception."

Helga nodded as they walked through the doors, and Eirwyn went to her room. She pulled her dress over her head and laid it on the back of a chair so it wouldn't wrinkle. Then she crawled into her cool silk sheets with a sigh.

****

When Eirwyn woke up, the reception ball was in full swing down stairs. She needed air, though. A weight was pressing on her, threatening to suffocate her. She stretched, grateful that at least her stomach felt better. Then she got dressed, washed her face, and reapplied her rouge.

She stared at her wedding slippers where she'd kicked them off by the settee and went to her closet for her walking boots. She wanted to wear them to the tavern later, so she might as well put them on now.

She smiled and breathed a deep, calming breath. Just a few hours of schmoozing with the court, and then she'd be able to see Knox. Her smile turned into a grin as she thought about her dainty, red lace underwear she'd specifically worn today for him.

She just hoped she'd finally have time to show him.

A lone bird cawed outside her window, and she frowned. What was happening in the gazebo that she needed to see? The bird wasn't specific.

But she'd wanted air anyway, so she grabbed her red cloak and went down the servants back stairs and outside. She wandered the gardens, following the bird's suggestion. She turned toward the gazebo as voices echoed softly.

She frowned and ducked onto a side path with tall hedges.

Voices came softly from the other side, and she thanked the bird. She wasn't sure why he'd wanted her to hear whoever was in the gazebo. Most likely, it was some clandestine meeting of passion.

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