Page 58 of The Kingdom's Crown

"You mean aside from the interruptions of your sister?" Aric asked, his head tipped to rest on the back of the couch, fingers working tension out of his temples.

Bryony's head rested on my chest. The laces of her dress were undone, corset slipped out from beneath the dress in some kind of feminine magic trick.

"Camellia's appetite for cock didn't seem to impress some of the council," Cosmo said with a shrug, sipping on a glass of brandy, his bare feet propped up on a decorative table.

"Or the queen," Daniel added, nodding.

"I don't want to think of her," Bryony whispered, and we all fell silent. Her fingertips picked at the weave of my shirt, and I placed a hand over hers, stilling the movement. A minute of quiet later, and her trembles started, little sniffles soon following.

"Your grandmother would be proud of you today, Mistress," Owen said, bending down and pushing Bryony's skirt up enough for him to kiss her shin.

Bryony shuddered and nodded against me. "I know," she said, words choked with tears.

"It's late. There'll be more visiting and opportunities for politics tomorrow," Wendell said, rising from his chair.

"You should get some rest," Cresswell said, moving for the door to the bedroom.

Bryony nodded again, but her hand pressed to my chest. "I'll come in. In a few minutes."

One by one, the others took the gentle cue, heading for the bedroom to wait for Bryony to come in and be bundled up in the arms of whomever could claim her first. I watched them go, my heart drumming slowly beneath Bryony's firm hand that held me in place. Had I angered her? Or aroused her? Or was she merely comfortable here and wanting privacy and a good lap to mourn on?

"I'll be in soon," Bryony said to Owen, who hesitated longest. He smiled at me, a secretive look I wasn't sure I could really read, and then stood and left us.

Even after we were alone, Bryony remained in place, her sniffling slowing and growing quiet, her hand still holding me in place. I relaxed, my arms already looped around her waist, and I lowered my cheek to the top of her head.

"Will you take the pins out?" Bryony asked.

I smiled. This was usually Cosmo's job, and it was one I coveted. I reached one hand up, searching blindly for the thin pins, working them gently out of Bryony's hair as she sighed and softened fully against me.

"Thank you."

"Any time," I said, shrugging a little beneath her.

"No. I meant…for today."

Oh. My fingers paused in their work, spinning one soft curl around my thumb as I resisted the urge to preen under her thanks. "I did very little."

Bryony chuckled and pushed herself up, half her hair loose over her shoulder, eyes crinkled with her smile and a little red from crying. "It's not like you to resist praise," she said.

That was true, and I was about as clueless as Bryony as to the cause, so I went back to searching for pins as I thought. "I promised you my loyalty as an ally when you first took me and Wendell on as Chosen," I said, ignoring the pinch of discomfort in my chest as Bryony frowned in response. "And I promised you my deference and obedience—"

"Thao," Bryony said, a little ache in her voice.

I pressed my thumb over her lips to quiet her and then pulled the last pin free, accidentally snagging a strand and soothing the spot. I sat up, Bryony still perched on my legs which had gone somewhat numb, not that I cared. We were nose to nose, our eyes shifting back and forth to meet one another.

"I promised you that when you reminded me of my place in your court. But I will stand by you whenever you need me to, not out of loyalty or obedience, but out of love."

Bryony's smile bloomed, even as she glared at me. "You drew that out on purpose."

"I did," I said, grinning back before leaning in to nip at her lip, combing my fingers through her hair until it draped over her back. Her dress was loose, one shoulder slipping off to expose smooth skin, and I tugged on the sleeve to reveal a little more.

"Anytime I felt lost today, I just looked to you and tried to model myself after you," Bryony said.

"You're joking."

"I'm not! You said I have grace and dignity, but so do you, and I think it comes more innately to you. So thank you," she repeated slowly, leaning in and kissing a path down from my brow to the end of my nose, "for standing at my side today."

"You're very welcome."

---