Page 50 of The Kingdom's Crown

"How was your meeting, my love?" she asked tartly.

Thao was slouching in an armchair, fighting laughter and avoiding my gaze, and the others aside from Aric were all gathered in the room, their eyes flicking between us.

"I didn't want you to worry," I said lamely, crossing to Bryony.

She arched an eyebrow. "Why should I worry?"

I gave the rest of the room my back, shielding Bryony from their view and bowing my head so I could lower my voice. "I only heard this morning, and I didn't want to disrupt the peace you were enjoying. You've had so little of it lately."

Bryony's expression softened, humor bleeding through her annoyance. "Well, thank you, I suppose, although it didn't help when Ididfind out where you were."

I ducked a little lower, and Bryony sighed, lifting her face so I could kiss her. "Apologies."

Bryony leaned into the kiss for another moment, voices moving on with their conversations behind me as Nora caught her brother up on her entire week. Bryony's lids were heavy as she pulled away, and she softened into the circle of my arms around her, but her eyes widened expectantly.

"Well? You'd better tell me how it went."

I took a deep breath and drew back, tugging Bryony along by the hands and setting her down on the couch between Cosmo and Owen. I sat on the stool across from her, and she sat up straighter, bracing herself.

"Most of the meeting was spent discussing formalities for your grandmother's funeral," I said.

"The council isn't arranging it, are they?" Bryony's nose wrinkled, and she glanced between me and Jack.

I laughed and shook my head. "No, but we're expected to do our best to represent interest to visiting dignitaries on your mother's behalf."

Bryony's lips pursed, and her gaze drifted up with thought. "I'd like to know what interests they're representing and with whom."

I nodded and stroked my thumb over the back of her hand. "I'll go over it all with you. You'll make a stronger impression on other royals than any council member. There's to be a dinner too."

"It's almost certainly better handled in your hands than whomever Thomlinson would've passed the task to," Jack added.

Bryony nodded slowly. "I think a little planning might be a good distraction for me," she said softly.

"Morgan and I can manage the planning if you'd rather not," Nora said brightly, glancing at the other young woman.

Morgan's face twisted uncomfortably—from what I'd seen of her so far, she was more interested in the magical texts Aric set aside, or Owen and Daniel's opinions on horse racing. While Nora was shy around most of us and so obviously eager to please and emulate Bryony, Morgan was unabashedly opinionated, noisy, boisterous, and thoroughly disinterested in every single one of us as any kind of sexual creature. I'd caught her eyeing Bryony and Nora with more interest than she had when Owen had jogged to breakfast shirtless, and aside from her connection to Sir Weston, it was obvious why Bryony was comfortable taking Morgan on as a lady-in-waiting.

"No, I'd like to be involved," Bryony said slowly. "It's something to do now, at least."

I reached forward and took her hands in mine, brushing my thumbs over the smooth backs and raising one to my lips until I had her focus on me again. "You'll make it a beautiful and appropriate occasion. And if you find a moment to speak…"

Bryony laughed and grimaced, but she nodded.

"You do give a compelling speech, Your Highness," Jack said.

I was perversely pleased that Bryony didn't grant him more than a glance. I knew seven was a low number of Chosen for even a princess, let alone one of our queens, but I was oddly jealous at the idea of Bryony taking more of us.

"I hope there was some good news to the meeting," Bryony said, sighing.

Jack's laugh cracked through the quiet, and Bryony's eyes widened on mine as I winced. "That was the good news, love."

"I'll deliver the bad, Pope," Jack offered, joining his sister on a bench facing Bryony. "Thomlinson wheedled permission from your mother for the council to legislate without seeking the crown's approval first."

"What?!" Bryony cried out, trying to stand up. Owen and Cosmo restrained her gently, soothing their hands down her arms.

'"Thomlinson said it was only fair if the crown was going to choose who sat on the council," I added, grimacing.

Bryony huffed and rolled her eyes. "One man. My mother putoneman on the council. And you should've been granted a seat if you wanted one anyway! Oh, how could she?!" Owen's arm covered Bryony's shoulder as she pressed her face into her palms, hunched over with her elbows propped on her skirt. "Of course she did."

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