Page 57 of A Dance of Shadows

And I’m protecting myself from you as well as him.

“I continue to pray on the matter,” I say instead.

“Of course.” Marc strokes his thumb over my cheek, stirring an unwelcome shiver through my nerves. “He’s pushedyouhard. That can’t be good for you or our child. We have court events we’re committed to over the next few days, but after that I’ll see that you have one all for yourself. Whatever you’d like to do, wherever you’d like to go—with your guards watching over you, naturally.”

A day to myself, without needing any machinations to acquire it. What an unexpected gift.

I lower my head modestly. “I look forward to it.”

“And I look forward to seeing you return from your more peaceful adventures looking refreshed once I’m done with all my politicking on that day.” Marc gets up. “For now, I can at least offer you enough time to relax in a bath. I heard about a particular oil that’s supposed to soothe the spirit during pregnancy. I’ll have that sent up right away.”

He brushes a quick kiss to my lips and strides off. I watch the door shut on his heels, telling myself that the wobble of emotion that’s passed through my gut can’t possibly be guilt.

It doesn’t matter what pressures he’s been under or how he was raised. He deserves to fall after all the horrors he’s been a party to… doesn’t he?

Chapter Twenty-One

Aurelia

It takes a harder tug than usual to settle the layers of the silk gown into place around my waist. As my maids fuss around me, I peer down at the small but increasingly noticeable curve that now protrudes between my hips, holding the baby growing ever larger within me.

It’s still months yet before I’ll get to meet my and Bastien’s child, but I can almost picture that moment now.

Through the giddy flutter that thought provokes, I let out a light laugh. “In another few weeks, I may need a new wardrobe.”

Eusette grins at me with a swish of her ruddy hair. “You don’t have to worry about that. His Imperial Majesty commissioned a whole other trunk full of dresses that we’re to switch to when needed.”

He did?

I stifle any outward sign of my surprise. I probably shouldn’tbesurprised. The decision will have been Marc’s, no doubt, andhe’s been conscientious of my pregnancy from the first moment I announced it.

He wants to be sure his heir is comfortable—that’s all. I still need to convince him to care just as much about the vessel.

“Good to know,” I say in a grateful tone, and keep quiet while they wind up my hair.

When Jinalle brings out one of the multiple imperial jewelry boxes, I wave it away. “I think less adornment will be preferable for today’s activities. I’ll be more extravagant tomorrow to make up for it.”

She covers a nervous giggle with her slim hand but doesn’t argue. Who would dare to argue with the empress?

Well, other than the empress’s husband, obviously.

And perhaps her lovers. On my way to the dining room, Bastien catches up with me in the hall. He takes on a disaffected tone, as if he’s only speaking to me out of duty, but I can hear the thread of worry beneath his words. “Are you still set on visiting the Temple of Placid Balms today?”

When I asked him a few days ago where I could find the largest temple dedicated to Elox in or around Delphine, he got rather edgy about it. The godlen of peace and healing does often encourage his dedicats to work where the people are neediest.

I put on a mild reassuring smile. “I’m quite prepared, and I’ll be taking more than my usual personal guard. The people of a deprived neighborhood need my compassion, not my fear.”

Especially after some of them may have watched me standing uselessly while two of their fellow citizens tremored with asp venom in the iris field.

Bastien makes a faint rough noise in his throat. I think he’d prefer to have found suitable targets for my compassion in a more reputable part of the city, but he’s aware that I’m not easily intimidated by a challenge. “Safe travels, then.”

His earlier description of the neighborhood is what inspired me, though I wouldn’t provoke his conscience by telling him that. As he spoke of the poor who’ve benefitted least from the improvements his family makes for the city, who Elox’s devouts built their temple to serve, his father’s words about using my gift came back to me.

There might not be anything particularly innovative about the concoctions I’ve spent my spare moments over the past few days brewing, but they’ll get my point across all the same. The empire cares about the people of Cotea.Icare about them.

Dariu is more than just its emperor.

Marc nods to me from the head of our breakfast table with a pleased smile. As he promised, he helped make the arrangements for my day to myself, including picking out two additional guards from the soldiers who’ve accompanied our convoy to make sure I’m well-protected.

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