Page 69 of Her Dark Reflection

The flutter of voices caught my attention, and I glanced around to see a pair of courtiers drawing closer to us, the lady twirling her parasol and gripping the elbow of her gentleman.

‘You need to leave the palace grounds before someone catches you,’ I urged, hoping that would be enough to move him on and give me time to think, but he didn’t look even slightly concerned.

‘As charmed as I am by your concern for my welfare, you needn’t worry. I thought it pertinent to secure a legitimate reason for being here. The late Lord Martalos was well known at court in his heyday, but his son,’ he flicked out his arms and dropped a quick bow, ‘has spent his young life sequestered away with his ailing mother.’

‘You’re… staying?’

‘This will be my court soon. I ought to know it. And it ought to know me.’ He cocked his head as he watched me grapple with the implications of this news. ‘Why the scowl, Rhiandra? You’ll make me think you don’t want me around. That’s no way to begin a marriage.’

‘I haven’t agreed that we will be married!’

‘And I don’t doubt that you’re trying to find a way to slither out of keeping your deal with me, but there isn’t one. Not if you wish to retain any of the power you’ve worked so hard for. Think of all you’ve done to get here.’

The two courtiers drew within earshot of us, and we both watched them approach as they whispered to one another and shot us speculative glances.

‘I want the whole three days to make my decision,’ I said, keeping my voice low.

‘Why delay the inevitable? You already know what your choice will be.’

‘And that means,’ I continued, as though he didn’t speak, ‘you don’t follow me around trying to bully me into making it sooner. You said I could have time, so give it to me. Unless you aren’t as confident in the outcome as you pretend to be.’ I cast him a sidelong glance.

The young woman smiled nervously at us, and her suitor tugged her lightly to steer her in our direction. By the blood of Madeia, if they were about to start petitioning me for favour I would scream.

‘Have your time. I’ll leave you be,’ Draven said, turning back to me, a soft breeze stirring the dark hair on his forehead as he held my gaze. ‘But come midnight on day three, I’ll want your answer. I’m mosteagerfor it.’

I was the first to look away, a slight warmth to my cheeks, much to my chagrin. As the young couple reached us, I gave Draven a curt nod and strode away, leaving them looking deflated and a little offended. I would not glance back, even though I could feel his gaze sliding over me as I walked away, making me feel unsteady and conscious of my every step.

It was a relief to retreat into the stone embrace of the palace, even though my personal mob waited for me there, shifting and tittering and no doubt whispering cutting remarks to one another in retribution for my abrupt dismissal. I eyed the handful of women for a moment, then scowled when I heard Sherman wheezing his way towards me.

‘Paper and pen,’ I barked at my nearest attendant, who was barely more than a girl and had been foisted on me by her ambitious father. She jumped with fright and hurried quickly away as I stalked back into the depths of the palace, my pace relentless as I tried to keep far enough ahead of Sherman that I could pretend I couldn’t hear his efforts to call out to me. When the girl caught up with me, I paused to snatch the items from her and drew a few murmurs of shock from my attendants when I slapped the paper against a wall, scribbled a few lines and folded it haphazardly.

The sight of their wide-eyed faces sent my breath huffing through my nose. ‘Why are you all here after I dismissed you? Anyone still within my line-of-sight next time I glance behind me will lose their position at court.’

The sounds of footsteps hurrying in the opposite direction to me as I continued on was immensely satisfying.

Leela had been lying on a chaise lounge by the window flipping through a pamphlet on dress design when I barged through the door of my apartment. She jumped to attention at the sight of me and I waved the folded paper at her.

‘Deliver this to the address at the top,’ I said as I pulled my fingers from the lace gloves I was wearing and flung them on a settee. ‘And don’t send anyone else. I want you to go yourself.’

She peeled open the paper and raised her eyebrows as she scanned the words, but one pointed look from me staunched whatever she had been about to say.

‘As you wish, ma’am,’ she said, inclining her head.

‘Oh, and send word to Mrs Corkill that I want to throw a big celebration for Aetherdi. I know it’s short notice, but I want to invite the whole council and she’ll have to throw an elaborate dinner for them.’

Leela gave me a hard look. ‘Is there any reason you’ve decided such a thing?’

I waved her off. ‘To charm them all, why else?’

She didn’t look convinced, but she bobbed a curtsey and left without another question. When she was gone, I strode to the cupboard skulking in the corner of my bedchamber. The thing looked monstrously elaborate even in a royal apartment. I opened the doors and paused to pour myself a glass from one of the crystal decanters before continuing. My hands were trembling.

Sipping from the glass, I slowly lifted the false backing, revealing my reflection a hairsbreadth at a time. Impressive cleavage, slender neck, pointed chin… and twisted, shiny skin, a sea of white crests and vulnerable pink troughs. I studied myself, nursing my drink, noting the new hollows around my eyes, the line between my brows, neither of which were usually visible. My mind raced along well-worn paths, weighing actions and consequences, predicting and plotting and worrying over everything I didn’t know, constantly askingwhat if, what if, what if.

What if I gave Gwinellyn the apple?

I’d be done with the deal. I’d keep the glamour and fade into obscurity as the woman whoused tobe queen. I’d be relegated to a footnote in history. An amusing little anecdote about the maisera who managed to bag herself a king and wore a crown for a few mad months until the world righted itself again.

What if I refused the choices Draven offered?

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