Page 46 of By Mistake
"Thank you."Great, somewhere there was a mischievous black cat causing all manner of mischief and taking in more information than anyone realized.It would be amusing if it wasn't all so terrifying.
He was just finishing up breakfast when a knock came at the door.One of the servants waiting to give him more alcohol and toast somehow bowed while also slipping from the open dining area, never quite looking away from Andrus until well out of the room.It was so flawlessly elegant that he nearly forgot all about the knock on the door that prompted it.
When the servant returned, he said, "His Majesty has invited you to join him in the rose garden."
"I…I suppose I'd best get to the rose garden then," Andrus said, hoping he didn't sound as panicked as he felt.He was going tokillOresti for abandoning him like this.For that matter, he'd be killing Shimari too, off somewhere stealing jewelry or seducing information or who even knew what kind of mischief.It was also entirely possible he was napping in a bright patch of sunshine as though he were an actual cat."Um, where is this rose garden?"
Smiling ever so faintly, the man said, "I can take you there, my lord."
"I would appreciate that, thank you."
They headed out, and only years of practice allowed him to ignore the stares and whispers that followed in his wake.Normally, it was people making fun of his bedraggled appearance, or snickering at the pathetic contents of his shopping basket, or wondering why he had a bruised face, or that a lord was out haggling the price of turnips, or pitying him after he was refused work for the hundredth time in a week.
These stares and whispers were entirely different, but also very much the same.Heavy, slimy things crawling along the back of his neck, making him twitchy, making him feelother.Because they were jealous he had somehow managed to catch Oresti, like he was a damned fish or something.More and more he appreciated why Oresti favored the person who had wanted the mere investigator.If a single one of these whispering cretins tried to say something untoward, especially about Oresti, they wouldn't like what happened to them.Whatever Oresti and Shimari thought, he was perfectly capable of handling his own problems, and he could do so quite vindictively.
If only he could be as blasé about meeting King Oranti.
The servant led him through a set of metal and glass double doors into an enormous conservatory filled with roses, fountains, and numerous birds.It reminded him sharply of the pretty birds in his bedroom, and how he'd always wanted a conservatory added onto the manor, but he hadn't even been able to afford food.Except now he could afford whatever he wanted, really.
"I think a conservatory would be charming, especially if you filled it with poisonous plants," Shimari said, making him jump nearly into the ceiling.
He dismissed the servant with another thank you and then turned to Shimari."I dislike you."
Shimari grinned, unrepentant as ever."I'll wait for you here, my lord, and walk back with you after your little meeting with the king."
"Vehemently dislike," Andrus called over his shoulder as he headed further into the conservatory.The air was filled with the scent of roses, almost to the point of cloying.Of course it was roses.If not roses, it would be lilies or orchids.The noble trio.Gods forbid anyone introduce a violet or daisy.
His Majesty was an older version of Oresti, a foretelling of how he would look in a few more decades, and it was a promising future.Not that Andrus cared.He wouldn't care if Oresti turned into a wrinkled, ravaged crone or whatever, but it was interesting seeing a future version of him, in a sense.
Made it easy to forget that this was theking.The man who had changed everything for him simply by making a dramatic announcement in a newspaper.
"Lord Andrus Bothwell, we meet at last," he said with a smile, turning from the rose bush he'd been fiddling with, setting aside a pair of clippers, even.
"You're Majesty," he said, bowing low."It's an honor."
"And a headache, I'm sure," the king replied with a laugh."Sit, please.I'm told you already had breakfast, but there is coffee and pastries anyway."
Sit.To drink coffee with the king.He was going to pass out.Somehow, with everything else happening, he had forgotten that of course His Majesty would want to meet with and approve Andrus himself.Because that was what this was.If King Oranti did not like him, that was the end of that.
Not knowing what else to do, he obeyed and sat, thanking the servant who poured him coffee."I hope I'm not interfering with your day, Your Majesty."
"I'm king, nobody interferes with anything I do," Oranti said dryly."I have wanted to meet you since my son first said your name in my presence.His face lit up in a way I had never seen before.When he came home after you threw him out, I had never seen him so distraught—so heartbroken.I'm grateful you gave him a second chance."
"He's hard to resist."
"His mother said the same thing about me, though she was nearly always exasperated when she said it."He sipped his coffee."I hope my little announcement did not cause you too much trouble.The goal was to make your life easier, but I know how these things go."
"The door didn't stop ringing for nine hours, and then only because it grew late.It started up again the next day and lasted for a few more before finally abating.Without Greivs, I never would have gotten through all that correspondence.Thankfully I do have a secretary now who is more than qualified and seems to enjoy the work."
"I'm glad everything is going so well.It's been an exciting month, to be sure.How are you doing with all of this?It must be quite the shock, to go from struggling the way you did to having the life your parents probably always wanted for you."
For a brief moment, Andrus almost cried, because it was so very difficult to think about his parents.Theywouldbe happy for him.He just wished they could have been here to enjoy it as well."It's taking some adjusting.Though as to that, would it be all right if I invited a friend here to see me?Well, the only friend I have really.Though I don't know if he'd see it as a request or some sort of order."
"It's complicated, being royalty, though the lavish perks help with that.Who is this friend?"
"Coret Whyte."
"Mercy, you do have a knack, Lord Bothwell.Another elusive figure no one can snag, despite his mother throwing him into every social function she possibly can.A brilliant scholar, impossible to coax from his books.Specializes in demonology, I believe."
