Page 46 of Knightfall
Inside my head, Quinn swore.I said turn him down gently, not offer the kingdom’s secrets on a sarding platter!
Good thing I haven’t been to any briefings yet to learn those secrets,I replied.I’m four years behind on confidential information.
A picture of a dog and her suckling pups popped into my head.
I hope you mean clever bitch,I shot to Quinn.
Was that dog doing tricks?He sent a new image of a dog with glowing red eyes.
Ass.
Never said I don’t like evil bitches.
I focused back on the paunchy man in front of me. Willard pulled out his handkerchief again and patted the rolls in his neck. I think the kerchief might have stuck inside one of the rolls for a moment. I averted my eyes and waited for his response.
“I … I will have to ask—”
He was going to ask his mother. Adrenaline flooded me. I couldn’t let him do that. Lady Agatha would be furious. We’d end up with a rift between the crown and one of our major nobles. I had to get Willard to agree. Sweeten the pot, as the whores would have said. Or ‘Make the offer irresistible, so they can’t see the consequences for the glittering gold beneath their eyes.’ Those were Mother’s words. I moved until Willard met my eyes. “Truth for truth, Willard. You and I. No mothers involved. We can go before the palace mage and have him bind us. Right now. And after you reveal whatever truth you need my help with, I promise, I’ll do whatever I can to help seek a solution. And I promise to be discreet. No one else need know.”
The breath whooshed out of Willard. “Oh, thank God.” He squeezed my fingers and dragged me into a full body hug. That was when I could finally smell the stench of his nervous sweat. “Thank you for saying no,” he whispered.
“Um … any time?”
He chuckled and released me. “I do apologize, Your Highness. I meant, thank you for finding an alternative.”
I shrugged and smiled. “Well, our tutors did always call me a little genius.” The term they’d actually used was gnat.
But Willard coughed out a polite laugh.
I held out my hand so Willard could escort me to the mage’s tower. “Shall we? I hope you don’t mind, but one of my husbands will probably escort us to the tower … they’ve been a bit attached since I’ve returned.”
Willard took my arm and for the first time since I’d known him, puffed his chest. He pulled open the door and led me into the hall. “Well, now, seeing as they married the class genius, they should be.”
I genuinely laughed. I think it was the first joke I’d ever heard from Willard.
Quinn pulled himself away from the stone wall he’d been leaning against. He let Willard continue to escort me, giving the man a respectful nod. Willard doddled along with a grin, content to show his family’s solidarity with the royal family via a public stroll through the palace.
Quinn flanked my other side, obviously staring me up and down despite the other nobles hovering nearby.Dove. I didn’t know you were a genius. I’d love to pick yourbrainlater.His gaze landed on my ass.
His naughty implication sent a rush from my nipples to my mound.Who says my brain is open for business?
The catch in your breath and the look in your eye,he countered.
I shot him a naughty grin, elation bubbling in my stomach. This was what I’d always hoped marriage would be. Banter and inside secrets. And laughter. But then I wondered … was it a trick? Was Quinn toying with me? Was he going to turn angry like the others? Get me close only to push me away? Show me what it had been like for him? Being abandoned?
Quinn’s fingers brushed mine.No tricks, Dove. I promise.
I stared up into his grey eyes.Really?
Really.
My knees went weak. My heart went haywire. And my feet gave out. I tripped on the edge of a rug. “Oh!” I nearly pulled Willard over with me. Luckily, Quinn grabbed me and yanked. Willard’s weight on my other arm nearly ripped me in half until Quinn reached over and helped Willard to his feet too.
I turned to the pudgy man, whose waistcoat had rolled up over his middle. “I’m so sorry, Lord Willard. I wasn’t watching where I was going. It was completely my fault.”
Willard only smiled as he struggled to straighten his waistcoat. “Perhaps your knight should escort you, Your Highness. Since you can’t seem to take your eyes off him.”
I blushed scarlet, particularly as two noble ladies nearby craned their necks to listen to our conversation. Quinn just grinned and tugged me closer until I fit under the crook of his arm.
