Page 55 of MidKnight
The bear nodded.
“Bescumbered bugger!” If I ever found this spellcaster … I clenched my fist just as Shiter and Blue showed up. They settled next to the bear like they were old friends.
Great. Just wonderful.
I imagined the jokes the bards would make about me.
A bluebird, a rabbit, and a bear walked into her castle…
I shook my head. The gods hated me. Clearly, they did.
I sighed and waved my arm toward the castle. “Sard it all. Well, come on, then.”
And my little menagerie followed like ducklings. Fat, shitey, blue ducklings. All the way back to the castle.
Chapter Thirteen
Ihad my first official meeting with my nobles the next morning.
Ginnifer put me into a lavish lace overdress before dawn. I didn’t have time to appreciate the beauty of the gown; I had to read through a scroll a mile-long listing all of the minuscule details of the day.
Connor met me in the dressing room, steaming and stewing about the time as my maid did my hair.
“I’m going to have the hardest time not accusing someone of treason today, Ginnifer,” I growled when I saw that Duke Aiden was representing his province. His wife was still resting after their newest child.
Ginnifer’s eyes widened and she paled. “I … I don’t know what to say, Your Majesty.”
Connor rolled his eyes as he joined me on the bench I perched on.
“Say, Bloss Boss, control yourself. There will be six gossipy duchesses and a duke there today. Willard will also probably accompany his mommy, because he always does. And you don’t need any more awkwardness just now.”
“But Aiden’s sold us out!”
“Proof, beautiful,” Connor’s blue-green eyes sparkled with amusement at me. “Willard could easily be hiding his own guilt by throwing Aiden under the horse’s hooves.”
Ginnifer’s eyes widened again.
“You’re going to have to get the shocked look under control if you’re going to be my maid,” I told her.
Connor turned to my maid. “Thank you, Ginnifer.” He stood and took her hand and escorted her from the room. “You have outdone yourself today. Bloss looks wonderful.”
Ginnifer blushed, of course she did—Connor could make a wizened old grandmother blush like a school girl. She gave a curtsy and let herself out.
Connor turned to me with a stern expression. “Bloss Boss, Ginnifer was chosen for her discretion. But you have to realize, she’s new to this, just like you.”
I sighed and rubbed my neck. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“I know this job is more than stressful to you.”
“Honestly, Connor, it feels like I’m drowning.”
“You aren’t. Trust me. You aren’t.”
I sighed, “I feel as though anyone else would be better at this.”
Connor quirked a smile. “You’re the perfect queen.”
I snorted, “How could you possibly say that?”
