Page 51 of Crown of Hearts
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“Cai has suggested a picnic for us.”
“Oh, how lovely.” She yanked at a knot in my hair from excitement and I cringed.
“I need to find out what Cai’s favourite desserts are so that I can make sure we have them.”
“You don’t know the King’s favourite dessert?” Anesta grinned, still fighting the knot. Her eyebrows lifted as she discovered a small ivy twig in the process.
“We were in the midst of a rebellion the last time we saw each other, so no, there wasn’t really time or opportunity to discuss pastries and cakes.”
“I’ll find out what food His Majesty likes,” she reassured me, smiling in satisfaction as the offending knot untangled painfully.
“Thank you.” I scrubbed my arms. “Anesta?”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Are royal picnics similar to other picnics?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well.” I hesitated. “I’ve never really been on a picnic. Not a proper one, anyway. I have no idea what these people do on such occasions.”
“I don’t think it really differs or that there are any special rules regarding picnics.”
“Really?” I said, unconvinced. “With the kind of fuss they make, I would think they would forbid a king and queen from sitting on the ground.”
“Oh no, you’ll probably have chairs and a table and a tent to keep you out of the sun and servants to dish up the food.”
I gave a grunt of dissatisfaction. “That’s not the kind of picnic I had in mind.”
A loud knock sounded from the outer door before Anesta could reply. I frowned, wondering who it could be.
“I’ll get it.” She stood up and walked out of the bath chamber into the bedroom. I heard Anesta open the door and greet someone.
I tied up my hair and wrapped myself in a warm robe before freezing at the sound of his voice. No, it couldn’t be.
“Ray?” I asked in disbelief, hurrying out of the bathing chamber.
“Lara.”
I blinked twice, making sure what I was seeing was, in fact, real.
“It’s really you,” I cried out, and before I could stop myself, to Anesta’s horror, I ran towards him in my robe.
Ray caught me in his arms, and I let out a laugh of pleasure. “What are you doing here?”
He put me down but held on to my shoulders.
“And where the hell have you been?” I rammed a fist into his chest. “You practically scared me to death.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” His face was tanned from spending time in the sun. He’d grown a beard and his hair was longer. But he was still Ray, all the same. My oldest friend. My partner in crime.
“After our last conversation, I rode through the night into Norrandale to alert the King. I thought maybe if he knew his son’s life was in danger, he would help.”
“You came to Norrandale?”
He nodded. “By the time I got here, I found out the queen was practically on her deathbed, and he’d sent for His Highness.”
