Page 10 of Crown of Hearts
“Shall I arrange a marriage for you, then? Trap the poor bastard before he has a chance to run away?” I asked her.
“Maybe give me a chance to trap him first.” She handed me the crown of pearls. “I’m much better at flirting than you are, anyway.”
“Anesta!”
“You don’t need any skill, Your Majesty. You already have more than any other girl could offer. The rest of us are reliant on our charms and wit.” Where had the time gone when I was reliant on my wit?
I placed the pearl crown on my head, causing a few hairs to go astray, and after some more fussing from Anesta, I’d finally had enough. I turned and headed for the white, decoratively carved doors of my rooms, Anesta darting to catch up with me.
“Don’t be offended. You’re the Queen of Everness. You don’t have to flirt. Men will sell their souls to marry you.”
“Only it won’t be for the right reasons.” A few months ago, I was living in the woods, bathing in rivers and stealing from the very people who lived in my court, and here I was, multiple crowns and dresses, actually contemplating arranged marriages. The thought made me nauseous.
Before all this, I never had the particular luxury of thinking about marriage, not when my next meal was much more important. I would admit that, at times, I thought maybe one day Ray and I would eventually marry. Mostly because there was no one else. But as Anesta said, I had the pick of them now. I could probably marry any great man I wanted. But where on earth did you find a good one? Someone worthy?
Rhen was waiting outside my chambers, ready to escort me.
“She’s become a romantic,” Anesta teased in response to my comment.
“Who’s gone romantic?” Rhen asked, and I shook my head.
“I’ve not become a romantic. I simply don’t want to marry a power-hungry man who will stab me in the back.”
“Well, you’re off to a smashing start with the Darwicks,” Rhen said, though his tone didn’t suggest this to be true.
“This was your idea,” I reminded him.
“Yes, I said it would be to your political advantage, not that it would keep you from getting murdered.” He must have seen my worried expression because he added, “Though I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Rhen cleared his throat. “Darwick will need an heir before he can kill you anyway.”
“You two are not helping at all.” I clenched my jaw, dreading the meeting even more than I had before.
We descended the staircase, before making our way down the hall that led to the throne room. After the rebellion, I’d sent most of the court to their estates while things were cleared up. And then I got rather used to the quiet of the palace, which made me picky about who was allowed to visit. The Duke of Darwick and his son, Edgar, already stood awaiting me. Good. I hoped they’d been waiting for a while.
The duke was a tall man with dark hair and dark eyes. Edgar had his father’s features along with an upturned nose and deep Cupid’s bow. He was dressed more finely than the last time we’d seen each other, as was to be expected.
“Your Majesty,” the duke said, and the two of them bowed. I knew they did it because they had to, but it made me wonder how much they truly respected me. The lost heir who’d not been brought up in the ways of the nobles. The queen with no experience or rights to her title other than by birth, who now held their fate in her hands. I doubted their affection for me surpassed mine for them. Not beyond what my position could offer them anyway.
I halted in front of the Darwicks.
“Darwick, it’s lovely to see you,” I lied through my teeth.
Still in his bow, the duke took my wrist and placed a presumptuous kiss upon my hand. “Not as lovely as it is tosee you, Your Majesty,” he purred, in a way that caused my discomfort to grow.
I gently plucked my hand out of his grasp without trying to appear rude. “Shall we retire to the dining hall?” I felt Edgar staring at me from behind as we made our way to my private dining room, where we would not be disturbed by anyone.
I had suggested they join me for breakfast, thus keeping the conversation quiet and formal for as long as possible and giving me the opportunity to leave at any moment. It wasn’t the norm, of course, and I presumed the Darwicks would think it odd. But I had to keep reminding myself of Anesta’s words: it was an honour for them to dine with the Queen.
I took my seat at the head of the table and regretted for a moment that I didn’t choose to wear my bigger crown; somehow, I felt as though I wasn’t intimidating enough. The dining table was impeccably set, as always, with a thick white tablecloth and stitched napkins. Food was displayed from one side of the table to the other. Plates filled with breads and cheeses, salmon, sauces, a selection of cured meats, and fruits that looked so fresh they practically glistened. Any other monarch might have found it fitting but it almost made me sick to my stomach. Sick and distraught to imagine people dining like this when, out there in the kingdom, some of my subjects were dying of hunger. How, not long ago, my own family and friends were practically starving. How I had been stealing to ensure my next meal.
The Duke of Darwick sat to my left while Edgar took a seat on my right-hand side. A servant poured us some tea.
The duke, in slight discomfort at the oddity of the meeting, looked around the room and blurted out, “If you don’t mind, Your Majesty, I think the sooner we get straight down to business, the better.” Lord Edgar hesitantly started filling hisplate, his attention having been diverted from me to the array of food. I couldn’t say I was disappointed.
“Of course.” I took a sip from my cup, my throat dry. “No one would confuse you for a man fond of idle chit-chat, Darwick.”
Samuel Darwick smiled. “Well, there is no need to waste time and I believe time is of the essence to you, my queen.” I didn’t appreciate how his words suggested I was in some sort of predicament and reliant on their cooperation, even if it was somewhat true.
I squinted. “No, I suppose there is no reason to waste time with the usual pleasantries.” Of course, they didn’t know that we’d met before. Darwick had no idea that I’d been to his estate, had slept in his house and made use of the horses that he’d given me. He was still under the impression that was Eloisa. And there was no reason for them to be informed of the truth.
