Page 105 of Once Upon a Crown
“It just finished.” I shrugged. “I want to find out if you’d like to join me for a cup of tea.” My eyes travelled to the teacup on the side table next to her. “But I see you already have one.”
Gwen looked at the teacup before lifting it to her lips and finishing the contents. The cup clattered a little as she placed it back on the saucer.
“Looks like I’m all out.”
I couldn’t help but grin as she stood up and left her book on the chair. She linked her arm with mine as we started to walk. I didn’t know exactly where we were heading. I didn’t have much of a plan other than wanting to be in her presence.
“Your face is looking much better,” she commented. The bruising had pretty much faded, and Cai and I had come to somesort of unspoken understanding where we tolerated each other with as much gentlemanliness as either of us could muster.
“Only thanks to your skills as a healer.”
“I’m the furthest thing from a healer,” she scoffed. “But I’m glad I could help.”
We made our way to the main stairwell and naturally gravitated towards the library. On our way there, we passed a servant, and I requested she bring us a pot of tea and some refreshments. We stepped inside and Gwen took a seat. I added a log to the fire in the fireplace before joining her.
“How did the meeting go?” she asked.
“Much as you would expect. Cai and Elara are considering all their options and there is a lot to think about. I guess it all comes down to gathering enough men in time.”
She nodded, but her expression told me that her mind was somewhere else.
“Have you heard anything from your parents?” I remembered her sending them a letter soon after arriving, but I didn’t know if she’d heard anything back.
“They’re out in the country. My mother wants me to go to them as she feels it’s safer for me there.”
Her mother was right. Gwen would be safer there than here, where every day the risk to our safety only grew.
“Are you going?”
She met my gaze with determination. “Of course not. My real family is here and I’m not leaving any of you.” Part of me was relieved to have her around. I didn’t want her to go but I also didn’t want her in the middle of all the fighting. But at the end of the day, it was her choice and hers alone. If she wanted to stay, then I would make sure nothing happened to her.
“They’ve disowned Thatcher, you know.” Also understandable after everything he’d done. But that didn’t makethe matter any easier for Gwen to digest. Her family had been torn apart, and I didn’t know how to make her feel better.
“And he won’t have a proper burial because he was a traitor. His body is lying in some shallow grave with all the prisoners and criminals.” She sucked in a breath.
“I’m sorry.” It was the only thing I could think of saying. “Would you like for him to be buried somewhere else?”
“No. I don’t know.” She brushed her hair out of her face with frustration. “I don’t know how to feel about any of this anymore.” Which for someone like Gwen, who always knew exactly what she wanted, had to be quite challenging.
“I don’t think there’s a right way to feel about it.” I tried to reassure her. “It’s a lot for anyone to go through. You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself.”
Gwen pressed her lips into a line in contemplation. “I just can’t wait for all of this to be over.” Her and everyone else.
“It will be soon.” Which wouldn’t necessarily be a good thing. There was no guarantee that we would be walking out of this victorious. There was a light knock on the door before the servant girl entered with a tray. She placed the teacups and teapot on the table along with a few finger sandwiches, mini scones and cream.
“Anything else, Your Highness?” she asked once she’d poured some tea into both cups.
“No, thank you.”
The servant left the library, and I added a bit of cream to Gwen’s tea before handing her the cup. Our fingers grazed when she took the cup from me, and she let them linger there for a moment.
“Why are we drinking tea anyway? You don’t even like tea.” She was eager to change the subject, and I was happy to oblige.
“No, I don’t. But I like you.”
A blush crept into her cheeks, and she hid a smile behind her cup. I brought the steaming cup to my mouth, taking a sip of my tea while enjoying the fact that I had this effect on her.
“What book were you reading back there?”
