Stranger to the Crown

by Melissa McShane

  Lieutenant Anselm fell silent. Elspeth waited. Finally, she said, “Should I know who that is?”

  Anselm shifted uncomfortably. “I’m sorry, your Majesty, I forgot you’re new to Aurilien. Lyle Carruthers was a d’Arden before he adopted out. He’s Lady Serena d’Arden’s younger brother.”

  23

  Lady d’Arden. It was a relief to put a face to her nameless enemy. “Thank you, lieutenant,” Elspeth said. “You’ve done excellent work. Who is Captain Sommers’ superior officer, and where can I find him or her?”

  “Major Ellen Grant,” Anselm said. “I think she suspects Captain Sommers of shady dealings, not just this one. You don’t get put on night guard duty as an officer unless you’re under some kind of condemnation. She would be willing to put pressure on the captain if you asked.”

  “I will need his testimony eventually. For now—I don’t think I have to tell you not to mention this to anyone.”

  “Of course not, your Majesty.” Anselm bowed and let herself out.

  Elspeth gripped the edge of her desk and went over her options. She could confront Lady d’Arden directly. She could free Faraday and have him confront Lady d’Arden with her. She could call a Council meeting and denounce Lady d’Arden publicly. She could arrange to have Lady d’Arden followed and discover more of her plot. All of those options had problems.

  So, what did she know? Lady d’Arden wanted Faraday eliminated because…why? Almost certainly because she believed he was a danger to her. How, Elspeth didn’t know. She set that aside for the moment. Lady d’Arden intended to take the Crown once Elspeth was out of the way. But Elspeth’s death wouldn’t be that disruptive, because Lord Harrington would be James’s regent and could protect his interests from any usurpers. Which meant—

  Elspeth sucked in a startled breath. It wasn’t just her life in danger. Lady d’Arden would need to eliminate Lord Harrington, too. And it didn’t matter whether that was before or after Elspeth was killed, just so long as it meant there was no one minding the store when Lady d’Arden slipped into the Queen’s role.

  Elspeth ran for the door and burst into Simkins’ office. “Miss Simkins, can you find out where Lady d’Arden is? Discreetly?”

  “Certainly, your Majesty,” Simkins said, not showing any alarm at the Queen bursting into her office like a madwoman.

  Elspeth went back to her desk and sat, not behind it, but on top of it, too restless to be confined in a chair. It might not matter, because Lady d’Arden wasn’t likely to dirty her own hands with an assassination. But if they could arrest her immediately, they might be able to stop whatever plans she had in motion. She wished she’d thought to ask Simkins to find out where Lord Harrington was. Well, that she could manage herself.

  She went down the hall to Lord Harrington’s office. His secretary, an elderly man with sharp hazel eyes, told her Lord Harrington was in a meeting with members of his staff. Elspeth declined his offer to interrupt the meeting. That should keep Lord Harrington safe for now.

  She returned to her office and met Simkins on the way. “Lady d’Arden is meeting with Guild representatives in the Oak Hall,” Simkins said. “I spoke with her secretary, who told me her ladyship intended to go to an early dinner after that meeting.”

  Elspeth made a decision. “I’m going to speak to Lady d’Arden,” she said.

  “Your Majesty, is that wise?” Simkins asked.

  “Maybe not, but lives are at stake.” Elspeth turned on her heel and hurried through the north wing to where her guards waited. She looked them over; they were armed, and there were four of them, which should be enough. “Where’s Lieutenant Anselm?” she asked.

  “She’s not on duty again until after the dinner hour, your Majesty,” one of the guards said.

  Elspeth would have felt more secure with the confident lieutenant at her elbow, but she wasn’t needed for this. “Come with me,” she said. “And be prepared to make an arrest.”

  That startled them. All four moved restlessly, glancing at each other, but none of them said anything. It was nice to have guards loyal to her. She couldn’t imagine if she had to depend solely on Tremontanan soldiers, if leaders like Captain Sommers were in a position to give them bad orders.

  It was also nice, she reflected ten minutes later, to have guards who knew the palace better than she did. The Oak Hall not only wasn’t on her list of places she knew, she’d never even heard of it. But the guards took her around the north wing to the far western side of the palace and into a hallway that was itself wide enough to host a gathering of Guild leaders. It was paved in gray marble streaked with black and lined on both sides with fat ridged columns painted sky blue to match the ceiling. Elspeth took a good look at the ceiling: fluffy white clouds gave the hall the illusion that it was open to the summer sky, though no one would ever believe the effect because the hall smelled not of fresh air, but of old, greasy smoke as if there had been a fire there recently.

  Double doors about halfway down the hall, curved at the top and painted blue to match the columns, stood halfway open, and men and women strolled out of the room beyond, chatting quietly in a way that reminded Elspeth of the Temple and how leisurely everyone was leaving an instruction session. These people, though, were dressed in rich robes and coats bearing the insignia of their various Guilds rather than the plain linen trousers and shirts of the priestesses. As they registered Elspeth’s presence, they stopped in place and bowed. Most of them clearly wanted to ask what she was doing there, but when Elspeth acknowledged them without a word, they moved on, glancing over their shoulders once or twice.

  Elspeth waited for the doorway to clear, then entered. To her surprise, the Oak Hall reminded her even more strongly of the Irantzen Temple than the people had. There was a room in the Temple large enough for all the priestesses and aspirants to gather, filled with wooden benches stained dark and lacquered to a high gloss, with a rostrum at the front where a speaker could stand to address the room. The benches were so smooth someone could take a running start and slide from one end to the other…not that Elspeth would ever do anything so undignified. Of course not.

  And here was this high-ceilinged room filled with glossy wooden benches, the windows stained glass creations that would cast colored light across those benches when the afternoon sun struck them, the rostrum where Lady d’Arden stood speaking to one of those women in Guild colors. Both looked up when Elspeth entered. The Guild woman gasped and bowed deeply. Lady d’Arden bowed, not as deeply. Her face was perfectly serene.

  “Lady d’Arden, I’d like a word with you,” Elspeth said. The Guild woman muttered something about needing to leave and hurried out the door. Lady d’Arden faced Elspeth, still showing no sign of self-consciousness or guilt.

  “Yes, your Majesty? I have a dinner appointment in a few minutes,” she said. “But of course if this is important, I can move it back.”

  “This won’t take long.” Elspeth was growing uncomfortably aware that she hadn’t thought past stopping Lady d’Arden from executing her plan. She’d sort of believed Lady d’Arden would collapse when Elspeth appeared, confess her guilt, and offer herself up for arrest. Now that she was here, Elspeth wasn’t entirely sure this was something a Queen ought to do. Maybe she should have sent the competent Lieutenant Anselm instead. Well, she was here, and there was nothing for it but to move forward.

  “You sent guards to take Mister Faraday out of confinement last night,” she said, beginning with the one thing she was certain of.

  “I did,” Lady d’Arden said coolly.

  “And why was that?”

  “I believed he was in danger. I didn’t want him killed in custody before he could go to trial.”

  Elspeth blinked. “What gave you the right to do that?”

  “I felt it was my duty to a fellow Council member.”

  “And it wasn’t your duty to report your suspicions to me?”

  “I believed time was of the essence.”

  Elspeth felt as if she were tryin
g to wrestle water. Lady d’Arden sounded so sure of herself…and yet Elspeth knew it was a lie. “Your duty to remove him in the dead of night? That doesn’t sound like you intended to protect him.”

  “How do you know what happened, your Majesty?”

  Elspeth wished she could wipe her sweaty palms on her trousers without looking uncertain. The room was uncomfortably warm. “I put safeguards in place to protect Mister Faraday against exactly what you claim you were trying to prevent. It’s far more likely you wanted him secretly dead than that you were acting out of altruism.”

  Lady d’Arden shrugged. “Believe what you like. The guards will back up my story.”

  “Because you told them to.” Elspeth drew herself up to her full height, which made her slightly taller than Lady d’Arden, and hoped she looked confident. “Serena d’Arden, I’m taking you into custody.”

  Lady d’Arden smiled. “On what grounds?”

  “High treason.”

  The smile grew broader. “High treason? Me? You don’t have any proof.”

  “I know you framed Duncan Faraday because he was getting too close to the truth,” Elspeth improvised. “You’re poised to take over as Queen when I’m assassinated, something else you have planned. I’m sure if Finance digs a little deeper, they’ll find the money from the sale of royal property didn’t go to Mister Faraday, but to you.” Elspeth smiled back. “And you may have forgotten, but I am the Queen of Tremontane. I don’t need proof to arrest someone. Now, will you come quietly?”

  Lady d’Arden’s smile disappeared. “You’re making a mistake,” she said. “None of what you say is true. You’re going to look like a fool, your Majesty.”

  “Then I’ll look like a fool. But I’d rather err on the side of caution, if that means saving Mister Faraday’s life, and Lord Harrington’s.”

  A puzzled frown creased Lady d’Arden’s brow. “Lord Harrington’s?”

  “You can’t think you’d be able to pull your coup attempt off without getting him out of the way as well? Lord Harrington as regent is a powerful force. He wouldn’t let you take over.”

  “Naturally,” Lady d’Arden said, her face smoothing back into that insufferably certain smile. “Well, if you’re determined on arresting me, I suppose we should go.”

  Elspeth eyed her suspiciously. “You seem awfully calm.”

  “Because I’m innocent.”

  Elspeth heard running footsteps in the corridor, growing louder and closer. A lot of running footsteps. “Watch her,” she told the guards, and stepped into the corridor. Lord Harrington, his clothes and hair in disarray from running, trotted toward her, his pace slowing as he neared.

  “Your Majesty,” he said. “You’re not hurt?”

  “Of course not. Why are you here?” She looked past him at a squad of soldiers in Tremontane colors, coming to a halt a few feet away. “And why did you bring soldiers?”

  “When I heard you intended to confront Lady d’Arden, I knew you were in danger. You didn’t come alone, did you?” Lord Harrington had never sounded so agitated.

  “I brought my escort…why did you think I was in danger from Lady d’Arden?”

  Lord Harrington glanced back at the soldiers. “Inside,” he said, and ushered her back into the Oak Hall.

  Lady d’Arden hadn’t moved. She still wore that superior smile, but it faded when she saw Lord Harrington. “What are you doing here?” she said.

  Lord Harrington ignored her. “Your Majesty,” he said, “why did you decide to arrest Lady d’Arden?”

  Elspeth took a step back. “How did you learn that?”

  Lord Harrington smiled. “My sources are extensive. I try to stay informed about anything that affects the stability of this country. I already know Lady d’Arden—” he flicked a glance at her— “tried to make Mister Faraday disappear last night. What else do you know?”

  Elspeth didn’t like the way this conversation was headed. Deep inside, a tiny voice was screaming at her to get out—but Lord Harrington wasn’t a threat, and Lady d’Arden had no weapon. “Let’s go back to the north wing and discuss it,” she said.

  Lord Harrington didn’t move. “Did you learn who her co-conspirators were?”

  “I…didn’t know she had any,” Elspeth said. Lord Harrington, with his intent eyes and the way he leaned over her like a predator, didn’t seem nonthreatening anymore.

  “Well, we’ll interrogate her and find out.”

  Elspeth risked a glance at Lady d’Arden. She still looked as smug as a cat who’s found the creamery. “Then you know Mister Faraday was framed.”

  “Of course.” Lord Harrington smiled, but his eyes were cold. Elspeth took a step back and made herself stop. She did not want to look afraid in front of him.

  “Why did you come yourself? You should have sent a detachment of guards,” he said.

  “It all happened rather fast,” Elspeth said. “Shall we go?”

  “And you should have informed the Council,” Lord Harrington went on as if she hadn’t spoken. “Who did you tell?”

  “Everyone,” Elspeth lied. She’d been so stupid. “My secretary, Lieutenant Anselm, Lady Quinn…I made sure everyone knew.”

  Lord Harrington took a step back. “So you haven’t told anyone,” he said. “So foolish.”

  “Lord Harrington,” Elspeth said desperately, “Lady d’Arden intends to have you killed so she can become Queen. We need to take her into custody.”

  Lord Harrington looked at Lady d’Arden, then back at Elspeth. “Well,” he said, “this is awkward. It seems I acted too precipitously. You don’t actually know anything, do you?”

  “She was throwing a lot of guesses around, Felix,” Lady d’Arden said. “But that’s all they were.”

  Elspeth stepped backward again and was suddenly surrounded by her armed guards, all of them with weapons ready. Of course. She hadn’t been completely stupid.

  “So it’s you,” she told Lord Harrington. “I can’t believe I was worried for your safety.”

  “Neither can I, but it’s nice to know you care,” Lord Harrington said. “Serena, what did you tell her?”

  “Nothing.” Lady d’Arden turned her superior smile on Elspeth. “And nothing has to change.”

  “So you want her wearing the Crown,” Elspeth said. “Why? You already wield tremendous power. Why throw your lot in with someone who might not even win a civil war?”

  Harrington ignored her. “Go back to the north wing,” he said to Lady d’Arden. “You need to be conspicuously there. I’ll handle things here.”

  Lady d’Arden nodded and let herself out without a backward glance. Lord Harrington examined Elspeth as if her guards weren’t there. “She’s not completely right. Something does have to change. I was hoping to coerce Ambassador Larssin into killing you, but I’ll have to fall back on my first plan.”

  “I’m leaving,” Elspeth said. “Get out of my way, or they’ll cut you down.”

  “I’m sure you thought you were safe, bringing your armed escort,” Lord Harrington said. “But I brought soldiers of my own—and you’re outnumbered.” He clapped twice, sharply, and both doors opened and soldiers streamed through. Elspeth’s escort swiftly put her behind them.

  “Are we?” Elspeth said. “Soldiers, I order you to stand down.”

  None of the soldiers in green and brown moved. All of them were poised to attack. “Soldiers,” Elspeth said again, cursing how her voice shook. “I am your Queen. Stand down or be executed for treason.”

  “You’re not long for this world, your Majesty,” Lord Harrington said. “They’re loyal to their new ruler.”

  “I see. That’s you, is it? Or are you willing to let Lady d’Arden rule?”

  Lord Harrington laughed. It was a cheerful, completely not sinister sound. “You really don’t know anything, do you?” he said. “I don’t care who rules Tremontane. I’m only interested in one thing, and that’s protecting this country from Ruskalder aggression. You could have worn the Crown for ha
lf a century if you’d been willing to start a war. As it is, I need to replace you with someone more…amenable.”

  Elspeth cast her mind back weeks to an earlier conversation with the Foreign Affairs head. “The Riverlands,” she breathed. “You want that piece of land that abuts on Daxtry and Avory. That’s what this is all about!”

  “I see you’re not a complete loss.” Lord Harrington took a few steps to put himself clear of the soldiers. “Yes. You’ll be found assassinated, this time clearly by Ruskalder hands. I’ll be regent and order us to go to war. Your brother will become King, and I’ll stand ready to guide him in these troubled times.”

  “So Lady d’Arden was just a pawn. You don’t intend her to be Queen.”

  “A wealthy, resourceful pawn. How unfortunate she succumbed to greed and abused the power of her office to embezzle Treasury funds.” Lord Harrington smiled. “Now. Tell your guards to stand down, and I’ll spare their lives.”

  “They’re sworn to protect me. They won’t let me be slaughtered.”

  “I don’t intend these soldiers to kill you. I told you, you’ll be found dead at the hands of a Ruskalder assassin. Mister Faraday won’t be in a position to point out how ludicrous that is. Tell them to stand down.”

  Elspeth hesitated. One of her guards said, “Your Majesty, we won’t let them take you.”

  “But—” If she ordered them to fight, they’d fight, and they’d all die, and she’d still be Lord Harrington’s prisoner. “No. Lay down your weapons. We’ll go peacefully.”

  “Your Majesty—”

  “Do as I say. Please.”

  The guards in North blue slowly laid down their swords. “Good choice,” Lord Harrington said. “Come with me, your Majesty.”

  Elspeth stepped out from behind her guard and went to his side. Lord Harrington gestured for her to precede him out the doors. She thought about running, decided she couldn’t outpace the Tremontanan soldiers, hated herself for her cowardice, and walked into the corridor. Lord Harrington walked beside her, not touching her, and she hated herself even more that he’d controlled her without even the hint of violence.