by Jeanne Hardt
“I am proud to tell.” He extended his arm and escorted her from their chamber.
The idea of Olivia becoming friendly with Angeline left Sebastian with a feeling of unease, yet he admired Olivia for being so gracious. Maybe if she reached out with good intentions to the royal house of Thanwine, it would aid in mending their tarnished alliance. His sister, Becca, would appreciate the act, since she would soon be a part of the royal Thanwinian family and living among them.
Sebastian proudly escorted his expectant wife to the great hall. His parents were already seated and surprisingly, Estelle was with them. He had assumed from the summons, only Olivia and he would be joining them.
Hours remained before the evening meal would be laid out, but servants bustled about. They filled goblets with wine and placed trays of bread and an assortment of cheese on the table.
His mother lifted her head, bearing no smile. “Please have a seat.”
Sebastian helped Olivia into a chair, then took his own. “You appear glummer than on the day of our ceremony, Mother.”
“I do not care to speak of that. It is not why we are gathered, however, the outcome has some bearing on our dilemma.”
Olivia reached under the table and grasped Sebastian’s hand. He smiled at her, but it did little good. His poor wife seemed as miserable as his mother.
“What dilemma?” He looked from his mother to his father.
His father cleared his throat, then waved the servants away. Aside from their fading footsteps, silence hung around the table.
“Frederick has requested entry into our dwelling,” his father finally said.
Estelle whimpered and stared at the table.
“No!” Sebastian pounded a fist on the thick slab of wood. “Do you not see how the simple mention of him troubles Estelle? She would not sleep at night knowing he might be within our walls. Nor would Becca!”
“And yet,” his mother whispered, “Frederick has displayed considerable change since his marriage to Marni. She came to me today beseeching my help.”
“Of course, she did.” Sebastian lowered his voice, but nothing could mask his anger. “Frederick’s ascension will raise her just as high on a pedestal, and one day, their child will become high king. The dream of every mother.” He stared at her to drive his point.
“Yes.” She lowered her eyes. “No matter how we might feel, we must abide by the law and allow Frederick his ascension, but not until your father is ready.”
“It pleases me I have some say on this issue,” his father grumbled.
“Do not be harsh, Roland. I only want what is best for everyone. Frederick claimed he wishes to learn from you, but he cannot when our doors are sealed against him.” She shifted in her chair and took Estelle’s hand. “In a few short weeks, Estelle will become Eural’s wife and a member of the royal house of Oros. A full moon later, Becca will also leave our castle and join with Talman of Thanwine. I suggest we make a compromise regarding Frederick.” She kept her eyes on Sebastian’s father. “You have always been fond of compromises.”
“Yes. When they are reasonable. What is your concession?”
Sebastian leaned back in his chair, waiting. He feared he already knew what she had in mind.
She sat primly straight, unlike Estelle, who kept her head low and her eyes focused downward.
His mother’s face remained expressionless. “Allow Frederick into our dwelling after Becca and Talman’s rites. Estelle and she would no longer be a consideration.”
Just as Sebastian feared. “And what of Allana? Or Delana and Catrice for that matter? What of their safety?” He looked at his mother, hoping for a reaction, but she continued to be stoic. “And what of my own wife?” he persisted. “I do not trust Frederick to be near any of them!”
“Sebastian!” his father barked. “Your outbursts are not helping this situation. Calm yourself and be the man I taught you to be.”
“I cannot be calm. Not when I fear for my sisters, and even more so, my wife! She is expecting our child for God’s sake!”
Estelle’s head popped up, and his mother gasped. “A child?”
Olivia’s eyes opened wide and she swallowed hard, yet she said nothing.
Likely, she regretted giving him the responsibility of sharing the news. His timing had not been the best. The words came forth of their own accord. Unfortunately, anger often caused such things to occur.
His father gaped at him. “How long have you known?”
“Since before the ceremony. We could not decide when to break the news, not with the child’s status in question.”
Tears streamed down his mother’s face. “It is so unfair.”
Estelle put an arm around her. “Do not cry, Mother. We should all be pleased with their news.” She smiled at Sebastian, who happily returned it.
“Yes,” he whispered, then brought Olivia’s hand to his lips and kissed it. “This child means everything to us. In our eyes, it will be the finest in all the lands. A priest’s words cannot discount the value of the life growing within Olivia’s womb.”
His father stood. “Nothing truer could be said.” He walked around the table and knelt beside Olivia. “Are you feeling well?”
“Yes, sire. Better than should be expected, considering all that has transpired.”
He kissed her forehead and arose once again. “This coming child is a blessing from God. Helen, do you not see it as such?”
Her tears had not ceased. “Of course, I do. But it breaks my heart that the child’s future is questionable.”
He shook his head and sighed. “Are not all futures questionable? Life never guarantees a pleasing outcome. I intend to enjoy my grandchild, and I suggest you set aside all else and do the same.”
Estelle handed her a kerchief, and his mother dabbed at her eyes. “As of late, I have not been myself. I have tried to be strong, but I do not cope well with disappointment. I shall attempt to do better.” She faced Olivia. “I have been unkind to you. I pray you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Olivia released a shuddering breath. “You have not been unkind, so the request is unnecessary. We have all suffered disappointment, but we are not defeated. We must be strong and support our king.” She smiled at Sebastian’s father. “Sebastian and I have accepted our situation, and we choose to be happy. God will not forsake us. He has a plan far greater than we can comprehend.”
“Yes,” Sebastian said. “I often struggle to accept I am not always in control of my own fate. But I do not believe God wishes us to blindly make decisions that could have grave consequences.”
His father had remained standing. He hovered close to his mother with his arms folded over his chest. “You speak again of Frederick,” he huffed.
“Yes. The issue has not been resolved.”
His father braced his hands on his mother’s shoulders. “Frederick is of our blood. As your mother indicated, he has calmed since his marriage to Marni. Their coming child will likely ease him substantially more.” He sat in the chair beside Estelle. “My dear, when he …” His features contorted. “Well … you know of what I speak.”
She nodded.
“When it happened,” his father went on, “I wanted to tear Frederick apart from limb to limb. Yet now, I find myself wanting to trust him.” He tightened his fist and beat it against his chest. “I need to have faith in him. It is the only way I will manage sleep at night, knowing one day I shall be required to put the fate of the realms in his hands. Can you find it in your heart to grant me your blessings, so I may allow him in? If I do not, I shall never discover whether his newly found calm is genuine.”
Estelle closed her eyes and bowed her head. “Please do not ask it of me.”
Sebastian contemplated his father’s words. It troubled him that they made sense. “Father?”
The man shifted his gaze. “Yes?”
“I am willing to consider Mother’s compromise, but with several conditions.”
“Go on …”
“Frederick must only be allowed in our dwelling during daylight hours. He cannot have his own bedchamber within these walls. In addition, until he can prove his trustworthiness, he must be accompanied at all times by one of your trusted guards, not one of his choosing. Lastly, if he makes even one untasteful remark to my sisters or my wife, his permission to be here will be withdrawn. God help him if he lays a hand on any of them.”
His father’s brows wove, then he slowly nodded. “I find your conditions reasonable.”
“As do I,” his mother whispered and wrung her hands on the tabletop.
Her diminished demeanor pulled at Sebastian’s heart. Only moments ago, she had been strong and self-assured. This behavior was unlike her. The news of Olivia’s pregnancy had affected her more than he had expected.
He stood and crossed to her, then knelt at her side. “I shall speak to Frederick and explain our decision, so trouble yourself no more with this.” He gestured toward Olivia. “Why not take Estelle and my wife and go for a stroll in the garden? You can discuss Estelle’s upcoming rites and give Olivia some comfort and motherly advice in regard to our coming child. I know she would appreciate it.” He placed his hand atop hers. “I love you, Mother.” He peered into her eyes. “I am not broken, so please stop worrying over me.”
She tightly grasped his hand, then cradled it to her cheek. “You were meant to be king.”
“Perhaps. But as Father said, all futures are questionable.” Her eyes remained affixed to his. For the first time in a long while, he saw a glimmer of joy.
“I shall walk with my daughters.” Her smile brightened and she looked beyond him. “Olivia, my dear, do you feel well enough to accompany Estelle and me in the gardens?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
His mother scooted her chair back. “Please, Olivia, call me Mother.”
The expression covering Olivia’s face warmed the room. She dipped her head in response, seemingly a bit tongue-tied.
Sebastian helped her to her feet, then they parted with a kiss. For now, he could rest easy, knowing the strain between the two women he loved more than any others had been eased.
Frederick was another issue altogether. It would take a great deal of convincing for Sebastian to accept his cousin as a changed man. Even so, they had to afford him the opportunity to prove himself.
Sebastian intended to suggest Jonah as the one who would guard him. Together, they could make certain Frederick adhered to every restriction.
Chapter 15
When light from the sun brightened Angeline’s room and woke her, she sat up and gleefully stretched. She had not slept so peacefully in a great while.
Not only had Darius satiated every one of her physical needs imaginable for two full hours prior to her slumber, soon Olivia would arrive, and Angeline reveled in the thought. She would put on her friendliest face and draw the naïve woman into her snare.
A messenger had arrived three days ago to alert her to Olivia’s visit, and the reasons why kept Angeline’s mind spinning. Stranger still—Sebastian would not be with her. Angeline had assumed the two were inseparable.
She selected one of her finest gowns, laid it across the bed, then went to her door and opened it. “Shireen!”
Angeline had not even counted to five, when the girl appeared. A very good thing. She hated to bellow her name more than once.
“Yes, Highness?”
“I am ready for you.”
Shireen dipped her head and scurried past her into the bedchamber.
This routine had become dull, but a necessary part of every day. Angeline stood in the middle of the room simply breathing, while Shireen stripped off her nightgown, then placed a multitude of undergarments on her, followed by the selected dress.
Once clothed, Angeline took a seat in front of her bureau and Shireen brushed out her hair. “A braid today, Highness?”
“I will be wearing my crown, so braid the sides and bring them together in the back. The jewels show best when you do it that way.”
“Yes, Highness.” Shireen’s hands worked fast and proficiently. “Shall I secure your crown?”
“Not yet. I will do it myself later.”
Shireen stepped back and lowered her head. “Do you require anything more from me, Highness?”
“Tell Clarinda to prepare mulled cider for our guest. I expect Princess Olivia by midday.” It sickened Angeline to refer to her by title, but she needed her ruse to be accepted by even her lowest of servants.
“Yes, Highness.” Shireen curtsied, then rushed away.
At sixteen, she should be well on her way to womanhood, but the tall awkward girl seemed far from it. If only she could stay innocent. Once the girl took interest in men, her mind might stray from her work. Only time would tell. For now, Shireen suited her.
Angeline’s stomach rumbled, so she decided to follow her to the kitchen. Last night’s romp with Darius left her ravenous and eating would keep her preoccupied until Olivia’s arrival.
It felt odd for Olivia to be sitting on the carriage seat facing Jonah rather than Sebastian. Yet she understood her husband’s reasoning. Sebastian was the last person Angeline would want to see, so he remained behind to tend to his father’s affairs. Including a confrontation with Frederick. She pitied her poor husband’s position. Nothing he recently dealt with was enjoyable.
When Jonah and she left Basilia, the weather had been exceptionally hot. The air had turned frigid as they neared Thanwine.
Olivia tightened a blanket around her, doing all she could to keep warm. If Sebastian was with her, at least she could cuddle against him. She could not consider accepting heat from Jonah in that manner.
Their journey had taken a full five days. Jonah had not complained even once, regardless of his lack of sleep. Even so, he did not appear happy. Nor did Severin the last time they had taken a brief stop. Unlike Jonah, he had made his displeasure known by grumbling about being reduced to driving a carriage once again.
Olivia craned her neck to see out the window. Flakes of snow readily fell.
“Is it not odd, we left Basilia nearly melting in our shoes from the heat, yet here, it is as if the sun refuses to touch the land?” She let out a laugh. “Perhaps God deems Thanwine unworthy of His mighty power and does not grant them warmth.”
Jonah groaned. “Please, do not speak of God. He and I are out of sorts.”
She shivered—more so from his words than the cold. “Why? What has He done to displease you?”
“He hides His head unless there is a full moon—which as you know comes but once a month.”
Should she preach or allow him his beliefs? “Is there something you have asked Him that He has not granted?”
“What I want will eventually be done, but because of God and the coming weddings, I must wait for an unclaimed full moon. At times, I feel our practices border on ridiculousness.”
Though inclined to agree, she did not want to fuel his frustration. “You are upset because the rite for your knighthood will not be performed until after Becca’s marriage. Is that not so?”
“Exactly. Sebastian vowed I would be knighted after our return from the ocean. But because of God …” He pointed upward and rolled his eyes. “… and His need for rest, I must wait until He sleeps not.”
She covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. “Bless you, Jonah. Do not blame God for the manner in which Basilia wishes to carry out its rituals. If you want to cast blame, state your grievances to the priests. They wrote the laws pertaining to religious practices.”
He briskly rubbed his arms. “You speak wisely. I pray you can do the same in Angeline’s presence. Winning the support of Thanwine could have a great impact for King Roland’s plea to change the law.”
“The very reason we have traveled so far.” She smiled, then laughed. “I can see my breath whenever I speak. How can they endure living in such conditions?”
“I doubt they leave the castle.” He gestured to the window. “Do you see anyone froli
cking about?”
“No.” She caught sight of something else entirely. “Oh, my, Jonah. Look.”
He scooted to the edge of the seat and peered in the direction she indicated. “Hmm. Thanwine castle.” He leaned back and huffed a huge breath. “Magnificent, is it not?”
She had become used to his sarcasm, but agreed nonetheless. “It looks larger than our dwelling in Basilia.”
“I assure you, it is. Thanwine is known for trying to outdo everything and everyone in the realms. Not only are their people enormous, their castle in itself is proof of their attempt.”
She made no remark and kept her eyes on the incredible structure before her. No wall surrounded the massive castle. They obviously saw no need for it, being in such a threatening terrain. Abundant snow-covered trees lined the pathway, and the mountain behind the castle rose high above it. So much snow blanketed the ground, it was astonishing the horses could plod their way through. The snow in the roadway had been trodden down somehow.
She moved from the window and cuddled the blanket higher on her neck. “Sebastian told me the snow never melts here. I would not enjoy living in such iciness.”
“Maybe that is why Angeline was so disappointed over losing Sebastian. She wanted out of Thanwine.”
Olivia did not care to envision him with anyone but her. “My husband would have afforded her far more than warmth.”
“True. But it would have been a wretched pairing. Have you heard the woman giggle?” He shuddered. “The sound grates across one’s skin.”
“When I met her, she was in no mood to giggle. Yet, given time, I imagine Tesher could make her gay. If she married him, she would never be cold again.”
Jonah chuckled and wiggled his brows. “Nor would he.”
“I was referring to Angeline taking residence in Oros.” Olivia scolded him with her eyes.
“As was I.” Jonah sat up tall, smirking. “In all seriousness, Highness, I am grateful Sebastian chose you. He is a changed man having you for a wife. I pray one day for the same—having a woman in my life such as yourself. But not you, of course.” His cheeks glowed red, matching his cold nose.
