“I can tell you that Charlie did not have my permission to be there at either time, and both times, he was armed with a weapon.”
Ohrig and Lucky exchanged an alarmed glance.
“Surely not, Your Majesty!”
Adele frowned at her Captain. “It does strike me as fairly odd, Lucky, that a young boy could completely avoid detection despite the fact that my bedroom is guarded at night by my own Queen’s Guard. The boy wasn’t even apprehended until he had almost touched me as I slept.”
Captain Lucky’s blue eyes were clouded with confusion. “But Your Majesty, you were the one who defended the boy. It is not my business to investigate those who you wish to keep secret from us…”
Adele held up a finger. “But it is your business, Lucky. It is very much your business to know exactly who comes and goes from my private rooms while I am asleep! Or my children’s rooms, for that matter. It frightens me to think that a mere boy managed to slip past you twice.”
“With all due respect, Your Majesty,” interrupted Ohrig. “While I understand what you are saying, you also helped to hide this Charlie character from us by giving him an alibi both times. Though I am disappointed not one of your QGs managed to recognize the boy from yesterday, they can hardly be blamed for not examining the situation too closely. But I presume you have a point to make?”
Adele raised her eyebrows at Ohrig’s surly tone. Her instincts told her he was close to boiling over. The bombshell of the Prince’s imminent arrival and this conversation were making him feel very anxious.
Well, welcome to my world, thought Adele grimly. My whole life is a dangerous bloody surprise in Evendaar.
“I do have a point actually,” Adele smiled tightly at Ohrig and tried not to let him get under her skin. “Gentlemen, I know that you are both new to your posts in the Queen’s Guard with an actual Queen to guard now, just as I am new to being a Queen. But Evendaar is not my world, it is your world. I do not have the luxury of living as though my life won’t get turned upside down again. I need to be able to keep an eye on things around me where people do not suspect I can see and have ears where people will not expect I can hear them. The safety of my children depends on the fact that I remain vigilant at all times. Charlie is someone I have very recently found who is in the right position to help me in this regard. I kept him secret from you because trust does not come easily to me and I wanted to be sure he could do the job I have given him. But after Leith caught him in my room this morning and Charlie invented the cover of being the Royal Consort I realized it will be impossible to hide him from you.”
“So the boy is not, err…?” Captain Lucky asked cautiously, still not able to say the words.
“So the boy is not my consort, no, Lucky.” Adele grimaced in disgust. “Rest assured I much prefer men to children in my bed. But unfortunately it was the only story that Charlie could think up on the spot to match the circumstances he found himself in, as humiliating as that was for me.”
Lucky nodded and Adele was surprised at the expression of relief on the young Captain’s face, and how much it affected her. She understood now how much he needed her to be a perfect woman, as well as a perfect Queen. She could only imagine how his idealism would falter if he knew about her and Rainere. Adele looked back to General Ohrig. His expression was shrewd and combined with something that looked like admiration.
“I understand your position completely, Your Majesty,” he said. “In fact, I think it’s one of the wisest things you could have done, and in your place I would act in the same way.”
Adele almost smiled and enjoyed basking in the glow of Ohrig’s tacit approval for a rare moment, though she could hear the “But” too loudly in his voice to ignore it.
“But with all due respect, Your Majesty, you are choosing to trust a young man who was stupid enough to get caught in your bedchamber in the night, with you in it. I hardly think that this Charlie is capable of the discretion that you are entrusting him with. Perhaps you should allow me to choose a better candidate for the position. There are organizations who deal in such things and you need someone with proper training and connections.”
Adele frowned at Ohrig and he frowned right back. It was disconcerting when Adele realized with a start how quickly she had got used to people agreeing, no matter how dishonestly, with every word she said. But General Ohrig’s face was free of guile. He was just as concerned about her safety as she was, maybe more so as he didn’t even trust her to vouchsafe for herself.
“I want to meet this Charlie, and have a chance to interview him before you get in much deeper with all this,” said the General. “It could be that the boy is working well for you or it could be that he is selling your secrets on to the highest bidder.”
“Ohrig, I don’t want you scaring him,” said Adele. She panicked slightly at the idea of Ohrig interrogating Charlie, but also at the idea that he might be right. Adele knew nothing about Charlie except that he worked for Rainere. “Charlie and I have a delicate relationship based on a simple understanding. I don’t know how he would react to an interview with you.”
She cast a glance at Lucky to gauge which side he was on, but the Captain had become fascinated with the patterned carpet at his feet. It was clear he had no desire to add to the heated discussion.
“Is that a no, Your Majesty?” Ohrig asked and his eyebrows beetled even more tightly down over his pale blue eyes.
Adele forced herself to take a breath and calm down. She had too much to lose to reveal her whole hand to Ohrig now. Rainere was coming to Belvoir and who knew what that could mean for her in the days ahead.
“It’s not a ‘no’, General, but it’s not a free run with Charlie, either. I will speak to him and explain the situation before you meet him,” Adele relaxed back into her chair. “Thankfully, only the QGs saw Charlie coming out of my chamber this morning and I would like to keep it that way. I don’t want to hear any gossip about me having a taste for teenagers traveling through the manor while we are here. Can we rely on the discretion of your men, General?”
General Ohrig looked very much like he would like to say something else, but he held his tongue and for that Adele was grateful. “Yes, of course, Your Majesty.”
“Your honor is safe with your Queen’s Guard, Your Majesty,” agreed Captain Lucky a smile coloring his formal tone.
Adele couldn’t help but be pleased by his rekindled pride in her. She felt a rush of maternal responsibility to her young Captain and smiled back. “Now, are there any changes to the schedule to discuss, with His Highness coming tomorrow?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Nothing that can’t wait until morning, Your Majesty,” replied Ohren and his tight tone let her know he was still upset with her. “I’m sure Mr. Tilburn will be able to inform you about any changes to the day and the Welcoming Ceremony that will be held in the Prince’s honor. I believe Prince Bertrand is still working out all the protocols now for breaking the ban.”
“Wonderful,” said Adele, pointedly ignoring Ohrig’s attitude and stood up to let both men know the meeting was over. They followed her lead.
“But, please be assured, Your Majesty, that even though his Highness the Prince will be rendered powerless by the Curse on Belvoir, we will not underestimate his strength in other ways.” Ohrig gave Adele a knowing look which made her stomach clench. “We will keep eyes on the Prince at all times of the day and night. He has no legal authority here, so we will be able to accompany you with him at any, and all, times.”
“Great,” Adele forced herself to smile at the General. Ohrig doesn’t know anything she consoled herself, there is no way he would be able to keep quiet about it if he did. As bad as she felt lying to Ohrig she knew she needed to protect Rainere more. If anybody knew about them, he would be the one who would bear the brunt of the danger.
The General and Captain Lucky both bowed and took their leave.
Adele sat back down in her chair and absently stared at the desk before her, her fingers
tracing the whorls of the wood, dark and light grains blending and separating again in a natural paisley. The meeting had not gone as well as she had hoped. Adele only now realized how much she had wanted Ohrig to support her decision to trust Charlie, and that it hurt her feelings that he obviously did not. Being more honest with the General had also left the door open for Ohrig to be more honest with her, too, and she wasn’t sure she was going to like where that door led. It was going to be very difficult to laugh off this last disagreement they now had with each other.
A warm breeze blew in through the open window and lifted the damp stands of hair at the back of her neck.
Oh God, Rainere is going to be here tomorrow! A heady flash of desire shook her body and she felt a pulse of pleasure deep inside as her Magic responded to the thought of seeing Rainere again.
Adele grabbed the waste bin just in time as she heaved violently.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Decepting as Love Tastes”
Charlie had been waiting for hours behind the secret door in the Queen’s bathroom. Though his little timepiece didn’t work in this Magic-free house, he guessed it was some time after midnight before he judged it safe to creep out and conceal himself in the window seat of the Queen’s bedroom. She wasn’t yet in bed, but he could hear her talking next door in the study, so he figured it wouldn’t be too long.
His wait was only interrupted by Blondie, who came in bringing a tray laden with biscuits and hot tea for the Queen’s late supper. Charlie watched with interest from his place inside the drapes as the blonde beauty turned back the covers of the Queen’s bed studying the sheets for longer than was necessary, and sniffing at the pillows, before she moved off to quietly lay her ear against the door to the Queen’s office, straining to hear what was being said. The sound of a door slamming in the next room sent her running to the bedroom door where she abruptly stopped and patted her hair, and calmly left the bedroom.
Curious, thought Charlie. What game is Blondie playing at? But the chiming of the clock on the mantelpiece reminded him why he was here and what he had to do tonight.
Just give her the box and leave, he told himself firmly. Don’t dawdle and don’t get caught and don’t watch her open it. He thought of the bundle of stolen clothing and food he had left under his little pallet in the basement room downstairs. With that and the gold bracelet he had a chance to make it to the border of Unisia and maybe to the farms beyond. There he could disappear, far from the clutches of The Boss and far from the bizarre love story of the witch Queen and the Black Prince.
He tensed as the Queen entered her bedroom. She was carrying a wicker waste bin and looked exhausted. She took the bin into the bathroom and Charlie heard the sound of rushing water before she returned without it and threw herself down on the couch nearest the window seat. Charlie watched as she poured herself a cup of tea and screwed up his courage to confront her. Maybe she was furious with him for getting caught, or maybe she was going to laugh about it like she had before? Whatever her reaction he needed to do this one last thing before he could be shot of her for good.
Charlie stepped out from behind the curtain and silently hopped down from the window seat. “Evening, Y’Majesty!” And casually strolled around from behind the couch so she could see him.
The Queen almost jumped out of her skin at hearing his voice behind her. Charlie couldn’t explain why her fear made him smile, but it did.
“Charlie!” she scolded, making him grin wider. “How the Hell-?”
“I was just behind this curtain, Y’Majesty, taking in the view.” He risked a wink. The Queen looked even prettier when she was all pink and embarrassed. His sharp eyes noticed that she had loosened the ribbons on the front of her gown, and her slip underneath was decorated with gold flowers. Charlie flopped onto the chair opposite the Queen and forced himself to look at her eyes. They’d parted badly last time and he needed to know she wasn’t going to kill him after he handed over the Prince’s gift.
“So, Charlie?” began the Queen. She said it in a funny way, with her lilting accent, char-lee instead of char-lay. “Did the Prince ever tell you that he was coming here himself? Because that is something I really could have done with knowing.” She clenched her hands together tightly in front of her chest and obviously didn’t realize that it pushed her breasts together in a thoroughly distracting way.
Charlie leaned forward and took a handful of biscuits off the tea tray and shoved them in his mouth. He belatedly remembered his manners, asking, “May I?” and sprayed out a few crumbs from his too-full mouth. The Queen gave him a look but nodded before she stood up and started pacing the room with small quick steps, speaking in confusing half sentences.
“I know that Rainere wants to…”
“But what can he be…?”
“This is so dangerous for both…”
Charlie slipped his hand into his pocket and found the little black box. His fingers slipped over the slick lacquered sides of it, automatically feeling for a join in the edges. His moral misgivings flooded back from where he had managed to keep them at bay in his mind as he watched the Queen work herself up into an anxious frenzy, her expression was heartbreaking.
What in the name of the Goddess did this sweet woman want with a nasty, great Wizard like the Black Prince when she can have any man in the Kingdom? Maybe she is as crazy as the Marchant Prince? The Devil himself knows that The Boss had warned me so many times that she is an evil witch.
But The Boss was a liar and Charlie’s instincts were usually pretty good when it came to people. The Queen didn’t set off any of his internal alarm bells. She just didn’t look that evil. Mostly she looked scared, and sort of like she was going to be sick.
“Charlie, please tell me?” begged the Queen. “Did the Prince give you a message for me? Anything at all that might help me to understand why he is risking coming here now?”
“Well… he wasn’t happy,” began Charlie slowly. He had an odd and unhelpful desire to protect the Queen from the truth.
“Why?”
“Well, after he brought me back to life, he read your note and seemed a bit…err…disappointed with it… and by that I mean, very pissed off.” Charlie grabbed another handful of biscuits to avoid looking at her stricken expression.
“I made him angry again,” she whispered. “But why? How could he expect more from me when I couldn’t even be sure it was safe to write?”
Charlie raised an eyebrow at her and the expression in his eyes was wise though his chin was speckled with crumbs. “I don’t think reasonable reactions are the Black Prince’s strong suit, Y’Majesty,” he said drily. Charlie tried to ignore the stab of guilt in his gut at what he was about to do. “But he did give me a present to give to you, and he said to tell you that he was serious about you and him. Though his tone was a bit dark at the time.”
He produced the Prince’s gift from his pocket. Their eyes met over the little black box as he stood up and held it out to her. Charlie had the uncomfortable sensation that she could see through his eyes right down into his soul.
“I know it looks horribly sinister, Majesty, but I’m sure it’s fine to open,” he said, doing his best not to break his word to the Prince, but he couldn’t help the urge to warn her. His arm shook a little as he held it out, but the Queen only stared at the box.
“Good things do come in small packages,” replied the Queen mysteriously.
Charlie frowned. “And so do a lot of dangerous things.”
“Are you trying to warn me about what’s inside this box, Charlie?” whispered the Queen, her hazel eyes opening even wider.
I don’t care what happens to her. I only care about what will happen to me if I don’t give it to her, Charlie reminded himself firmly. He forced himself to smile. “Just take the damn box, Y’Majesty,” he said mildly.
The Queen reached out and took the box out of Charlie’s hand. Charlie worked hard not to flinch but he took a step away as the Queen examined the box, turning it
over and over again.
“How do I open it?” she asked. “Is it Magic, or a blood seal or something?”
Charlie shrugged. “Maybe. I didn’t see what he put in there and when he came back I was still in quite a bit of pain from almost dying so wasn’t at my most observant.”
“Oh, that’s right you said Rainere saved your life!” the Queen gasped. “Charlie, I’m so sorry, what happened?”
Though he appreciated her sudden, if somewhat belated concern, Charlie was gob smacked that the Queen had got completely the wrong end of the stick. “He was the one trying to kill me!” he said incredulously, but the Queen was distracted by a noise at the front door.
She turned to him, her expression panicked. “Charlie, that might be Ohrig so go hide, I’ll find you later…” She looked about wildly for a place to hide the box and ended up shoving it under a dressing table covered in make-up pots and various crystal ornaments.
Charlie stood slowly and brushed the crumbs from his shirt. He felt an odd reluctance to leave now he knew this was the last time he would probably see the Queen as he was running away tonight.
“You wouldn’t happen to have another box about that size in your possession would you, Y’Majesty? Probably made of wood and filled with something incredibly valuable?” Charlie felt no real hope as he asked, but he had to try one last time to find the object The Boss had sent him to steal in the first place.
The Queen looked at him in confusion and irritation. “What? Are you crazy Charlie? Go, it’s time to go!” She pointed to the door, but Charlie shook his head.
“There is a better way out through your bathroom,” he said. “Come and see.”
The Queen followed him into the bathroom and he smiled at her surprise when she peered into the open door in the wainscoting. She was standing so close to him that he could see the lavender blue of the shadows beneath her eyes, and the palest freckles that dotted across her nose. Her hair brushed against his shoulder.
Charlie didn’t even know his hands had slipped around her waist until she pulled them off.
The Queen Revealed Page 20
