Crown Jewels

by Katherine Kingston, Mlyn Hurn

  But Baxter had stopped paying attention to the man’s words. Everything else went hazy around him. For a moment, he couldn’t say anything, do anything, or see anything. He could think of nothing other than the startling thing he’d just seen.

  Buttons.

  A set of gold buttons on Sir James’s overtunic. The buttons were of exactly the same design as the one he’d pried from his dead father’s fingers.

  Chapter 17

  Baxter’s heart hammered against his chest as the implications sunk in and his brain struggled to decide what to do about it.

  “You doubt me?” Sir James said, the aggressive tone dragging his attention off the man’s clothes and back to his face.

  “I’m quite sure the king is too sagacious to reject out of hand an offer of such quality as yours,” Baxter replied.

  It took the other man a moment to parse that answer. While he did Baxter thought furiously. He didn’t want to create a stir here at the wedding celebration. He’d embarrass Fanny’s family and ruin a joyful occasion. It was probably best to say nothing and wait for a better time to accuse the man.

  “Of course,” Sir James said, finally deciding to find a compliment in Baxter’s response. “The king wants the best possible match for his daughter.”

  “I’m quite sure he does.”

  Later Baxter wouldn’t remember much about the rest of the day, the conversations he had, what was discussed, or who he talked to. He did recall that at one point Fanny looked at him and asked, “Are you quite well, Lord Baxter? You look pale.”

  Whatever he answered must have satisfied her. Somehow he made it through the rest of the afternoon and evening’s festivities.

  There was more feasting, singing and dancing the next day, but Baxter couldn’t bring himself to join in wholeheartedly. In the morning the king notified him that he would announce his decision concerning Princess Fanny that afternoon. He requested that Baxter present himself at the time of the mid-afternoon bell. Baxter had ascertained that Sir James had been summoned for the same time. The accusation would have to be lodged then, before the king announced his decision, to avoid embarrassing him.

  Baxter spent most of the morning chewing over the best way to declare his knowledge and the likely reaction it would provoke from Sir James. The man would probably challenge him. Sir James was larger and older, but he was soft in the belly. Baxter could defeat him in fair battle, but the man had used treachery before and surely wouldn’t stop at it now.

  Fanny noticed his preoccupied air and inquired about it. He admitted he had matters on his mind but declined to say more. He promised she’d learn of his concerns soon enough.

  After the noon bell, he returned to his quarters to consider carefully what armaments to wear. His dagger, most certainly. He decided against the sword. Though it wouldn’t be completely unacceptable, few men wore them during the celebration. Sir James had not been wearing his and likely wouldn’t. A second dagger in a sheath that strapped to his forearm lent added security. It wouldn’t show under his long-sleeved shirt, but could be drawn in seconds. He dropped the gold button into a pocket.

  Sir James was already with the king when he arrived, as was Princess Fanny.

  Baxter looked over the knight, checking for visible weapons. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw no sword. The man no doubt wore a concealed dagger just as he did, but he could handle that.

  “I have made a decision,” the king said, when both men were nearby.

  “Your Majesty, forgive my unpardonable rudeness,” Baxter said, “But I must beg your indulgence for a moment before you continue. I have something of critical importance to relate.”

  A frown flickered across the king’s face and his bushy eyebrows arched. He stared at Baxter for a moment with thunder in his expression, but then it relented. “Yes, My Lord Baxter. You may continue.”

  “Thank you, Your Majesty. You once told me if I ever discovered the identity of the man who murdered my father, I should tell you. I now know who is that treacherous snake.”

  “Do you indeed?” the king asked. “Who is it?”

  Sir James stood behind the king. At Baxter’s words, his eyes widened and his stance shifted warily.

  “The murderer is here with us this very moment, Sir James.”

  Sir James’s face turned ashen for a moment, then went very red. “How dare you…you miserable crumb…make such an accusation about me?” He dove toward Baxter, drawing a dagger from under his cloak.

  At a signal from the king, several of the guards who’d been lurking nearby rushed into the fray and separated the men. Three guards held a straining Sir James.

  “This is an outrage,” the man yelled. “Your Majesty, surely you cannot countenance this! I know the man wishes Princess Fanny for himself, but to try to discredit me in such an underhanded way is the outside of beyond.”

  The king looked from one man to the other thoughtfully.

  “Lord Baxter, I presume you would not dare make such an accusation without some basis for your belief.”

  Baxter let out the breath he’d been holding. “Yes, Your Majesty. I can prove his guilt.”

  “Then do not delay,” the king advised.

  Baxter nodded and drew the button from his pocket. “This was clutched in my dead father’s fingers. Since he still held it as he died, I conclude it must have been ripped from the garment of the man who attacked him from behind. My father must have turned and attempted to fight his attacker, but he succeeded only in ripping a button from his garment. If you’ll take a closer look at it, Your Majesty, you’ll note that it’s quite a unique button. Until yesterday, I hadn’t seen its like. But there were several like it on the tunic Sir James wore.”

  “He lies,” Sir James roared. “He pulled that button off my tunic yesterday so he could concoct this web of lies for you.”

  “That is easily proved.” The king looked toward a guard. “Go and search Sir James’s quarters while we wait here. Find the tunic that has buttons such as these and bring it here.”

  The guard bowed and left the room.

  Sir James fumed and thundered, but narrowed eyes and an expression focused toward the distance indicated the noise covered scheming and planning. Baxter kept close watch on him, particularly on his hands.

  The guard returned before long, carrying a deep blue, velvet tunic. Gold buttons marched down the front of the garment. The king cleared the table and the guard spread the tunic on its surface.

  Because he’d been trying to decide what he’d do in Sir James’ place, Baxter was prepared for him to use the distraction their study of the garment provided to slip out. Baxter moved to block the man’s way.

  Sir James’s expression turned livid. With a flash of his hand, the man drew his dagger and charged toward Baxter. Baxter saw it and ducked just far enough to the side to get out of his way, while drawing his own weapon.

  Seeing a clearer path to the door, Sir James attempted to push past him. Baxter reached for him, grabbed his arm and yanked. The man shook off the hold, but lost his balance in the process. He took a few rushing, off-balance steps, toppled forward and let out a sharp yell. Baxter steadied himself and approached the prone man, dagger to the ready. Sir James moved feebly. He made an effort to push himself up but settled for rolling onto his side. A gush of blood poured down his clothes and puddled on the floor.

  Baxter moved closer. Sir James’s own dagger protruded from his chest, at an angle that suggested it had likely struck to the heart. A small runnel of blood dripped from his mouth. He looked up at them. His lips moved. Baxter leaned forward to hear his words.

  “A priest,” the man whispered.

  Baxter relayed the request and attempted to staunch the bleeding with a shirt someone handed to him. He dared not remove the dagger. Sir James said nothing else and he died before the priest arrived.

  The king had guards remove the body and clean up the blood. Baxter held onto Fanny, who was obviously shaken by what had passed. While order was
restored, a much more solemn king had wine brought for all of them.

  When the room was set to rights and they’d drunk enough wine to settle them somewhat, the king looked up and said, “Lord Baxter, I hope you’re satisfied with the revenge you’ve had here. He may not have died at your hand, but it was by your actions he was brought to it.”

  “I am satisfied, Your Majesty.”

  “Good. Then there’s one more bit of business to be settled. Or rather two.”

  “Two?” He and Fanny asked the question at the same time, sounding like a chorus.

  “Yes. Come here, Lord Baxter.” The king sounded so harsh, Baxter wondered if perhaps he were angry over the bloodshed in his council room. Nonetheless Baxter did as ordered and approached. The king watched him steadily, no expression to be read on his face.

  “Lord Baxter, in gratitude for your service in avenging the death of my dear friend, Marko, and in consideration of your future estate, I hereby grant you lordship of the land of Exalin, which comprises much of the northeastern part of my kingdom, and I name you Duke of Exalin.”

  “Your M-m-m-majesty,” Baxter stammered. “I had no…I didn’t expect.” He stopped and drew a breath, trying to steady himself. “You leave me speechless, Sire.”

  The king smiled then. “From what I know of you, Your Grace, that condition is quite rare. I’m delighted to be the cause of it in this instance. My reasons for granting you the honor are quite selfish, however, I assure you. My grandson must have a title, you see.”

  The king’s smile grew broader. “I also am grateful that you spared me what might have been a highly uncomfortable scene when Sir James heard my decision. I’ve never felt quite happy with the man, though I never guessed the depths of his treacherous nature. Nonetheless, I’d heard enough rumors and felt uncomfortable enough with him personally that even before the revelation, I was disinclined to trust him with my daughter’s happiness.”

  Fanny rushed to his side and put her arms around him. “Father, do you mean to say—?”

  “A moment, if you please, my dear,” the king chided. He looked at Baxter again. “You, Your Grace, I have no doubts about. All you said and did convinced me you were a strong, honorable man, and one, moreover, who came to love my daughter quite deeply. I give her into your keeping, Your Grace, and ask that you honor and treasure her as your wife and lady.”

  “Father!” Fanny shouted and threw herself onto the king, nearly smothering him in the process. “Thank you! Thank you!”

  When she’d finally released him enough to allow him to breathe again, the king said, “I’m pleased to see that this decision makes you so happy, my love. One final thing, and then I’ll allow you to withdraw and begin making your plans. I understand that you’ll want to view your new estate as soon as possible. I believe Exalin Castle is quite a lovely place and was kept in fine repair until the old Duke died without issue when I was a young man. But I hope you’ll spend a great deal of time here at court. Moreover, I must insist your eldest son spend as much time as can be arranged with me.”

  He paused for a moment. “Merry is now settled with the Crown Prince, who is heir to a kingdom of his own, and secure in her position. That is an excellent alliance for us as well.” He sighed lightly before he continued. “I have no sons. Therefore I am constituting you, Your Grace, and Fanny joint regents to this kingdom, with your eldest son to be my direct heir.”

  Baxter was stunned into speechlessness again.

  The king spared him the necessity of trying to find words at that moment.

  “Your Grace,” he said, “I understand that you had plans involving a business venture, and I fear my actions here must cause some disturbance to those. I regret that, but only a little. I hope you’ll find compensations. And in truth, I believe you’ll find in your new position you’ll have the resources to hire a partner who can do whatever work you wished, while you provide funds and direction.”

  Baxter sucked in a breath. “I believe I’ll learn to live with it, Your Majesty. In truth, I was prepared to live with Fanny in a much more modest way if that were the only way to have her. With her I have all the riches I could want.”

  Fanny and the king both smiled broadly at him. “I’m relieved to find your speechless state at an end,” the king said. “Go then and make your plans. I’m sure you have much to say to each other. I now have a great deal of paperwork to do. We’ll announce your instatement and betrothal tonight, as your sister is scheduled to leave in the morning.”

  He and Fanny restated their thanks and gratitude, then left. They all but raced back up to her quarters, laughing like children. The people they met on the way stared at them but none stopped them to comment.

  Baxter figured if they wasted no time, they had just enough time before the warning bell rang for dinner.

  When they were in Fanny’s room, with her door shut and barred, they made their way to her bed, leaving a trail of dropped clothing behind. But as they lay in each other’s arms, stroking faces and breasts and thighs, Fanny’s expression grew serious and her hand stilled.

  “It’s strange,” she said. “I’m thrilled and happy and can think of little else, yet I also feel some guilt about it. A man died in our presence just an hour ago. There should be some regret. Some mourning.”

  Baxter stroked her hair and kissed her cheek. “He was an evil man, who died by his own hand while trying to escape the long-delayed consequences of his villainy. His end was fitting, and even in its way, merciful. There’s nothing to mourn for there.”

  She nodded and smiled at him. He bent down to lick across her breast and kiss a nipple. When he sucked it into his mouth and scraped his teeth across it, she bucked and squealed, all other thoughts forgotten.

  He kissed all along her body, moving from breasts down across her belly, and abdomen, skirting her groin, but moving down one thigh, all the way to her toes. He drew each individual toe into his mouth and kissed, sucking gently, while she moaned in ecstasy. He worked his way back up the other leg, to the other breast, where he worked that nipple to a sharp peak. He bit down on it, hard enough to mix a bit of pain in with the pleasure. She gasped and her breathing grew quicker. He did the same for the other tip, nibbling on it until it was just a bit sore.

  He felt down along her abdomen and quim, found her nether folds moist and panting for him.

  When he moved between her legs, she opened for him. He plunged into her and all but drowned in the hot, moist tightness of her. She was warmth and light and all that was sweet and good in the world to him. She made him crazy.

  Nothing could ever be this good. It would never be this special with any other woman. There wouldn’t be any other women. This was it. He’d found his home, his center.

  Her panting and moaning inflamed him. He pumped harder and harder into her, trying to prolong it for her, but eventually he could hold on no longer and exploded. She moved along with him, spasming as he did.

  When the shocks wore off, he dropped his head onto her breast. She cradled him tenderly and kissed his hair. He stuck out his tongue and ran it over the nipple nearest his mouth.

  The warning bell for dinner sounded.

  He looked up and smiled at her. “We have excellent timing, my dear.”

  “Like a pair of dancers long partnered,” she answered.

  “Not so much long for us,” he corrected, “as well partnered.”

  “Well partnered indeed. But now we must needs dress and groom ourselves lest all guess what we’ve been doing.”

  “Some will anyway. You have the look of a well-pleasured woman.”

  “And you look like the cat that fell in the cream jug,” she responded, pushing herself up from the bed.

  He grabbed his shoes but couldn’t find his breeches for a moment. “It was your jug,” he said. “And your cream. Very tasty.”

  “You lapped it up.”

  “True.” He stopped to kiss her again, then gave her a nudge to get them both moving.

  They just bare
ly made it to the great hall in time for dinner. Befitting his new status, Baxter was seated beside Fanny at the head table. Before the meal the king stood and made his announcements concerning the instatement of Baxter as Duke of Exalin and his betrothal to the princess. The crowd gasped, then cheered and clapped for them. Several men nearby came over to slap him on the shoulder and offer congratulations.

  Unfortunately the king had to add that he had sadder news as well and announced the death of Sir James. The king referred to it as an unfortunate accident. Cries of dismay and much whispered speculation broke out among those gathered.

  Though the news shocked many, it appeared few actually mourned the demise of Sir James. Within minutes of the food being served, nearly everyone had returned to merrier conversation. Loud exclamations, cheers, and laughter sounded from all quarters of the hall. As they moved around the room for various purposes, nearly everyone present stopped to congratulate them. Fanny radiated confidence and happiness.

  Lady Syndal strolled by and stopped to congratulate them. “I knew the two of you would be perfect together,” she said to Fanny. “From the first moment I saw him, as he arrived at court, I knew he would be the right man to tame and claim you.”

  Princess Merry, eating in near silence with her quiet, rather dour husband, looked less happy, though she was newly married. Had the wedding night not gone as well as it might have? He could give the man some advice…nay, better not.

  When dinner ended, Merry invited her sister and a number of other high-ranking ladies to some kind of private social gathering. Baxter let Fanny go reluctantly. Not that she couldn’t take care of herself, now, but because he missed her company.

  He passed the time agreeably enough, talking with some of the other men and a few others he’d known from childhood. He even made an effort to talk with Crown Prince Rodo, his soon-to-be brother-in-law.

  He was startled, though, to be interrupted in the midst of a conversation with two old friends of his mother.

  “Excuse me, my lord…er, pardon, Your Grace,” the servant said after bowing to him, “but the Princess Fanny requests that you join her immediately. She said she had a problem and needed your help.”