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“Camden?” I whispered as I felt tears finally sting my eyes. “He wanted this?”
Branford shifted and took my face between his hands.
“He wishes no such thing,” Branford said to me, “but he is also without clear options. He has fo
ught against this with Edgar over and over again and would not consider such action lightly. He fears for our futures and for the future of his kingdom. He has grown to love you, Alexandra. You know this. He adores you, as does Sunniva.”
I nodded.
“Edgar told me I had but one choice,” Branford said. “He said it would be as it should have been from the beginning with Whitney as my bride and eventual queen. I could not do that. He has taken so much from us already, and it is because of me that he is in such a position. I could not let him do that to you…to us.”
“Can we not try again?” I whispered.
“It has been a year and a half, Alexandra.” Branford closed his eyes and leaned back against the chair again. “Will you suggest to the court we could try harder? Is that even possible?”
Branford pulled me against his chest, and I felt his lips on top of my head. I had no words to speak and tried instead to comprehend what I had been told. It was clear Branford needed to secure his successor as quickly as possible for the good of all of Silverhelm, but why did he take such a route to that end?
“I had no time to really think about it,” he said, his voice again strained. “I should have, but again, my lack of forethought has harmed us.”
I reached up and placed my hand against his jaw, my fingers working their way into the rough stubble of hair on his neck. I turned my head to press my lips to his chest where his robe fell open.
“The only other option I could see before me was to secure a concubine,” he finally whispered. “Your place as my wife would remain secure, and Edgar would not be able to begrudge me the alternative. I told them I would take Hadley as such, and she would provide us with the children we must have.”
I finally spoke.
“Why Hadley?”
“You love her,” Branford said, his voice husky in his throat. “You will love the children she bears as if they were your own. They will be your own. No one but you will raise them.”
“Does she know?”
“She does by now.”
“Has she any say in the matter?”
“Of course,” he replied. “And…if you would prefer…if someone else was…”
Branford’s voice trailed off, and his hand left my back to cover his own eyes.
“I cannot believe I am speaking to you about such a thing,” he said.
“What if she refuses?”
“I would not…I will not if she does not agree,” Branford said softly and shook his head. “But if she does not come willingly, the other option placed before me is Princess Whitney.”
“She would become your concubine? A princess?”
“No,” he said softly, “she would not.”
The meaning of his words hit me harder than the original news.
“She would only come as your wife,” I said with a nod. “I would have to step aside.”
“Yes.” He uncovered his face, and his eyes bore into me. “You see why I had to think of something quickly? Please, understand. They were demanding an answer from me immediately. I didn’t know what else to do. I should have spoken to you before—I should have planned with you. I’ve failed you, Alexandra…”
“No, Branford,” I told him as I took his face between my hands. “You have done what you thought was best, as you have always done.”
“I cannot do this to you,” he whispered to me, and again I saw a tear fall from his eye. He tilted his head toward me and closed his eyes as his forehead rested against my shoulder. “I cannot do this.”
