“They’re well, Your Majesty. Little Gwen is sleeping through the night like a champ. Belle and I couldn’t be prouder,” Vance said, beaming from ear to ear.
“When you’re ready to make a visit, I’d love to meet her.”
“Truly?” Vance went stiff, but it wasn’t with fright, Johnneth didn’t think.
Caroline nodded eagerly. “Of course. I’ve seen your lovely wife. I’m sure Gwen is every bit as beautiful.”
Vance nodded, and when his head quit bobbing Johnneth thought his chin rested a little higher. As their conversation trailed out of range of his hearing, he considered the woman he was meant to protect.
Since he’d been appointed, he’d seen her with many people. She gave the illusion of familiarity yet gave nothing of herself. Except with Angus. He was the only one that seemed to get behind the wall of ice he sensed she’d erected sometime in her past. But these people, she knew by name. She asked them about their families, remembered details of their lives. Allowed a certain level of camaraderie to exist within her regular escort, which inspired their loyalty and affection. But none of them saw the difference he saw.
Each time they stopped to rest, eat, and relieve themselves, the members of the escort relaxed, but not the queen. Impenetrable Caroline was just as rigid and aware as ever, spine straight and chin raised. The symbolic expression of Everstal’s strength she intended to project. The assured smile across her cherry painted lips was a bonus, flaunting the invincibleness she seemed to feel. But she wasn’t one of them no matter how well she faked it.
Caroline stood with a woman outside of a bakery where they’d stopped to get a snack and rest. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, and she was nodding intently as the woman spoke. She gestured for Vance to give the woman something. He reached in his pocket, and fished out a pouch of coins, handing them over to the woman. The queen ran a hand along the woman’s shoulder, the gesture softer than he would have expected.
A queen who made herself available to her people was appealing and the woman didn’t seem to fear her. Yet he couldn’t help but notice for every adoring smile greeting her through an open door, another wary gaze peered through a window.
Caroline sauntered over to him clutching a white sack in her hands. She tossed it to him and he swiped it out of the air. “Got you something,” she said.
Johnneth eyed the package, and pulled a braided pastry covered in a fine powdery chocolate sugar, wrinkling his nose at it. “What was that about?” he said, lifting his chin in the direction of the bakery. A few coins would have more than covered the dozen pastries they had.
The queen groaned, eyeing his unopened package. “Don’t tell me you don’t eat sweets? I’m sure one treat won’t ruin that pretty physique.” She winked and batted her eyelashes in mock sweetness as she walked over to him. She eyed his twist, tore off a piece, and stuffed it into her mouth.
“I eat sweets. Just not often. Didn’t you just have one?” he asked, smirking down at her.
“So what if I did?” she said, when she finished chewing, then sucked the powder from her fingers. “And that was about getting more of that woman’s delicious pastries delivered to Roskide. I think daily, don’t you?”
Johnneth frowned at what he hoped was her teasing, but was transfixed by the motion of her fingers. He pulled off a piece of his twist and bit into it imagining what it would be like to have those pouty lips sucking the sugar off—no, bad guard. Caroline’s eyes slid to him as she approached her mount, running her hand along the smooth black fur of the horse’s neck. Had he missed some critical piece of intelligence, and she read minds too? No, she read people, and she was always observing, which was a whole other danger. His stomach jumped at the thought.
“We need to get moving. I feel exposed here.” Johnneth nodded to her reins. He stuffed the rest of the pastry in his saddlebag and dusted his fingers off on his pants. He didn’t offer the queen a hand as she mounted because the queen didn’t need his help, which he was quickly learning applied to most things. In moments, their party was trotting away from the village with the sun beginning its descent.
Chapter 3
Johnnethcouldn’thelpcomparinghimself against the Lord Reginald Hastings of Galloway Manor. Regent of the surrounding province and advisor to the queen.Reg, as Caroline referred to him. About the same age, blond shoulder length hair, tied at the nape of his neck. Green needling eyes, muscular, but not as muscular as him. Tall, but not as tall as him. Rich, well, he surveyed the estate, the sprawling collection of brick and timber buildings. The stables, the orchard, the aviary, the guest house, the fountains, the peacock and peahen engaged in a mating dance in front of them. Not as rich as him.
He grimaced. Gods, he was worse than the peacock. Why did he all the sudden want to jump in front of the queen and say, look at me, I’m better. I’m more than him and fan his feathers for her to see. One moment he was trying to understand her, then she put her fingers between those lips and his primal urges were singing,Impress her. Not ideal, but he could ignore it. Hewouldignore it.
So instead of making a fool of himself, he trailed behind Caroline, as the Lord led her, into the main building—by the arm, a possessive gesture which made his teeth grind. He was only being protective for her safety, he reminded himself. He didn’t like Hastings the minute he saw the man. He didn’t trust him.
Dozens of candles lit the receiving hall, illuminatingleather paneled walls.And weapons, swords of all varieties and dead animals adorned the burgundy panels, along with several portraits of Hastings or his relatives standing over fresh kills like battle heroes. Bile rose in his throat. Men of caliber didn’t need such gaudy adornment. Johnneth didn’t even try to hide the sneer which took root on his face.
“Caroline, you remember Ann, yes?” Hastings gestured to a servant and Caroline nodded. “She’ll help you out of your traveling attire and get you ready for dinner. See you in an hour,” he said, lifting Caroline’s hand to his lips and giving her an overly suggestive stare.
Hastings turned to him. “I’ll make sure you have a room near her.”
Unable to stop himself, Johnneth stepped forward. “No need. I’ll be keeping guard in her room tonight… to make sure she’s safe.” He shot the other man afrom predators like youlook.
The room the queen was appointed was spacious with overflowing opulent furniture and décor. Johnneth walked in and leaned against the wall inside the door, having to force himself not to take his head in his hands and shake it. Good Gods, what was he thinking?
Caroline followed Ann into the bathing chamber, and she turned before the door shut. “I’m safe here. Relax, okay?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” he said dutifully. Was he that transparent? He didn’t feel relaxed. He felt on high alert. You’ve known her two weeks. You will be the one causing her harm before long, so get it together.
Johnneth stood against the wall behind the queen’s right shoulder, so he had a good view of her and this Lord she dined with. The man had tried to wave him off, suggesting he go grab a bite in the kitchen.Her Majesty is perfectly safe with me, he’d said.Johnneth’s jaw was beginning to ache.
“It’s a shame about Felix,” Hastings said. “Not a wise man, I take it? He didn’t understand the gift he had.” He raised a wine glass, held it to the candlelight, swirled it, then made an elaborate show of sipping and savoring. Johnneth’s frown deepened. Did Hastings think the queen would find that appealing? He glanced around the excessively decorated room. That she would like any of this?
“What he lacked in brains, he made up for in other areas,” Caroline said. “And don’t worry, Reg. He’ll pay.” The expression that crossed her face oozed a tantalizing combination of sex and vengeance. Was she flirting with this Lord Hastings? No, she was toying with him. Still, he’d take the mountains of paperwork days over this.
