Adeline dipped her chin in the slightest of nods. “As I am of age, Grandfather, you will need my consent and my signature on this betrothal. If I may have a copy of the paperwork, I would like time to consider this.”
“If you must.” Grandfather used that dismissive tone, the one that suggested she should feel guilty for daring to assert herself that much. “But make your decision soon. I will see you married before I die.”
One of her grandfather’s secretaries stepped forward and placed a stack of papers in her hands. It was rather thick for a betrothal contract, and she wondered just what her grandfather had negotiated away on her behalf.
“If that is all, I would like to take my leave.” Adeline clutched the papers and waited. Her grandfather had long ago lost the privilege of having her wait by his deathbed. But he was still king and held all the power. She couldn’t leave until he dismissed her. “I have these to peruse.”
“Very well. Go. That contract is above yourcomprehension anyway. I suppose you will need the time to have someone explain it to you.” Her grandfather made that motion with his hand again, brushing her off as brusquely as he always did, even if the underlying weakness betrayed him in the way he dropped his shaking hand back to the blanket.
Adeline turned and met the doctor’s gaze. “Summon me if there’s any change.”
The doctor nodded. “I will, milady.”
With that, Adeline walked from the room as quickly as she dared, Jelsa and the guard trailing after her once again. In the corridor, she quickened her pace until she was finally stepping into the safety of her own rooms.
Once the guard closed the door behind her, she released a long exhale, her posture slumping.
Thaddeus hopped to his feet from where he’d been sitting in one of the chairs. “Are you all right, milady? I heard your grandfather has arrived.”
“He has.” Adeline strode farther into the room. “How is…” She trailed off and gestured to the bedchamber door, strangely unwilling to say his name or anything about him out loud, not after just coming from her grandfather’s side.
“Still sleeping.” Thaddeus’s gaze searched her face, probably reading how wounded she felt after even those few minutes with her grandfather, even if the interaction had been blessedly short. Her grandfather had been too injured to take the time to berate her over her hair or her dress, even if he’d still belittled her intelligence. “I have called the physician to attend himwhen he has a moment. And when he thinks he can sneak in.”
“Thank you.” Adeline sank onto the chair across from him, waiting while he retook his seat. Then she held up the thick mass of papers. “My grandfather has betrothed me to Lord Sarlon’s son. It isn’t official until I sign it, which I won’t, of course. But I told them I needed to read it over and contemplate my decision. Based on how thick this is, my grandfather must have granted Lord Sarlon more than a few concessions. We’ll need to read this over, ensure there is nothing in here that will legally hurt me when I end it, and see what he wants so that I can negotiate a different appeasement to hold Lord Sarlon off until I can solidify my power.”
Thaddeus nodded and held out a hand. “Let’s get started, then.”
Adeline handed him the second half of the stack. He might be a little lost, picking up halfway through without the earlier context, but he’d figure it out.
The pain yankedhim from sleep. Lorne clamped his teeth around his moan as he blinked his eyes open.
“Hold still. I’m almost finished.” A deep male voice reverberated above him, and it took him far longer than it should have to recognize the physician from the night before.
Was it only the night before? Lorne’s mouth felt strangely dry and gummy, his body cold and achy,despite the soft mattress beneath him and blanket over him.
He bit back another moan as the physician spread salve over his wounds.
“I’m sorry. I will give you more of the tincture in a few minutes.” The physician kept at his work without a pause. “But the princess wished to speak with you once you woke.”
The Kelvernese princess. Lorne’s wife. Just what had he done last night?
As the physician wrapped bandages around Lorne’s torso, the bedchamber door cracked open, and Adeline’s voice filtered inside. “How is he?”
“Awake, if you wish to speak with him.” The physician lifted Lorne’s shoulders slightly to wrap the bandage around him.
Lorne tried to prop himself onto an elbow to help, but all of his muscles felt shaky and weak. Was it his imagination that he felt worse than before?
The door opened all the way, and Adeline glided inside, dressed in a somber gray gown that was edged in black lace. Her grandfather must have arrived during the night. Was the man still alive or had he already passed?
Her gaze landed on him. “How are you feeling?”
He might have been more embarrassed about his undressed state, especially since he currently lay in her bed, if he hadn’t felt so terrible. He attempted a smile. “Not great.”
“He’s developed a fever that has me concerned.” The physician tied off the bandage and lowered Lorneback onto the pillow. “We will need to ensure he is given plenty of liquids and has lots of rest.”
A fever. That would explain the shivering taking hold of him. He shook, even as the physician placed the blanket over him once again.
If only he had a fleech dragon. Then he’d be fine.
