Page 93 of Kneel Before Me

Lilibet,

I do not care if my father does not approve. I love you. I want to be with you. You will be my wife and we will rule this kingdom together. No matter the cost.

—Maximus

Maximus,

There is something I must tell you. Can we meet tomorrow night? It’s important.

—Lilibet

There were no more letters after that. When they’d met the next night, she’d told him she was pregnant. Maximus had moved her into the castle immediately, despite his father forbidding it. She’d died in this very room, in the bed he still slept in. He couldn’t imagine another woman sleeping in it instead. Except for one. Maximus’s grief had been lighter lately. Easier to bear. He knew it was because of Daphne. But did she feel the same? There was only one way to find out. Maximus rang for a butler.

When his door opened, he said, “Bring me Daphne Verus.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Maximus

The minutes passed slowly.

Maximus drank wine. By the time there was a knock on his door, he had a buzz. He opened it to see her standing here.

“Daphne,” he breathed.

She looked confused. He could understand that; he could only imagine how it had felt to be summoned to the castle after what happened in the town square.

“What am I doing here, Maximus?”

“I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

Daphne motioned at herself. “I’m fine.”

“I don’t mean physically.”

Daphne pursed her lips. She didn’t reply.

Maximus decided not to push her. Her well-being was not the only reason he had brought her here.

“Won’t you come in?” He gestured inside his bedroom.

Daphne hesitated. He could hardly blame her for being wary.

He waited patiently while Daphne stood there. Eventually she came in, and Maximus closed the door behind her. He expected her to sit in one of the armchairs by the fire, but instead she crossed her arms and peered at his bookshelf. Maximus watched her as she moved slowly along it, her head tilted in thought. He wanted to ask her whether she liked to read, but didn’t actually care about the answer. Instead he simply watched her as she looked at the books, savoring the way she existed in his environment.

Finally, she turned to him. “Does your father know I’m here?”

“No.”

“Hm.”

He gestured at the bar cart. “Would you like a drink?”

She walked over to him slowly, keeping eye contact as she did so. Only once she reached him did she say “Yes.”

Before he had a chance to pour her one, a tiny speck of movement caught his eye: a spider on the bar cart. Immediately Daphne leaned forward, grabbing a glass and placing it over the bug before sliding a coaster beneath it, carefully capturing it in a crystal cage. She turned away.

“What are you doing?” Maximus asked.