Page 86 of Her Baseborn Bridegroom

“I do,” she sniffed.

“They never could. I wouldn’t let them. Not even if it meant us leaving this entire kingdom behind us.”

Linnet let him rock her a moment in his arms.

“Believe me?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Good. Sensible of you. Let’s go.”

“Um . . . my hair . . . ”

“Leave it,” he growled, taking her hand in his.

XXXV

It seemed to Linnet that there were an awful lot of people milling around as they followed the footman down the corridor. She clung to Mason’s hand and hurried to keep up with his long stride. The footman kept glancing anxious looks over his shoulder at them and then speeding up. She wasn’t sure if he was more scared of losing them or of Mason catching up with him. Her husband did look rather sinister, she recognized, as he prowled up the shadowy corridors with a menacing glint in his eye. As if aware of her thoughts, he brushed his thumb over her knuckles. She squeezed his fingers in reply. She had nothing to worry about, she reminded herself. They could always flee the country.

To her surprise they weren’t taken to the throne room, but instead headed to the room where the Queen held her levee that morning. That room was empty—surprisingly empty—but this time the footman led them right to the door that led to the staircase out to the garden. They followed him down the steps, Mason’s hand at her waist. The garden was lit up with hundreds of candles like fairy lights, but instead of lingering here the footman led them straight down a torch-lit path, which went all the way down to the beach. There on the sand, a temporary bower had been set up with a fringed canopy and even two thrones. Linnet blinked to find the court moved to such a fanciful spot. If she wasn’t all churned up inside she was sure she would have been enchanted. In the shadows were dozens of courtiers, she realized as her eyes adjusted to the torch-light. Mason’s arm slipped round her waist, hugging her close to his side. There was a strange atmosphere of excitement quivering through the crowd.

The King and Queen emerged from the crowd in silence and took their seats whereupon everyone bowed and curtsied. Linnet had just spotted her father- and brothers-in-law in the crowd, looking as uncertain as she. She her head now and gave her full attention to Queen Armenal, who had held up her hand to quiet the sudden excited murmur that had spread through the crowd. To her surprise, Mason did not release her but kept her firmly clamped to his side. She passed her own arm around his back to show they were united.

“Your pardon, my lords and ladies, for changing tonight’s entertainment at such short notice,” said the Queen in her theatrical voice. “But you see, this morning’s ruling did not go to plan and I must redress the balance.” She turned to Mason and Linnet. “You are welcome Sir Mason. Lady Vawdrey, I hope you are recovered from your upset this morning.”

The Queen’s words were gracious, but Linnet felt embarrassed as she cleared her throat and nodded.

“Indeed, I am quite recovered,” she forced herself to say in her loudest voice so everyone could hear her. “My husband has been most solicitous of my recovery.”

The Queen’s smiled widened as the crowd reacted to this to this with a low buzz of whispering which sounded somewhat alarming in the strange evening air.

“We are most glad to hear it,” she announced.

Though whether she meant the royal we or court in general, Linnet was not so sure.

“I am afraid that my stratagem this morning went most awry,” said the Queen, pulling a contrite face that almost looked sincere. “I had not anticipated your swooning, Lady Linnet. It was most remiss of me.”

Linnet felt a spasm of irritation, which she hoped she managed to mask. She was not proud of swooning, and the sooner people forgot about it the better!

“It was most uncharacteristic, Your Majesty, I assure you,” she said dismissively. “Pray do not give it another thought.”

The Queen’s eyes gleamed with amusement. She turned her gaze on Mason.

“You sent no word of appeal to the King over my judgement, Sir Mason,” she said in a light, teasing tone. “Am I to take it that you fully accept the conditions laid out before you?”

“You are,” he answered gruffly.

“You see, sire” said the Queen, turning to King Wymer. “He is quite satisfied.”

The King was staring at Mason. He gave a brief nod. “So it seems,” he said. “Extraordinary!”

“Is that all?” asked Mason with a thread of annoyance running through his words. “I would like to return my wife to our rooms now. Your Majesties,” he added as an afterthought.

The Queen gave a delighted laugh. “No, that is not all, Sir Mason” she said with mock gravity. She turned back to the crowd with her arms outstretched. “It is my sincere pleasure to inform you all that Lady Linnet’s lands and estate are hereby returned to her. And in addition,” she said, holding up one dainty finger, “we bestow the title she holds in abeyance upon her beloved husband Sir Mason Vawdrey, who will hereby be known as the Duke of Cadwallader.”

Linnet gasped as Mason stiffened beside her. Their gazes clashed, reflecting each other’s utter shock. The crowd meanwhile had erupted into wild applause and cheers. Linnet found herself jostled and buffeted as they were inundated with well-wishers, shaking Mason’s hand and kissing her cheek. At one point, Lady Doverdale’s dour face appeared before her and she grasped Linnet’s hand.

“Lady Doverdale, I want to thank you,” she said hurriedly. “Perhaps we could meet before I return home?”