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I continued to hum the tune of the song under my breath, however.
What? It was a good song.
Since my bed rest was finally over, I took Anniston for a walk from the room as soon as I fed and changed her. We both needed some new scenery. Besides, it was the perfect time to meet the rising sun, and it’d been too long since I’d been to the East Salon.
“You’re in for a treat, darling,” I promised her as we neared the door to the room. “I’m about to show you the best view in the entire kingdom.”
The child didn’t answer. Yawning, she snuggled her cheek against my chest as if still hungry. I laughed. She was going to be a hard one to impress, I feared.
I swung through the doorway, still smiling, but then slowed to a stop when I realized the room was already occupied.
“O-oh,” I stuttered, already backing toward the exit. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ll go.”
But Allera was already rising to her feet. “No,” she insisted. “This is your home. I can go.”
She looked worried about ups
etting me. With a sigh, I stopped and simply stared at her before reminding her, “It’s your home now, too.”
“Yes, but, you’re—”
“Ranked lower than you now, I believe,” I finished for her with a small smile. “Since your husband is next in line to the throne and mine is after him.”
Her sigh was sad. “So we can’t just share the room?”
After drawing in a breath, I nodded. “Actually, I’d quite enjoy that.”
“Truly?” Allera perked to the attention. “You would?”
I nodded and started toward the empty seat next to her. “I miss talking to you.”
Her relief was palpable. “I do too. Oh, Vienne, I feel terrible for any deception—”
Lifting a hand, I shook my head. “It’s all in the past. I understand why you did what you did. And no one else was harmed. They probably would’ve exiled him if they’d learned about it sooner, which would not have turned out well for me, I fear, since I probably would’ve remained dead after childbirth if he hadn’t been around to resurrect me. So I must conclude that your silence at the beginning did nothing but save my life.”
“I still wish I hadn’t hurt you,” she said softly as I sat, only for her to learn forward. “Say, is that the baby you’re carrying?”
“It is!” With a smile, I held her up. “Do you want to snuggle with her?”
“Of course.” She immediately reached out, so I placed Anniston in her arms. “Aww. She’s still as cute as ever. Hello, precious little girl. Aren’t you just a gem?”
I smiled as I watched the two together. Then I had the presence of mind to say, “So… You’re Lady Donnelly now. How does it feel? The wedding was lovely, by the way.”
Allera looked up, her face brightening with either excited embarrassment or dreadful embarrassment, I wasn’t sure which. “Thank you. It was beautiful, wasn’t it?” she murmured, before laughing and glancing away as if self-conscious, which made me think her blush came from the good kind of embarrassment. “And it feels wonderful, which is strange. I’m much happier than I thought I’d be. Brentley’s just so…” She shook her head as if at a loss for words.
I smiled, understanding completely. “He is. He’s a good man.”
“Yes, but I didn’t think I’d actually become this fond of him. Jazon was my one true love, and being with him was more than I could even describe, so I couldn’t even imagine being remotely happy with another. But Brentley… He’s a pleasure. A true pleasure. And, oh dear Lord, I sound like a right lunatic, don’t I?”
I shook my head. “No… No, of course not,” I insisted. “You sound surprised by how happy you are, which would be natural after…well, after losing your first husband, I should think.”
But she kept frowning. “Then why are you looking at me as if I’d just grown three heads?”
“I’m sorry.” I waved my hands and blushed. “Ignore me. It’s just…never mind.”
“Well, now there’s no chance of ignoring you. Tell me.”
I laughed shakily at her persistence even as a strange knot of apprehension formed in my stomach. “It’s just that name you said. Jazon.”
