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“That is the truth,” she says.
“I know, but sometimes people can be annoyed at the truth or feel that the truth is being unfairly truthy upon them.” I shrug helplessly. “There’s no rule that you can’t have gripes about your job, right?”
Though it appears to pain her greatly, she admits, “No, there’s no rule about that. But I don’t have a reason to gripe, either. There isn’t much for the queen’s bodyguard to do if the queen isn’t there to be guarded. I’ve been going a little stir-crazy for the past couple of days.”
“Great! Glad we cleared that up.” And I’m glad that I’ve cracked the Xiao communication code; I just have to relentlessly badger her into admitting she has thoughts and feelings. “How are Hannah and my sister?”
“Hannah’s fine. Miffed that she didn’t get to come to England, but realistic about the challenges childcare at home would present.” Xiao delivers the update like a general rattling off troop movements. “The Lady Tara is… coping.”
I don’t know what I expected to hear. That Tara is doing great? That she can’t wait for me to come back because I’m the best little sister in the whole world? I just executed Clare.
“Do you think she needs anything?” I ask. “Should I be sending mental health professionals to her or something?”
“I can’t say, Your Majesty.” Xiao leans forward, her elbows on her knees. “But I think she’s been communicating with her mate. I thought you should know.”
I should know, and I definitely should worry about it. But the thought of cutting her off from communication with Josh, another person I took from her…
No, I didn’t take him from her. Nathan is the one who banished him, and before I was queen.
“Thanks. It is helpful for me to know that.” I hate to suggest it, but, “I think we should monitor her mail. Find a way into her phone.”
“We can make that happen,” Xiao agrees easily.
I immediately regret my words. “Do you think that’s bad? Like, invading her privacy. Does it seem like I don’t trust her?”
“It’s not my place to examine the actions of the queen,” she reminds me. Then, reluctantly, adds, “But if I were in the Lady Tara’s position? I would understand why those actions are necessary. It wouldn’t bother me if I had nothing to hide.”
I have a strong feeling that Tara’s opinion will differ.
“That said,” Xiao says, “She doesn’t need to know it’s happening.”
That doesn’t make me feel any better.
Harriet returns with the tea service, the wheels on the wobbly cart squeaking. She silently lays everything out on the coffee table between Xiao and me.
“Thanks,” I say when the housekeeper is finished. She trundles off with her rattly cart, and again we wait until we can no longer hear it before we resume our conversation.
I pour a cup of tea out for myself, pretty happy with how effortlessly I maneuver the pot one-handed, but Xiao turns over her cup and glances up at me apologetically. “I’m off caffeine. Too high strung as it is.”
“Right. I should have asked. Do you want something else?”
She casually brushes the air with the back of her hand. “But if we could circle back to the presence of thralls in Wyrding House? Or the lack of them, I guess?”
“Yeah, it’s kind of weird, isn’t it?” I put a few lumps of sugar into my tea. I don’t even like tea very much, but it seemed like a very English and queen thing to offer someone at the time. “I mean, you’re totally right, there must be a reason the former king found thralls untrustworthy. The king and I were wondering if you might be able to find some insight into that?”
My miserable attempt to approach the subject tactfully sounds sleazy and manipulative to my own ears.
So, it’s no wonder that Xiao is offended. “I’m not a spy, Your Majesty.”
“I know,” I say quickly, and babble on when I should just be apologizing for making the request in the first place. “I guess I meant from more of a security perspective. Nathan didn’t know his uncle very well. We have no idea if he’s paranoid or if there’s actually something we need to be worried about.”
“I’m sure the results of your investigation into the binding spell will give you that information,” she says tersely. It’s jarring; I’ve never seen her approach anything like disagreement with me, ever. What you’re asking me for is a completely different skill set. Frankly, I’m not good at talking to people and gaining their confidence.”
“I don’t know,” I say. “I trust you. I would tell you anything.”
She leans forward again with a deep sigh, her long braid falling over her shoulder. “Your Majesty… I feel like you may be misunderstanding my role in your retinue.”
“Oh, no, I totally get it, you’re not a spy.” I really offended her, and I feel terrible. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t trying to imply that you were dishonest.”
