She sat on the bed and rubbed her forehead. Lord Hardin’s ward was too young for a betrothal, let alone a marriage. And yet, Hardin thought he could bind her to him - and ensure permanent control over her lands - before she grew too old to object. Alassa allowed herself a flash of cold anger. She knew how she would have felt, if her father had announced her betrothal before she reached her majority. It might have been years before the marriage was solemnized, but everyone would have treated it as a done deal from day one. If she’d had a brother...
“I might need you to go look at her lands, to see how he’s ruling them,” she said. She hated the idea of sending Jade away for a few days, but there were few people she trusted completely. And besides, Hardin wouldn’t be fool enough to give Jade a hard time. If he did... Jade would smash him flat well before word reached Alexis. “Perhaps even to provoke a fight.”
Jade nodded as he sat next to her. “How much do you want me to provoke a fight?”
“Only a little,” Alassa said. She wanted an excuse to take a swing at Hardin - or, at the very least, to park a garrison in his lands - but it had to look legitimate. “I don’t want to push him so blatantly everyone takes his side.”
She leaned into Jade’s arms, allowing him to hold her tightly. It was a display of weakness she could never allow herself in front of the court, not when half of them already believed Jade gave her orders in private and the other half thought he should. Bastards. It hadn’t been that long since they’d been slated for execution, if they fell into Randor’s hands. A little gratitude was not too much to expect, was it? It probably was. Courtiers had short memories. And now there was an infant princess, she’d bet her crown that some of them were considering the advantages of having a monarch who couldn’t talk.
And if I die early, she thought, Jade will take Baby Emily and run.
Jade kissed her, lightly. Alassa lifted her lips to his, enjoying the sensation. His hands started to roam her body, fiddling with the clasp behind her back. The dress was designed to be difficult to take off in a hurry, something that Alassa had once found a little amusing. It wasn’t so funny now. The unmarried ladies of the court might have reason to wear a chastity belt, or something that served the same purpose, but she was a married woman. And she was the queen...
The wards jangled. Alassa jumped, swallowing a curse. Whoever had disturbed her was going to regret it. Whoever... she reminded herself, sharply, that she needed to hear the messenger out before she did something unspeakable. No one would dare enter her chambers unless it was urgent. She stood, straightened her dress and gave Jade a meaningful look. He headed for the secret passage that ran beside the reception room. King Randor had used it to conceal guards, when holding meetings with untrustworthy aristocrats. Alassa preferred to use it to allow her husband to listen to the meetings, without making his presence obvious. It was yet another compromise she’d had to make between what the court expected of her and what she had to do to maintain her sanity.
She raised an eyebrow as she stepped through the door and saw Mouse waiting for her. The young woman - she was practically a commoner, although her father had been knighted long ago - was loyal. She had to be. Alassa had rewarded her for her services by elevating her over the countless noblewomen - and men - who thought they should be Mistress of the Queen’s Bedchamber. It had made her enemies, but... Alassa tried not to grimace. Mouse was loyal to her personally and that was all that mattered. And besides, she wasn’t anything like as hidebound as the rest of the court. She didn’t waste time trying to turn her queen into something she wasn’t.
“Your Majesty.” Mouse curtsied. Her face was pale, fearful. “Prince Hedrick has arrived.”
Alassa blinked. “Prince Hedrick of Alluvia?”
Mouse nodded. Alassa’s mind raced. Prince Hedrick had wanted to marry her, years ago. He’d attended her wedding, but then... she didn’t recall hearing much of anything about him. Hedrick was a second son. He wouldn’t be promoted over his brother... hell, there was a very real chance he would be sent into de facto exile. If he had... why had he come to Zangaria? Alassa couldn’t think of a good reason. It wasn’t as if she was obliged to give him more than the time of day.
“He just galloped into the courtyard,” Mouse added. “He requests an immediate meeting.”
“I see.” Alassa was tempted to tell Hedrick to wait. And yet, he wouldn’t have broken protocol so blatantly unless the situation was dire. What was it? “Please have him shown to the blue room. I’ll speak with him there.”
She glanced at the walls as Mouse turned and hurried out of the room. Jade would make his way down to the next cubbyhole, while Alassa moved through the monarch’s private corridors. She thought fast, trying to determine why Hedrick had galloped all the way to Zangaria... even using the portals, it was a hell of a long way. If he’d come to pledge his love... she snorted at the thought. It would be preferable, she supposed, to a bid for his kingdom’s throne. That would be a major diplomatic headache.
I suppose I could tell him to get lost and swear blind I didn’t see him, she thought, as
