Princess of the Midnight Ball - Jessica Day George [44]
Angry that this man should dare to speak about Rose in such a tone, Galen addressed him directly. “Do you really think that the princesses would risk their lives, their reputations, simply to play games? Sir?”
The man opened and closed his mouth like a landed trout, his eyes angry. Galen turned his back on him and faced the king again.
“Your Majesty, if you will grant me three nights, I swear that I will solve this riddle or die trying.”
“You’re certain to die trying,” one of the councillors said with a sneer. “Better men than you already have.”
Both the king and Galen pretended not to hear, while Galen saw Rose’s expression darken out of the corner of his eye. The king studied Galen, and Galen looked back calmly.
“What makes you think that you have an advantage over the young men who have already tried? It’s hardly an indication of intelligence or cunning, but they were all of royal birth. I do not mean to offend you, young man, but you were given permission to roam the gardens at night because you claimed to have some sort of advantage over my guard. And, well …” The king trailed off, spreading his hands.
“I’m sure that the princes were all brave young men,” Galen said, although having met some of them, he didn’t think that was true at all. “And I would not, of course, expect the same treatment or the reward offered. But I served many years in Your Majesty’s army. I fought in battles and was sent on scouting missions to spy on the Analousians. I have been working some months now in the Queen’s Garden and am very familiar with the exterior of the palace and the grounds. And …” He hesitated, and then decided to be “coy,” as the councillors would say. “And I have a few other tricks up my sleeve.” He laid a finger alongside his nose and winked.
The councillors looked variously annoyed or derisive, but the king just looked thoughtful. “Very good,” he said, nodding. “Would you care to start tonight?”
“If it so pleases Your Majesty.”
“Indeed it does,” the king said. “We shall extend every courtesy to you, of course. It would not be fair, otherwise.”
“Your Majesty!” One of the king’s advisers rose to his feet, flabbergasted. “You can’t mean—”
“You shall join us for dinner,” the king said to Galen, talking over his councillor’s babble. “You shall have access to my daughters’ chambers tonight, chaperoned by their maids, of course.”
Galen bowed his head, “Of course.”
“And should you succeed …” The king pursed his lips. “Well. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Bowing, Galen murmured his thanks. “I shall do my best to help you, Your Majesty. And your noble daughters.”
“You’d better,” the king said, not unkindly. “Rose, take him to the housekeeper. He shall have a room here for the next few days. You might want to have a rest before this evening. It’s going to be a long night.” The king looked as if he were going to have a long night as well and rather wished he could take a nap right now.
“Thank you again, sire,” Galen said, and bowed his way out of the room. Rose followed.
“Are you mad?” Rose asked as soon as the door closed behind them. “You’re going to fail, and then you’re going to die!”
But Galen tapped the side of his nose again and winked, even though his heart was racing. It thrilled him that she was concerned for his safety, but he put that out of his head with an effort. He was not trying to take advantage of her or her father while they were under duress from the archbishop.
“You are mad!” She stalked down the corridor.
He fell into step beside her. “I think it best if I have a rest, as your father suggested, before dinner,” he said in a conversational tone. “If I am to go dancing with you tonight, I want to have all my strength.”
Galen’s reward for this sally was seeing Rose’s cheeks turn bright red.
“I do hope that you will save a waltz for me, Your Highness. I dearly love to waltz. Do you?”
“Not anymore,” she