The Born Queen - J. Gregory Keyes [144]
But by the saints he kindled her, found the slow fire in her belly and stroked it out to every inch of her, until all she wanted was for more of her flesh to press his, to feel what two unclothed bodies were like together.
But not here, where anyone could see. They could go back to the castle, though…
“Enough,” she said faintly. “Enough, Cape Chavel.”
“Is something wrong?” he whispered.
“Yes,” she replied. “I want you. That’s what’s wrong.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” he replied. “I want you, too. You’ve no idea.”
“No,” she said. “I think I have some idea. But we can’t. I can’t. I’m queen. I have to be responsible. What if I got pregnant, for saints’ sake?”
She was surprised to hear herself say it, but there it was.
“I understand,” he said. “It doesn’t make me want you any less.”
She stroked his face. “You’re dangerous,” she said. “Another few moments and you might have convinced me.”
He smiled halfheartedly. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I would not make a mistress of you.”
She nodded.
“I would make you wife, though, if you would say yes.”
She started to make a joke of that, but then, with a bit of a shock, she understood the look in his eyes.
“Let’s not get in a hurry, Cape Chavel,” she said.
“I love you.”
“There’s no need to say that,” she whispered. “Just hush.”
He nodded but looked a little hurt.
Saints, he’s serious, she realized.
Things felt turned around all of a sudden. She hadn’t understood until this moment that she was the one in control of the situation.
“I’m not closing the door,” she said. “When I was younger, it was my dream to marry for love. My mother, my sister—everyone—tried to make me understand that a princess didn’t have that option, but I refused to believe it. Now I am queen, and I begin to understand. Marriage isn’t something I can choose because my heart or body wants it. You have become dear to me in a very short time, and I am tempted to rush. I can’t. Please bear with me, court me, be my friend. I never took you for a man easily discouraged. I hope I wasn’t wrong about that.”
He smiled, and this time it looked more sincere. “You weren’t.”
“Good.” She kissed him again, lightly this time. “And now I’m afraid I must return to the castle. Thank you for a pleasant morning. And welcome back. I’m very well pleased you didn’t get yourself killed.”
The morning left her with a pleasant tingle that lasted well into the evening. Emily seemed to be grinning a lot, and Anne was pretty certain the girl had made it her business to watch at least a little of what was going on through the hedges. Anne couldn’t really bring herself to care.
That afternoon she prepared to meet Hespero. After a little consideration, she chose to wear the habit and wimple of a sister of Saint Cer. Then she went to the Red Hall. They were to meet late, after the dinner hour, around ninth bell.
She made him wait until the eleventh.
He didn’t seem particularly disturbed when she entered alone. He was dressed in the simple black robe and square hat she was accustomed to seeing him in as praifec. He still had the mustache and barb, too.
“Majesty,” he said, bowing.
“I didn’t know your grace accepted me as queen,” Anne said. Her heart was beating a little too fast, and she realized that now that he was here, she was nervous.
She couldn’t let that show.
“It has been difficult for me, I admit,” he said. “But I thought to start on a note of conciliation.”
“Well, that’s promising,” Anne said. “Speak on.”
“News has spread of your rather impressive powers. Would you be surprised to learn that it was not unexpected?”
“No,” Anne said. “I believe you expected it. I believe you did your level best to stop it—stop me—before I realized the extent of them.”
“You can’t mean that,” Hespero replied. “Why would you think that?”
Anne waved aside his protest. “Never mind that now. Why have you come here?”
“To make an offer.”
“And that offer is…?”
“Your Majesty, I can train you. I can school you in the use of energies which, I assure you, are not done revealing themselves.