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“I’m going to twirl you and then we’re done. You must curtsey to me,” he said in a whisper as the music was obviously winding to a conclusion.
Dianora concentrated and managed the spin without falling and sank into the curtsey she had been taught by a kindly maid several hours ago. “All the people of Argorn but the king must curtsey to you but you might have occasion to curtsey to his majesty and it must be done properly,” the prescient woman had said. Dianora was growing quite fond of her maid, who was like a well-meaning aunt and had given her a number of useful suggestions.
There was applause after her curtsey to Garrin and then another tune began and other couples came onto the floor. Garrin escorted her to her seat and she took a long drink of wine.
“Well done, my lady,” he said as he resumed his place next to her. “Having survived the first dance we aren’t expected to do another.”
“I like dancing with you,” she said, surprising herself. “But I’d rather learn out of the public eye if you don’t mind.”
“Once you’ve been crowned queen officially you’ll set up your ladies court,” he said. “I’m sure the women can apprise you of things it would never occur to me to be concerned over. I should have thought about the dance but I’m a soldier, not a courtier. When I was growing up I spent all my time with the guardsmen, learning the skills a soldier needs, and then I shadowed my father, the old king, to learn statecraft. I was the despair of my mother.”
“I doubt that,” she said. “You must have been the kind of son to make any mother proud. Airs and graces be damned.”
Dianora excused herself a few minutes later, pleading the headache and the need to go to their rooms and treat herself with a medinject so she could finish the evening with him. Garrin wanted to send two guards with her but was distracted by a late arriving noble who wished to make a petition. As she slipped from the room, she was just as glad. It was hard to get used to constantly having bodyguards everywhere she went and she did have her blaster, hidden in a pocket of the dress which she’d insisted the seamstress add. Being an introvert, in a relationship with a total extrovert, she rarely had time to herself. As far as being with Garrin himself, that was wonderful but she craved those moments of peace when she could be alone.
She was used to the castle now after a week of tromping through every inch of it on inspection tours with Garrin and found her way to their suite on an upper level with no problem. She sat on the bed and dug the proper inject out of the medkit, happy to see she still had a good supply remaining. Not enough for the rest of her life most likely, but they’d buy her time to become more familiar with Argorn medicine and decide what parts of it were useful to her.
Knowing she had to return to the dining hall, concerned her absence might reflect badly on Garrin, Dianora packed up the medkit, straightened her dress and her hair and forced herself out into the corridor and down the stairs. As she was coming around one of the sweeping curves, she heard voices ahead and stopped.
“I give it six months at most,” said one woman dismissively. “She’s a curiosity to him, nothing more.”
“He’s grateful to her for saving his life,” said another.
“Gratitude only goes so far.”
“But they’ll be married. She’s to be queen. Garrin would never set her aside,” a third person observed. “The act might anger the gods after sending her to him.”
“He’ll take lovers. They all do—his father had so many,” the first gossiper said. “The gods don’t care about dalliances. Let her keep the title and enjoy the empty bed.”
“Morganil will snap him up. She had hopes of becoming queen, you know, before the Craadil came.”
Dianora knew the name. The woman was a proud, haughty lady of remarkable beauty who had indeed been disdainful to her when their paths crossed in the castle or at gatherings. The speaker went on confiding her opinions to her unseen companions. “Best stay on Morganil’s good side because she’s already scheming to reignite what they’d shared before.” Lowering her voice, the woman added, “And she might know of ways to drive the newcomer back to her own realm, if you know what I mean.”
There was a titter of amusement and then Bakuln’s voice broke into their mirth. “Ladies, well met. Have you seen Queen Dianora? She’s apparently been delayed in returning to the banquet and the king is concerned.”
That’s my cue. Dianora tamped down her fury and pasted the smile on her face, stepping around the curve to enter the spacious landing, where the gossips were seated on couches, enjoying a snack and their idle chat. Extending her hand to Bakuln, who was her trustworthy ally since the beginning, she assumed a gracious air. “Well met, my lord. I’m slow and cautious on these damn slippery stairs.”
The women were curtseying, eyes downcast as she swept by them, escorted by Bakuln. Dianora hoped they were worried about what she might have overheard.
“Garrin is a man with a man’s appetites,” Bakuln said softly as the two of them continued to descend the grand staircase. “Which he has indulged in the past of course. But he’s totally taken with you, my lady and his heart has room for no other. Having given his word to you, he’ll never stray from your bed. I’ve known him since we were too young to even pick up a sword—he’s a man of honor. He loves you as anyone with eyes can plainly see.”
“Thank you for speaking on his behalf,” Dianora said, touched such a hardened warrior would care what she thought. “I have no doubt of our bond. Biddies like those like to make trouble. They enjoy feasting on the scraps and stirring the pot. I will say if those women had any plans to become part of the Queen’s Court, which I’ve been told I must establish, they’ll be sorely disappointed.”
Bakuln gave a shout of laughter and patted her hand where she maintained a loose hold on his arm. “You’re a warrior in your own way. There’s something to be said for keeping enemies close, however.”
“Life is too damn short to waste my time on them.”
“I envy Garrin,” Bakuln said with amusement. “He’s a lucky man. By any chance do you have a sister waiting in your realm?”
“Sorry, no sisters or brothers and my parents are long gone,” she said. Would she have embraced this adventure if there was a family waiting at home? Probably but with more regrets.
As she made the final turn of the stairs, she saw Garrin in a group which included Morganil, who was right by his side and plainly trying to capture his attention, her hand resting on his arm flirtatiously. The king had only eyes for Dianora, however, his face lighting up as she and Bakuln came into view. With a barely murmured apology he left his companions and came straight to meet them, holding out his hand to Dianora.
“Is your headache better then?” he asked. “I was hoping for another dance if you’re up to it.”
“Bring it on,” she said with a smile. “Promise not to let me trip over my own feet or yours and I’ll be fine.”
Garrin swept her onto the floor with the other couples, who moved aside to make room and shortly they were doing their best to maneuver the steps, which were more complicated than the first dance had been. Relieved of her migraine, Dianora found it all amusing and had a wonderful time for the rest of the night.
