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“The work?” He started to walk away from me, but I jogged to catch up to him. “What work?” Another question occurred to me. “What are you doing here, Bishop?”
“I’m helping Leonidas.” He cleared his throat and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “He needs help finding a wife. You know how helpless he is with women.”
“I do,” I agreed. “But that’s why I’m here. Why are you here?” I went at it from another angle. “Those illegal letters, never once did Fitz mention you, so I know he wouldn’t have asked you to come. Why—are—you—here?” I put emphasis on each word, hoping he understood that I wasn’t about to give this up.
Like a trapped animal, Bishop’s eyes strayed far to the left, determined not to look at me. As his head shook slowly, I felt him waver. “It’s only been whispers. Rumors, really. Nothing I could confirm.”
“Rumors about what?”
“Threats,” he answered as if it was enough.
“Against Fitz?”
“Against the king,” Bishop corrected.
“That doesn’t make any sense. The king is already dying.”
“Not fast enough.” Bishop exhaled through his nose. “There’s a proposal coming before Parliament that would limit the power of the king to rule as head of state and give power to Parliament to enact more laws without his approval.”
“And that’s bad?”
Bishop shook his head as though to say I wouldn’t understand. “When most of them are corrupt? Yes, definitely bad.”
“It’s not like Fitz would let that happen. He loves this country. He—”
“He lived for a year in America and it shows. His love of democracy and pickles is all too hard to ignore.” Bishop started to walk forward, enabled by his upper hand. “Just look at the upset in the past few days. He’s made commoners into noblewomen. He’s granted jewels and gifts to perpetuate equality. He certainly looks like he wants to change things, doesn’t he? And his American influencer certainly has had a hand in that, haven’t you?”
“But none of that would fit the agenda you’re talking about and if the queen hates me as much as you say she does, then why would she want Fitz to be in a position to—”
“I don’t know.” Bishop’s hands clamped around my shoulders, stopping me short. His eyes searching, still looking for answers. “I told you. Whispers. That’s all I’ve heard. Enough to come and try to see what I can learn. At least now I have a place to start.” There, in his grey eyes, I saw it, a flicker of fear. “My cousin isn’t the only one who loves Nolcovia.” He released his grip and turned away. “I’ll go tomorrow night to the loading bay. If I see something substantial, then I’ll take it to Leonidas.”
“You mean we.” I waited on his reaction, knowing he would fight me, but when he spun back, I was ready. “I’m going to be there. I came here for Fitz and I’m not letting anything into this palace that could harm him. So,” I put up a finger to silence him, “you either take me with you, or I go wandering around the palace making a commotion and blowing your cover.” I crossed my arms and cocked out my hip. “Your choice.”
Annoyed, Bishop growled under his breath. “Fine. You drive a hard bargain, don’t you?” He shook his head and muttered to himself, “Absolutely bleeding barmy, this one.”
“And until then, nothing out of the norm. We have to keep up appearances.”
“Obviously.”
“Good.” I took a step back, headed for the exit. “Glad we’re in agreement.”
“Absolutely.” Bishop waited until I’d almost fully passed below the archway before he tacked on, “It’s a date.”
Though he’d promised, Fitz never gave me an update on his time with Blair. But I certainly got the update straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Sporting a new dress and a ruby necklace she couldn’t stop touching, I got the feeling things had gone great.
She was positively bursting to tell me everything, and yet, I couldn’t bring myself to hear it. Which was weird. Blair was one of my top picks, so knowing they’d hit it off shouldn’t have floored me, I just felt… jealous. That was stupid. I didn’t have any romantic feelings toward him, and I could be friends with Fitz while he had a girlfriend. He’d obviously dated Chantal for a long time and he’d never missed a single letter. This didn’t have to be different.
And yet it was.
I put up a shield as she went on about the shops and the spa. I even held it together when Sadie tried on the gifts Blair had brought back for her. But when the opportunity to escape arose, I quickly made my exit.
The day left me weary, and I retired to my room early. As I stepped inside, Dahlia was just setting out my flannel pajamas to warm by the fire. Bless her.
“Milady, I found this card for you.” She held out a card that reminded me of the one Blair had received. My heart skipped a few beats as I covered the ground quickly to take the card. Was it my turn to go out with Fitz? A whole day, just the two of us? My mind instantly went back to the previous night, my head against his chest, his arms around me while the fire blazed.
All these years later, and he still snored.
I bit the inside of my lip as I read the card, excited to hear about the adventure we would take together. But my elation fizzled as I tried to make sense of what I was reading.
