Page 87 of Her Baseborn Bridegroom

“There is no perhaps about it child,” replied Lady Doverdale drily. “The Queen will not let you go that easily.”

Linnet’s eyes widened with alarm.

“We are to be the first of her new ladies in waiting, you and I. She has grand plans, this Queen. Do not look so alarmed, child,” she added calmly. “This means whenever he is summoned to court, so are you.”

Linnet’s jaw dropped. “That . . . that would be convenient,” she admitted on reflection.

Lady Doverdale nodded and gave her a small smile. “Indeed,” she said and melted away as more faces appeared before them.

Suddenly Linnet found herself scooped up in a bear hug by her jubilant father-in-law, Baron Vawdrey.

“Father,” she gasped dutifully.

“There’s my good girl,” he said approvingly. “Always knew you’d be good for this family.”

A grinning Oswald appeared at her side and kissed her cheek. “Linnet, congratulations.”

“Thank you,” she said warmly and found Roland had appeared at her other elbow.

“Sister,” he said, kissing her other cheek without even a hint of awkwardness. “Shame the Jevonses aren’t here,” he said. “That’d be one in their eye.”

“I thought you were great friends with them,” she replied tartly.

He shuddered. “After living in close confinement with them for three weeks you have my deepest sympathy. It’s a wonder you didn’t fling yourself from your tower just to escape them.” She laughed, even though she thought Roland immature. “Wouldn’t have minded being a duke, though,” he added ruefully. He looked her up and down. “You’re not bad looking, on the whole.”

“What was that?” rumbled Mason’s voice ominously as he stepped up behind Linnet and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Oh, nothing of import, Brother,” replied Roland. “Just offering my congratulations to my new sister.”

“Hmmm.” Mason leaned down closer to Linnet’s ear. “I’ve just spoken to the King. The Queen wants a word with you. She’s about to offer you a position at court.”

She looked up at him, waiting for his reaction. “And? What do you think?” she prompted. “Should I take it?”

He shrugged. “It’s your decision,” he said.

“It might be good for me,” she suggested. “Don’t get me wrong; I dearly love my home, but I’ve seen so little of life.”

A smile played about his lips. “You may as well take it,” he said softly. “As I will be dragging you to court with me every time I’m summoned to attend the King.”

Her face broke out in a smile. “It’s decided then,” she said, going up on tiptoes to receive his kiss. “I’ll just go and speak with the Queen.”

“Come straight back.”

“I will. Always.”

The Queen was waiting for her in the fringed canopy. She sat sipping wine with a contented look on her face.

“Ah, Linnet,” she said, waving to a low stool nearby. “Take a seat. I did want a word with you. I hope,” she continued sweetly as Linnet shuffled her seat forward, “that you accept my sincere apology over this morning’s debacle. I’m afraid my plan went sadly awry.” She cast her eyes down in something that would look vaguely like dismay if it weren’t for the smile playing about her lips. “But I do not think that you are too devastated by the outcome, no?”

Linnet considered this a moment.

“No,” she admitted truthfully. “My life has been in utter turmoil for the last few hours, but the outcome is satisfactory, and I suppose I have you to thank for that, Your Majesty.”

The Queen laughed. “Spoken like a truly sensible woman,” she said approvingly. “You can see,” she said as she tapped her chin thoughtfully, “why I did not anticipate you would be a fainter. Unless you faked it, of course.”

Linnet choked on the small mouthful of wine she had taken.

“I most certainly did not,” she said firmly. “Fake it. Indeed, it was most inconvenient passing out like that. When I came to, I was extremely confused as to my own marital status!”