I shook my head.
“She’ll miss her mama,” he murmured. “Go up. Have your woman bring her to you. Prepare for bed. I’ll tell Mama we’re retiring. She’s adept at clearing those who would make nuisances of themselves by outstaying their welcome, doing this without communicating they’re outstaying their welcome. As the crowd thins out, guests of the palace will find their beds.”
I would eventually have to watch Elpis do this for I had a feeling with the Firenz this would be an important skill to have.
“But now, you go up,” he ordered.
“These are my guests too, Mars,” I reminded him.
He sent one of those smiles my way that did things to my belly (and regions south). Things that, after recent events, I found confusing.
“You prepare for your new husband to meet you in our chambers, my queen, they will think nothing of you retiring without farewells.”
“Of course,” I muttered, dropping my eyes to his chest.
“Silence.”
I lifted my gaze to Mars again.
He dipped closer to me.
“I would have liked tonight to have been much different for you and me. Not just tonight, today as well. I have no power over that. It was how it was and the only thing I can say about it is that it is done. And now, we’ve both had trying days. As I told you last night, we will do as you wish, only what you wish. But most importantly for me, for this night, is that my wife gets some rest.”
He slid his hand out of my hair so he could run the pad of his thumb gently under one of my eyes.
“I do not like these shadows, my queen,” he finished on a whisper.
That was the Mars that I knew, now, I was coming to love.
But the Mars I knew now was also someone to fear.
He could cut a man in half with one swing of his sword.
And he did not hesitate to climb over bodies of dead.
He had told me I would know what it was like to be Firenz.
Now I knew.
It scared the daylights out of me.
And was vastly confusing.
For there was that Mars.
And there was this one right before me.
“Silence,” he called, and I focused on him again. “You’re drifting, amore.”
“I’m tired,” I mumbled.
“Then upstairs.” He bent and touched his lips to mine, pulling not far away. “Time with your pet. Your woman. And then your husband. No?”
I nodded.
He smiled, and it was not wolfish.
It was kind and doting.
Why could this not be the only Mars?
And why could this Mars not be only mine?
“I will see you up there,” I told him.
“This is an absolute,” he replied, humor being added to the kind and doting.
I gave him a small smile back.
He hugged me (a barbarian, hugging) before he let me go.
I looked back at him as I walked away and saw him standing there, watching me.
Most assuredly doting.
What had I done to earn that?
I could not battle, like Elena and Serena.
I could not clear guests without seeming impolite, like Elpis.
I could never wear a gown that showed my knickers and had swirls of silver sequins that claimed me the queen of an entire country through just a garment and do it with grace and majesty, like Ha-Lah.
And yet there he was.
Doting on me.
I was caught only thrice by royal guests on my way to the stairs, and when I turned at the first landing, I realized that Elpis (or possibly Mars, or alternately Tril) had a servant boy waiting for me.
I knew this because he caught one glance at me and took off running.
Thus, by the time I moved through the door to Mars’s bedchamber, Tril was dashing toward me.
“I watched through the windows, love,” she cried. “It’s all so terribly exciting.”
Hmm.
“And so beautiful. Queen Elpis has a skilled hand with celebration décor. It seemed tasteful but still dazzling,” Tril continued, grasping both my hands and walking backwards, pulling me toward the chamber where Mars’s bed was. “I studied how she did that and I think it was the lanterns. She’s a dab hand with placing those decorative lanterns. The light they radiate through those little holes. That’s décor in and of itself.”
“Tril—”
She stopped abruptly and shook my hands.
I shut my mouth when I saw the tears in her eyes.
“She had a special place for me,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry?” I whispered back.
“Queen Elpis. She knows…” I watched her swallow before she went on, “She knows what we mean to each other and an officiant at the wedding found me when I arrived and took me to a special place, one close to you and your king, so I could see everything.”
“Oh my goodness,” I kept whispering.
I very much had to thank Elpis for that extraordinary kindness.
“You couldn’t see me. You had other things on your mind. And you were… Oh, Silence!” Tril pulled me into her arms and held me close. “You were so beautiful. So dignified. So regal.” She caught my upper arms and gave them a firm squeeze, pulling away and grinning teary-eyed at me. “And your king. If he hasn’t already taken the plunge, my love, he’s teetering on the precipice. He’s utterly smitten with you.”
To my shock, I could not argue that.
Her smile got wider as her eyes got brighter with tears.
“Just days. You’ve known him but days and he’s roaring to the heavens at claiming you as his queen. I swear, my love, I’ve never seen anything so romantic in my entire life.”
“That was rather lovely,” I murmured.
“Lovely!” she hooted. “Darling girl, I think I saw about five Firenz girls faint, and a dozen more looked about ready to do so when he did that.”
“Truly?” I asked.
She laughed aloud, tucked my hand in her elbow and moved me toward my new dressing room.
“Truly,” she confirmed when she’d ceased laughing. “I cannot tell you,” she drew the sheer black curtain aside, “how much I love this for so many reasons. Most specifically how very little your father has to do with any of it.”
One could say that Estrilda was not fond of my father. Then again, she’d been my lady’s maid for seven years and my friend since practically the first day we met. The way my father was with me, for a friend, that would happen.
However.
“Tril,” I chided.
She pushed me to the daybed and waved a hand in the air. “Please, I’m maidservant to a queen. I can talk about Lord Johan as I like now.”
I pressed my lips together and felt my eyes get big, because I was suddenly desperately in need of laughter and I wasn’t sure it was appropriate, or it wouldn’t spring forth hysterical.
“I’ll get Piccola,” she offered without me requesting, moving toward the door that led to what was now her room. “Do you want the white lace? Or the white satin and lace?”
Oh faith.
She was talking about wedding nightgowns.
One Tril had sewn on the way to Firenze. An upper of exquisite lace with short sleeves, a deep V at the front, falling into an elegant, wide skirt of satin and ending in a deep edge of more lace that was at least three inches longer than the length of my frame.
Acres of fabric.
The other I’d had made while we were there.
All lace. Very much see-through. Shorter sleeves that were almost winged. A ruched cross at my midriff and another deep V at the bodice.
The first was elegant and Dellish.
The other was sultry and Firenz.
“The satin,” I declared at the same time Tril said, “The lace.”
She stopped while opening the door to her rooms and looked at me.
I shot her an expression that said, Eep!
Piccola pranced o
ut of Tril’s room, across the dressing room floor, and I bent to her as she dashed into my hands.
“Allo, my darling,” I cooed and brought her up to my face.
She chirruped an excited hello.
“Shall we beg Tril for some treats?” I asked her.
She chirruped an excited yes.
“Treats before satin, Tril, don’t you think?” I said to my friend.
“I think lace, my love,” she replied quietly.
I looked into her eyes and cuddled my wee monkey to my neck. “I’m not ready for lace and Mars tells me he will be ready when I am.”
Surprise, relief and joy washed over her features before smugness entered them.
“Smitten,” she declared and moved to the shelves that she had wasted no time in populating with my things. “Deeply,” she concluded, pulling at the satin and flinging it so it soared in the air anchored to her fingers before taking an elegant fall.
“Extraordinary,” a deep voice came, after which there was a startled chirrup and Piccola crawled up into my hair at the same time Tril emitted a strangled scream.
This was because Mars had flung back the sheers and was sauntering into my dressing room.
“I, uh…Your Grace, um…Your Majesty…uuuuuumm, my new king,” Tril stammered bobbing up and down in a half curtsy, half bow that was so clumsy, I feared she’d topple out of it.
“I am King Mars, yes?” Mars stated, tossing his huge body into a full lounge on the daybed beside me. “Two syllables. Easy to remember,” he teased Tril and then fell slightly back so he could lift a long arm at the end of which was a hand that he used to extricate Piccola from my hair.
“Very easy, uh, King Mars,” Tril replied.
“And no bobbing,” Mars went on. Having taken hold of my monkey, he was now allowing Piccola to grasp one of the thick leather straps across his chest. “It’s awkward in a home. Parts of this palace are governmental, but this chamber is a part that’s home.”
“I…yes, it is,” Tril whispered.
Mars lifted his dark gaze to my friend.
“And it’s my understanding you are family, no?”
Oh, by the gods.
Was I…
Melting?
I stared at my new husband who was lounging at my side, his head nearly in my lap, his gaze still on my Tril.
“I…I love your queen very dearly, King Mars,” Tril said quietly.
“Then this is decided,” Mars murmured, removed Piccola from his strap and brought my wee thing to his face “How do you feel about this, Piccola?” he asked.
Oh yes.
I was melting.
Piccola chirruped.
“Very smart,” Mars agreed then returned my monkey to me, his head tipping far back so he could catch my eyes. “Don’t be long, bellezza. It’s time to do something about those shadows under your eyes.”
“All right, Mars,” I whispered.
“I’m sending a boy for passionflower mint tea. Anything else you desire?” he asked, pushing up from the daybed.
“I—”
“Sir, uh, King Mars, my lady likes chamomile before bed,” Tril put in.
I held my breath after my Tril said this, contradicting a king.
He did naught but look at me. “Do you prefer this, Silence?”
“I’ve never had passionflower mint. Why don’t I try both?” I replied, only for him to smile largely.
“My queen. A diplomat. Over tea,” he muttered. “It’ll be done.”
Then he turned, but instead of moving aside the sheers, he twisted back to look at Tril.
“Did you enjoy the wedding?” he asked.
“I…yes, it was beautiful, King Mars. And that view was stunning. I’ve never seen the like. Please, thank your mother for, um…seeing to me.”
“My mother,” he murmured pensively. “I’ll be sure to do that.”
And with that, he swept aside the sheers and strode out.
But with that, I knew, it might have been Elpis who had seen to Tril having a special place at our wedding.
But she did it at her son’s request.
This did not make me feel like I was melting.
This did not make me feel afraid.
This made me feel as I had felt but twenty-four hours earlier.
Like I was falling in love.
I looked to Tril. She was staring at the sheers clutching lace and satin to her chest.
She’d realized the same thing.
“Tril,” I called.
She turned to me. “Now I’m smitten. Deeply.”
I could not hold it back.
And yes, it was partially hysterical.
But it felt good to giggle.
Tril giggled with me as she approached, saying through her laughter, “Let us get you ready for bed. Then treats for Piccola. By then, your tea will be ready.”
We giggled more over her emphasis on tea.
And then we did as she said.
The tea arrived after I had changed and was sitting with Piccola crawling about my person while Tril brushed out my hair.
I tried both teas.
I preferred the passionflower mint.
When I told this to Tril, she simply mumbled, “I do not find this the least surprising.”
Though she said these words with a big grin on her face.
The tea was relaxing, as was the hair brushing, and I could hear that the din outside was regressing, but then it was time for me to meet my husband at our marital bed.
Mars had made it clear it was my decision what tonight would bring.
But all I wished was to sleep so I would be refreshed and tomorrow, perhaps tackle some of the many things that plagued my thoughts.
Therefore, I hoped he spoke true.
When Tril was finished with my hair, she set aside the brush, caught both my shoulders from where she stood behind me and bent to my ear.
“I am happy for you. I am proud of you. And I wish you all the joy in the world in the life you will share with your king,” she whispered there.
I turned my head and knew I had tears in my eyes when I caught hers.
She had tears as well.
We simply gazed at each other for a long moment before she squeezed my shoulders, let me go, took hold of Piccola and started to blow out the lamps in the dressing room.
I got up, took in a breath and walked to the black sheers.
I drew them aside and moved through, only able to take two steps before I stopped.
There were naught but two lamps lit, one on either side of the bed.
A bed my husband was on.
He was wearing nothing but a pair of his satin pants. These a deep red. And he was lying with his back up on pillows, his shoulders and head resting against the padded headboard.
His eyes were closed.
Was he asleep?
If he was asleep, this would make things easy.
It would also, I admitted to myself, be disappointing.
I approached the bed but stopped, the lace at the hem of the satin floating around my feet, when his head came up from the headboard and his eyes opened and fell on me.
Though, it would be more accurate to say his eyes opened and traveled the length of me.
“This was the perfect choice, my queen,” he declared. “You look beautiful.”
Everything about me warmed.
“You look, erm, beautiful too,” I told him.
A smile flirted with his lips before he ordered, “Come to your husband.”
My husband.
That man was my husband.
I moved to him slowly.
He curled up to sitting, and my feet were on the furs that carpeted the podium on which the bed sat before he reached with his long arms, caught my hips and pulled me down on him.
He lay back against the headboard again.
I lay on him.
Oh faith.
“I like the sound of your laughter with your woman,” he murmured, his gaze now trai
ling over my face.
“We do it often,” I told him.
“I do not know if I’ve ever heard you laugh like that, Silence,” he remarked.
Was this true?
“I-I’m sorry,” I replied.
His brows drew together before he asked, “Why are you sorry?” But he did not expect an answer for he kept talking. “It is me who should feel remorse for I have not made you laugh like this.”
Yes, this was the Mars I could fall in love with.
“We’ve not had much time together, Mars,” I reminded him.
“You’ve made me laugh.”
I had. Not purposefully, but it could not be denied I found a thrill in doing so.
“Well—” I began.
His arms curled tighter around me, and he dragged me slightly up his frame so my face was closer to his.
And when he got me in position, he declared, “It will be my reason for being, after we leave Sofia to her rest, to make you laugh often, my wife.”
I slid my hand that was lying on his warm chest up to his neck, whispering, “Mars.”
“I do not wish to do so in this moment, but it’s important so I’m sorry to say I must remonstrate you again,” he shared.
I blinked into his face at his swift change in topic.
“I set Kyril on you,” he continued. “Before I found you earlier and you came up to our chamber, he’d found me and reported that you’d disappeared in the garden.”
Oh no.
Had Kyril seen my drawing over my shadow?
“You set Kyril on me?”
“Silence, you were attacked last night. But regardless, you are queen. You’ll now have a guard everywhere you go for the rest of your life.”
Well then.
That made sense.
It was unnerving.
But it made sense.
And further, all this proved that Mars could see through my shadow because Kyril, apparently, could not.
I wondered if this had anything to do with the prophecy.
Obviously, I wasn’t going to discuss this with him. Not right then.
Instead, I had a thornier topic to discuss.
I did not get to broach it.
“I must command you not to disappear like that again,” Mars said. “It’s not safe.”
He was right, in a manner, so I nodded.
It was then, his hand came up to my face and he touched the hoop in my nostril lightly, murmuring, “Your woman did not take your chain.”
The Plan Commences Page 7