Questionable Queen

  Shaking her head and shrugging one shoulder, she said, "Not much. I think Valborough has trade agreements with them, but to my knowledge, my father never met with any of their diplomats."

  Damien nodded. "That's how it was here, too. The Ibiran people are a race of warlords and mystics who focus on the dark magic of the Elements. Yamina's father was a strong Flora Sensitive who learned to make poisons from fruits and vegetables he grew himself. She was raised to take what she wants by any means necessary."

  He looked at his hands and smiled. "Aunt Charlotte was not like that. I don't know what was different for her, but she was gentle and kind. I think she helped Yamina curb some of her violent tendencies, teaching her how to behave at court. Still, though, she has a bad temper and fights to get her own way. She attacked my mother once at a ball because of the dress she wore. Yamina thought my mother was trying to outshine her, the King's Mistress."

  Ursula furrowed her brow in confusion. "But your mother is the Grand Princess. It's only right she get more attention."

  "Yamina didn't see it that way and ripped one of Mother's sleeves off before the guards could stop her." Damien took a deep breath. "I just want you to know if she has taken a dislike to you, you should be careful."

  He stood, but Ursula stopped him by taking hold of his sleeve. "Do you think I'm in danger?"

  "I can't predict the future, Your Majesty. It may be once Uncle Killian's funeral is over, Yamina will go back to Ibiran. There is nothing for her here now. Perhaps what happened in the throne room was just the result of her grief and she truly doesn't mean you any harm. I hope that is the case."

  He bowed and left her alone.

  The aroma of strawberries was almost too heavy here, but Ursula stayed for a few moments, thinking about what Damien had said. She'd been worried about Veronica's clear dislike of her, but that didn't frighten her the way Yamina's behavior had. If nothing else, Veronica prided herself on her assumed position as Queen Mother. Certainly, she would never lower herself to violence.

  Princess Yamina, on the other hand, had nothing to lose in attacking her. Killian was dead, and the Princess was soon going to lose her position at court. She saw Ursula as the cause of that loss.

  The Queen stood and walked back to the palace. She would have to make sure she stayed out of Yamina's way for the next few days.

  When Ursula entered the family dining room that night, she was surprised to see how many people were already seated at the table. All heads swiveled in her direction, and she understood the Grand Princess had her summoned last so it appeared she was late.

  That was the kind of tactic her own mother had used with dignitaries or nobles who had somehow displeased her, so it didn't surprise Ursula that Veronica did it, too.

  She refused to apologize for her tardy arrival, so she walked with her head held high to the only empty chair, positioned in the center of the far side of the table.

  As the King's Widow, she should have been given the chair the Grand Princess was sitting in, but after the day she'd had, she was not eager to start another confrontation. As she walked to the chair left for her, she saw Veronica watching her.

  If the Grand Princess was waiting for her to make a scene, she'd wait for a long time.

  Gideon sat to Ursula's left, and he smiled at her as she took her seat. After nodding to him, she turned to her right to see a young woman, about sixteen years old, who had to be Veronica's daughter. The resemblance was such that Ursula knew what the Grand Princess had looked like when she was younger.

  "Good evening," Ursula said. "I'm Queen Ursula."

  The young woman tsked and moved away to speak to another young woman who sat on the other side of her.

  "I see." Ursula focused her attention on putting her napkin in her lap and taking a sip of her wine. She would rather dance with all the nobles in Valborough, sweaty hands and bad breath included, than show anyone at this table she had been insulted.

  "Don't mind Amara," Gideon said, his voice almost a whisper as he leaned closer to her. "She is, of course, Veronica's daughter and has plans to marry a King of her own one day. If Josiah doesn't become King, that could mess up her plans."

  "So, she sees me as a threat?"

  Gideon nodded once.

  "Oh, dear." Ursula blinked. "Between Princess Yamina and Princess Amara, I should probably declare him King and save myself a lot of trouble."

  "You met Princess Yamina?" Gideon's smile dimmed.

  As she took another sip of wine, Ursula nodded. "She was in the throne room when I went to see Killian's body."

  "I'm sorry you had to go through that. Someone should have made sure she was confined to her apartment so you could have some privacy."

  She tilted her head. "How did you know what I went through? Did Damien tell you?"

  Now he scowled. "Damien was there?"

  "I think one of the guards heard her scream at me and sent for help."

  Veronica's voice rose above their conversation. "Prince Gideon, if you and the King's Widow could set aside your chat, we could get dinner started." The Grand Princess's lips tightened, and a vein throbbed in her neck.

  "I'm so sorry," Ursula said, making sure her expression was as friendly and calm as she could make it. "His Highness was doing what he could to make me feel at home. Sitting, as I am, so far from where my husband would be sitting, were he still alive, it's difficult to feel comfortable."

  "Why is that, Mother?" Damien asked from his place to Veronica's right. "Shouldn't my uncle's widow be seated closer to the head of the table?"

  "Are you suggesting that we remove your brother from his place so she can sit there?"

  "Actually, no, Mother. I was suggesting you give up your seat for her." Damien gave his mother the kind of charming grin that probably made serving girls and tavern wenches swoon. His mother, however, was not affected.

  "Don't be ridiculous, Damien." Veronica motioned to one of the footmen standing nearby. "I think we can start serving dinner."

  Throughout the first course, soup with a dark grainy bread, Josiah and his mother kept the conversation on light subjects such as how the weather was affecting the annual strawberry crop and which nobles were leaving the capital for the Winter Season.

  Gideon introduced Ursula to each of the family members, one at a time as the conversation allowed. Most of them were open and friendly to her but several were not happy about her presence.

  When the soup bowls were being removed, Harriet, Gideon's sister, spoke up. "Will you be attending the viewing tomorrow, Queen Ursula?"

  "Why would she do that?" the Grand Princess demanded. "She didn't know my brother."

  "But she is the Queen," Harriet said. "The public will be expecting her to be there."

  "The public doesn't know her any more than they know you. I don't think it would be appropriate for her to represent the family."

  "I am sitting right here," Ursula said. "If it is the responsibility of the King's Widow to represent the family at the public viewing, then I will be there."

  "You don't know what is required of a member of the royal family at a public viewing." Veronica waved to the footmen to continue serving dinner. "Don't bother yourself, Ursula. I'm sure you have better things to do than watch the commoners weep over a man you never knew."

  "What better things would I have to do?" Ursula asked, folding and refolding her napkin. "I have no office or duties so far, and you've made it clear that I'm not expected to do anything."

  "Yes, Aunt Veronica." Gideon leaned forward on his elbow, looking at that end of the table. "What do you think she'll be doing tomorrow while the rest of us are greeting the public?"

  Ursula blinked. "You're all going to be there?"

  "It is tradition," Princess Delthyn, Gideon's mother, said. "It's a sad duty, but we meet and mingle with the people who come to see the body. Most of them will never have another chance to actually talk to members of the royal family."

  Veronica took a sip of her wine and glanced at
Ursula.

  "All that aside, you won't be at the viewing."

  Ursula raised an eyebrow and tilted her head toward the Grand Princess. "This is a command? Now I'm being commanded by my husband's sister?"

  "Why can't she be there?" Josiah sighed and shook his head. "Is all this bickering necessary? I don't think she's going to undermine your position, Mother. The people know you were his hostess and sister. Surely, you'll get whatever due you think you should get."

  "What are you talking about?" The Grand Princess opened her eyes wide as she stared at her son. "This is not about my position or my needing the adulation of the people. This is about my brother and allowing his subjects to grieve his death."

  To anyone not familiar with Veronica, she would sound and look sincere, but even in the short time she'd been at the palace, Ursula could recognize the performance for the show it was.

  "Then maybe we could just finish dinner in peace." Josiah turned to Ursula. "Come to the viewing. Don't come. It doesn't matter." He waved to the butler. "Is there any more food?"

  King Killian had been adored by his subjects, judging by the number of people who trudged through the Throne Room, dressed in gray and blue, with their heads bowed.

  Josiah and Damien stood on the two corners of the platform that held the casket, facing the people. Each Prince held a sword in front of his face, in a salute.

  The King's Throne sat behind the casket, empty but for a scratched helmet and a large battle ax. A wreath of blue and gray flowers covered the high back of seat, with a sash that read, "His Majesty Killian Declan Fox Weston, First to Claim the Name. May the Elements be Kind."

  Grudgingly, Veronica had conceded the smaller throne next to the King's to Ursula, but not without making it clear to the King's Widow she would never occupy this chair again.

  "You will never truly be Queen of Heyton," the Grand Princess had said as the family processed into the Throne Room before the Palace doors were opened.

  "I understand that," Ursula replied with a smile. "You will never be Queen of Heyton either, my dear."

  Veronica had raised her hand as though she wanted to slap Ursula, but Josiah had grabbed her wrist. "Mother, enough. Can we please show my people a united family on this day of mourning?"

  The Grand Princess had acquiesced, saying, "For you, my son."

  Gideon, who stood nearby, offered Ursula his arm. "You're the King's Widow," he said. "It would not do for you to enter the Throne Room alone today. You must appear to be in mourning. The people need to believe that the King married you out of great love if they are to accept you."

  She nodded, took out a small square of white batiste fabric trimmed in blue and gray lace, and held it to her mouth. "It isn't much of an act," she whispered as they processed into the room. "I am sorry I never got to meet him."

  "He would have fallen in love with you," Gideon said. "Hold on to that in the coming days."

  She thought about those words as she watched scores of people shuffle past Killian's body, some getting close enough to touch the glass, others staying back from the platform. Many who got close laid flowers or other small objects on the top of the casket or on the floor nearby.

  Every now and then, one of the mourners would step out of line to approach Josiah or Veronica, who sat in matching thrones about fifteen paces to the right of Killian.

  Veronica's face softened as she murmured to these people, sometimes touching their hands or allowing them to embrace her. At times, tears welled up in her eyes, but she continued to interact with the commoners.

  "She does care about them, doesn't she?" Ursula murmured.

  Madame Belinda had a small stool behind and to the right of Ursula's throne, and she replied, "They love her as well, Your Majesty. Many of the commoners believe Queen Verity should have fought harder to have the law changed."

  Ursula nodded, still watching Veronica as she held a little girl on her lap. As she stroked the small child's dark brown hair, the Grand Princess spoke to the older man with the child. Ursula couldn't hear the conversation but it seemed to be a serious one.

  After a moment, the man took the little girl off Veronica's lap, and they walked away.

  Ursula turned her attention back to the people still creeping past Killian's body. Would Veronica have been a good Queen? What would Ursula's own life be like if she'd come here in that situation? Would she have gotten a more cordial welcome or would Veronica still resent her?

  A commotion in the corner of the room caught Ursula's attention. The mourners became aware of it, as well. The procession past the casket stopped as everyone turned.

  "I will see him," a shrill female voice cut through the remaining murmurs and the crowd in that area parted to reveal Princess Yamina, dressed in what had to be her country's most formal royal garments. A floor length red dress covered in sparkling crystals was molded to her body, showing off her figure. Her arms were bare except for bracelets in every color imaginable that went from her wrists to her elbows. Similarly, her neck was wrapped in a stack of close fitting bands that seemed to hold up her head.

  Her black hair was piled on her head in soft looking curls that nested inside a golden crown so large Ursula wondered how she could carry the weight. Huge gemstones in reds, blues, and greens decorated the crown and accented the front point that had to be as tall as the length of a person's hand.

  As she walked through the crowd, some people threw the flowers they were carrying, presumably to place on Killian's casket, at her feet and others spit on the ground. Yamina didn't seem to notice any of this as she kept her eyes on Ursula's face.

  Madame Belinda stood. "Your Majesty, you should probably think about leaving the throne room now. The Princess is not above making an embarrassing scene."

  "I'm not afraid of her."

  "Perhaps you should be."

  Ursula hadn't seen Veronica coming her way, but now the Grand Princess stood beside her. "Yamina had a better claim to that seat you're in than you do."

  "Had," Ursula said. "Killian didn't marry her. He married me. Perhaps it's time you and Yamina accepted that."

  She didn't realize she'd raised her voice until she saw the smirk on Veronica's face. The throne room grew silent except for the sound of Yamina's bare feet moving across the marble floor.

  "I am rightful Queen of Heyton," the other woman said, her voice sounding breathless and high. "Killian loved me, not this stranger. She is unwelcome here. Show her how we feel."

  At first, nothing happened. The crowd stared at Yamina, then their faces turned to Ursula.

  "She's from Valborough," some male voice called. "Her father killed our people, slaughtered babies. She shouldn't be standing in the place of our beloved Queen Charlotte."

  Cries and jeers exploded all around her, and even Veronica paled at the abuse and vitriol coming from the people. Yamina continued walking toward the throne, showing no sign that she heard the ruckus.

  "You're finished here," the Princess said when she came within a few steps of Ursula.

  Soldiers had rushed into the room and were struggling to hold the crowd back from the casket and the throne.

  "Let's get you out of here." Josiah grabbed her arm. "I don't know if we can keep them back."

  "What do they want?" Ursula allowed him to take her to a side door, but not before Yamina grabbed her other arm.

  "They want you dead for all the horrors your father inflicted on the people of Clearlea and all of Heyton." Yamina cackled as Damien tore her hand from Ursula's wrist.

  The room became an inferno as the walls seemed to close in around her. She felt Josiah's hand on her elbow, guiding her, but she couldn't see his face nor where he was taking her. People swarmed around them, screaming hatred.

  Suddenly, a rush of cold air hit her in the face, and she stumbled as tremors wracked her body. Why were they outside and why was it so dark?

  Her feet wouldn't work, and the two Princes had to drag her through the snow.

  Snow? Why was there snow
? When had the sun become so bright? She squinted but still couldn't see.

  Then the pain.

  Something dug into her bones and tried to tear her body apart. She screamed, or thought she did, but all she heard was waterfalls and wind.

  "Almost there," someone said from so far away she could barely make out the words.

  "She's been poisoned."

  No. That couldn't be right. Who were they talking about? She was just tired.

  The trip to George Evan's home had been a long one, and she needed to sleep. She'd be fine in the morning.

  Ursula struggled to open her eyes and tell the maids striping off her dress that she needed to sleep but no part of her responded.

  Then a wave of peace washed over her. She was in a bed at the Selwyn estate. She was going to be fine.

  Everything was going to be just as it should be.

  A man's voice cut into her thoughts. "She's dead."

  Chapter 22

  Strawberries.

  Ursula could smell strawberries.

  The aroma made her mouth water and filled her mind with springtime and warm afternoons sitting on the back veranda watching her children play with Mariana's children. George Evan would bring her a cool glass of lemonade and stroke her hair. He always said in the sunshine it was like spun gold.

  Where was he?

  He'd just handed her the drink but when she looked at him, he was gone. The veranda had changed, too.

  Now there was a glass casket where the table had been and a woman dressed in red was pulling flowers out of the vases and arranging them on top of the box.

  "You should have gone back," she said, handing Ursula a flower which changed into a strawberry.

  Killian lay in the casket. He opened his eyes and turned his head so he was looking at her. "Find my heir."

  She could hear his voice clearly, but his words made no sense. "Josiah is here."

  "She's here. She says her son lives."