The retired Duke folded his arms, his expression cross. “Perry is a good man. There is no better character amongst my sons than his. But that isn’t what will make him a good Duke.” Cornelius pointed his finger, hovering it inches away from her face. “He has a secret weapon, Jacqueline. You.”
Her forehead wrinkled. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, if I want to make sure my duchy and my people survive, I need it placed in your care,” Cornelius began. “You are the one I’m really entrusting my legacy to, Jacqueline. Perry may be the sovereign in ceremony, but you and I both knew the minute I said his name you would really be leading the way. That boy will do anything you ask of him. He’s in so over his head, he’s barely treading water.”
Jax’s eyes narrowed. “How can you talk about your son like that? It will break his heart to learn you don’t have faith in him.”
Cornelius scoffed. “Well, I certainly don’t plan on telling him.”
“I can’t keep this from him!”
“You’re a smart girl, Jacqueline. It would be wise for you to keep this all between you and me.” His gaze darkened, as if in veiled threat.
“Why tell me this, then?” A pit forged in her stomach. “Why not let me believe you wanted Perry for this job?”
“Because I need you to promise me you will protect Pettraud in the months ahead,” Cornelius demanded, his jovial demeanor long gone. “Since I can no longer assure that myself at the War Council, I need your word that you will protect Pettraud with the same fierceness you defend Saphire. Perry cannot do this without you. He’ll be eaten alive by Savant and Beautraud. You have to protect my son and my duchy.”
The desperation in his words forced her to overlook his unhinged attitude. Perhaps the nightworm still lingered in his system, but regardless, she knew if she were ever in the same position as he, she’d want the peace of mind knowing her people would be looked after.
“With the Virtues as my binding witnesses, I pledge to protect Pettraud and your son with every fiber of my being.”
Cornelius took her hands in his and kissed them reverently. “Thank you, Duchess.”
‡
Jax shook the memory of the heated encounter from her head, her eyes focusing on a bewildered Perry.
“Lost in thought?” he said with a grin. “Was I boring you?” He kissed the side of her neck, a spasm of heat shooting down to her legs.
She forced a light giggle, closing the door on Cornelius’s desperate plea. As much as she hated keeping such a monumental secret from Perry, she feared what the truth would do to her husband. “I was just thinking how much I am going to miss you. I don’t think I’ve ever been so sad to return home.”
“Your envoy won’t be here for another few days. We have some time to enjoy this corner of the world.”
A weak smile played with her lips. “With your new title, I’m afraid there won’t be much time to sit back and enjoy each other’s company, my love. We have much to sort out in the coming days.”
He gathered her in his arms, pressing his chest against her back as they looked out once more across the endless expanse of starry lake. “Then let us enjoy this moment of bliss.”
She did not respond, her thoughts already racing through her list of piling troubles. She wished they were all politically driven; she could navigate that arena. She could address Sir Olavo and his ramblings about Tandora’s looming vengeance. She could prepare Perry to stand by her side, primed for the War Council. She wasn’t so confident that she could forget the stinging sight of Sabine running to George for comfort upon learning of Philippe’s death. Just how deep was their growing connection? What secrets had her trusted Captain of the Ducal Guard shared with a relative stranger, and not her? Why did she care?
Jax tilted her head back, staring at her husband’s profile as he took in the celestial expanse swirling overheard. We survived this storm. We can weather whatever comes next.
The twinkling stars laughed at her.
Murder is a royal affair.
Look for more Court of Mystery novels, coming 2019.
The Ducal Detective Mysteries:
The Ducal Detective
A Feast Most Foul
A Voyage of Vengeance
A Summit in Shadow
Throne of Threats
Court of Mystery series:
Paradise Plagued
Burdened Bloodline
Sovereign Sieged
Crown of Chaos
www.saraheburr.com
Connect with Ms. Burr on Instagram (@authorsaraheburr) or Twitter (SarahEBurr).
Note from the Author
I hope you have enjoyed Jax’s adventure in Pettraud, dear reader. It was certainly a pleasure to write it for you. The Duchess’s troubles are far from over, and I look forward to sharing the next installment in the Court of Mystery saga in Spring 2019.
If you have a moment to leave a review for Burdened Bloodline, you can share your thoughts with other readers here.
As always, I would love to hear from you, so please don’t hesitate to reach out via my Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter pages.
Acknowledgements
A special thank you to my editor, Bettye Underwood. With every manuscript, her feedback and comments help me become a stronger writer. Just as Jax continues to evolve as a leader, I continue to develop as a writer.
Mihail Uvarov did an amazing job on the cover of Burdened Bloodline, and I thank him for his continued collaboration on this series.
Fond thanks to two special readers: Eric Bennett, for coming up with the name Cornelius (I was getting quite tired of typing ‘Duke Pettraud’ over and over) and to Rachel Bennett, for reporting this burst of genius to me.
As always, I have enormous appreciation for George Gennis and Evan Grant for being my sounding boards, especially when they spend precious brainwaves helping me with ideas only to have me go off in a completely different direction.
Dedications
For Ashley
Burdened Bloodline Page 24