“
Jude never loved Locke.” My face feels hot, but my shame
is an excellent cover to hide behind. “She loved someone else.
He’s the one she’d want dead.”
I am pleased to see Cardan flinch. “Enough,” he says before
I can go on. “I have heard all I care to on this subject—”
“No!” Nicasia interrupts, causing everyone under the hill to
stir a little. It is immense presumption to interrupt the High
King. Even for a princess. Especially for an ambassador. A
moment after she speaks, she seems to realize it, but she goes
on anyway. “Taryn could have a charm on her, something that
makes her resistant to glamours.”
Cardan gives Nicasia a scathing look. He does not like her
undermining his authority. And yet, after a moment, his anger
gives way to something else. He gives me one of his most
awful smiles. “I suppose she’ll have to be searched.”
Nicasia’s mouth curves to match his. It feels like being back
at lessons on the palace grounds, conspired against by the
children of the Gentry.
I recall the more recent humiliation of being crowned the
Queen of Mirth, stripped in front of revelers. If they take my
gown now, they will see the bandages on my arms, the fresh
slashes on my skin for which I have no good explanation.
They will guess I am not Taryn.
I can’t let that happen. I summon all the dignity I can
muster, trying to imitate my stepmother, Oriana, and the way
she projects authority. “My husband was murdered,” I say.
“And whether or not you believe me, I do mourn him. I will
not make a spectacle of myself for the Court’s amusement
when his body is barely cold.”
Unfortunately, the High King’s smile only grows. “As you
wish. Then I suppose I will have to examine you alone in my
chambers.
”
”