The Unlikely Queens

8

I spend Tuesday and Wednesday morning with Charles, which makes my parents overjoyed. We walk and sit in mother's garden behind the house. Charles is good company. He always has something to discuss and speaks about his family with so much love and respect. I learn about his three younger siblings--two sisters and a brother--and how his parents met at court and fell in love when they were just fifteen years old. 

As nice as he is, I am relieved that today, Thursday, I will not see him. He told me yesterday that he will be too busy to visit as he is preparing to return to court on Sunday and he has much to do. He promised to say goodbye before left. I spend the morning at Adelaide's house with her, Rosalind, and Cecily having breakfast. 

"So you are not courting the Duke's son?" Adelaide asks after I tell them the news. 

"No. We are just friends." I take a bite of a croissant. 

"Oh, Dahlia," Rosalind laughs. "You are so naive."

"Excuse me?" I bark, turning toward her. 

The smile drops from her face when she sees the anger pinching my face. Rosalind clears her throat and focuses her eyes back on her plate. 

"I'm sorry, I did not mean it that way. I just meant that the son of a senior noble like Brunsdon would not be just friends with a young, unmarried woman." 

I sigh, my shoulders sagging, "I know you are right. Forgive me, Rosalind. I am anxious about the entire situation."

She briefly squeezes my hand and I smile at her as Adelaide and Cecily gasp theatrically. 

"How could you be anxious? This is so exciting! If you married Lord Charles, you would be the highest ranking noblewoman in Parandor!" Cecily exclaims. 

Adelaide nods her agreement, "You would live at court and have an automatic position as one of Queen Charlene's ladies in waiting. We could be there together, Dahlia. Mother told me this morning that I will a maid to Her Majesty when she returns to court next month."

I can only nod and give a weak smile. 

"Why do you look so unhappy? Is Lord Charles unkind?" Rosalind asks gently.

"No, he is perfectly nice and respectful. He is a true gentleman."

"Then what is the problem?" Adelaide all but snaps at me, staring at me hard as she tears a pastry in half. 

"Nothing, I suppose." I force myself to smile. "Being such an important person scares me, but I know Lord Charles will make me happy."

"I think so too." Cecily says warmly.

I squeeze her hand across the table to silently give her my thanks. Adelaide rips little pieces from her pastry angrily, eyeing me suspiciously as I sip my tea and pretend not to notice. 

~

The backdoor is already open when one of the Earl of Iritor's carriages brings me home. I thank the driver and cross my mother's garden inside. I close the door and walk through the kitchen with a smile on my face, thinking about the letter I have for Mohtali today. I stop in the doorway separating it from the foyer. My pounds so loud in my ears I can barely hear the voices in the front room. I can see from here that the double doors are closed, which only ever happens when Father is having an important meeting. 

The voices are muffled behind the door, but I know who is here. 

"...a courtship." Charles is saying. 

My leg tremble and my knees buckle underneath me. I hold onto the doorway for support. This cannot be happening. I pull at the hair on my shoulders in distress and struggle to catch my breath. I begin to hyperventilate and pace in a circle, clueless as to what to do.