“Good. You may leave, then.” He turned back to Esther and gave her an encouraging smile. “They will take care of it. Thank you.”
“Of course.” How could he handle it so calmly? She still shook, and her dinner felt uncertain in her stomach. This was an aspect of marriage to the king she had not
considered—that he garnered enemies that plotted against him, that at any moment he could be killed.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
Xerxes slid an arm around her. “It will be well, Esther. Do not let it upset you so.”
Shaking her head, she prayed the sob would stay in her throat where it belonged. “I am sorry. I have lost so many people who mattered to me . . .”
He hummed and rubbed a hand up her arm. “I understand the fear. I was trying to ignore my own version when you came in. Did Kasia tell you?”
She blinked away the tears. “Tell me what?”
“She is with child again.” With a sigh, Xerxes pinched the bridge of his nose. “I told her I was overjoyed, and I am—but she nearly died giving birth to Zillah. What if
. . . ?”
Her throat tightened. Kasia had not told her of any difficulties with Zillah, and she had not yet shared her news about another babe—she would have wanted to inform Xerxes
first, and she had left dinner early, saying she felt ill.
Which made sense now.
She could not lose Kasia. Jehovah had protected her through every travail thus far. Just as he had put Mordecai in place to overhear this plot. Her God would protect them.
And if he chose not to, then he would sustain her.
Panic still gnawed, but she forced it back, forced her mind to dwell on the provisions of the Lord. Her husband was safe. Her cousin would probably be rewarded. Her best
friend would be in a state of bliss over her growing family.
Her hand was steady when she rested it on Xerxes’ knee. “She will be well. Her God will watch over her.”
“I know.” He smiled, but the worry still lurked in his eyes. Not over the would-be assassins, she knew. Only for Kasia. “Still, I will fret. It is my prerogative.”
She laughed and stood. “I cannot argue with that.”
He stood too, grinning. “I will get back to my distractions. They will not work, but I have begun them now and ought to finish.”
Had she been Kasia, he would have invited her to stay, would have put the scrolls aside. He did not, and she did not mind. She was content with the warm embrace he gave her,
with the gentle kiss. She was content with the affection in his eyes as he sent her on her way.
She would not want any more—she would not have been able to return it. But this was a fine arrangement.
“Esther?”
She paused in the threshold and looked over her shoulder.
He sat at his table again. “When we arrive in Persepolis, Amestris will relinquish Artaxerxes to me. I would like you to take charge of him.”
Yes, she was content with what she had. His regard, his trust. She smiled. “I would be honored, my husband.”
“I thought you would be.” His grin faded as his gaze fell to his work.
She left him to it and continued down the hallway. The evening air soothed her as she spotted Kasia on the stairs.
Her friend’s brow creased upon spotting her. “Is everything all right? I heard you rush out.”
“Mordecai overheard an assassination plot. I had to let him know.”
Fear flashed across Kasia’s face but subsided quickly. “Praise Jehovah Mordecai was there to hear it.”
“Yes.” They met at the top of the steps. “Are you feeling any better?”
“Much. It is nothing to worry about. In fact . . .”
“I know, he told me.” Esther rested her hand on Kasia’s arm. “Kasia, why did you not tell me you nearly died with Zillah?”
Kasia sighed, but her expression held a tease. “So you could worry too?”
Esther grinned. “It is my prerogative. You are my dearest friend.” When that dearest friend glanced toward the palace, Esther nodded. “He is worried about you.”
“I knew he would be. But Jehovah will take care of me.”
“As I told him.” She leaned over, kissed her sister’s cheek. “But you must take care of yourself, too. We would all be lost without you.”
The gleam in Kasia’s eye was more than contentment, more than satisfaction with her place. “I have no intentions of leaving, so rest assured I will take care of myself.”
She glanced toward the palace again. “I will check on him.”
“Good idea.” Esther would go back to her elegant rooms, where she had the luxury of praying with no prying eyes to discover her. She would lift up Kasia and Xerxes both to
Jehovah until the last of the fear released her.
She had a feeling she would not get much sleep tonight.
*
Persepolis, Persia