HEARING THE TERROR in his daughter’s voice, Marcus returned as quickly as possible to her bedroom.
“What is it?” he asked and then froze when he noticed the blood on her nightgown.
“Am I dying?” she asked in a shaky voice.
“No,” he said firmly, unwilling to let his mind go there. He didn’t know what was happening to Mariselle, but refused to lose her. He’d lost too much as it was. “I’m sure there a logical explanation. We’ll send for Abigail. The midwife.”
“SHE APPEARS TO be having her monthly,” Abigail said, after examining Mariselle in private.
Marcus was stunned. From what he’d heard, all female cycles had stopped since Angelique last waved her wand, cursing the entire nation. Nor could any of them bear children. As for the women across the sea, upon visiting their menses ceased the moment they stepped onto Syracuse soil. Even queen Georgina, Griffin’s surly wife, hadn’t been able to produce an heir for the king.
“But, how can it be?” he asked, wondering what was happening. Of all the maidens in the land, why was Mariselle cycling?
“Maybe the curse has been lifted?” she replied, looking hopeful.
That had to be it. “Let’s hope that’s the case.” He frowned. “Are you sure it’s nothing else?”
She shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. She doesn’t have a fever and looks healthy enough. If it really is her menses, it will go away in a few days and return next month around the same time. Then you’ll know for sure.”
“Okay.” He leaned on his cane. “Erm… Abigail… could you keep this just between us? I don’t know what’s happening here, but if she is having her cycle, and nobody else is, that might bring us all kinds of trouble. You know what I mean?”
“True, it very well could,” she said, a thoughtful look on her face. “Don’t worry, Marcus. I won’t tell a soul. I delivered young Mariselle and only want the best for her. You can absolutely trust me.”
“I figured I could.”
She leaned closer to him. “A free word of advice, however?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“You must know that if it’s her menses, and she’s the only fertile woman in the land,” Abigail whispered, “she would be invaluable. Especially to King Griffin.”
Marcus’s eyes widened.
Abigail patted him on the arm. “Whatever the case may be, keep a close eye on her, Marcus.”
“I will.”
AFTER A FEW days, the bleeding lessened and eventually stopped. Mariselle told her father the good news.
“If it happens again, let me know,” he replied. “And whatever you do, don’t go telling anyone else about this.”
“I wouldn’t,” she replied, horrified of the idea. It was embarrassing enough admitting such things to her father.
Sure enough, the following month, Mariselle started bleeding again. When she Marcus, this time instead of looking worried, he appeared jovial about the news.
“Mariselle, do you know what this means?” he said, grabbing her hands, his eyes glittering.
“That I might be able to conceive?” she replied, not stupid. She’d overheard the conversation he’d had with the midwife the month before.
“Yes. It also means that your future is set, my dear.” He hugged her and then stepped back. “Now, put on something pretty. We’re going to visit King Griffin.”
Her heart did a little flip flop. The last time she’d seen the king was at his wedding. Although neither had spoken to each other, she’d caught him watching her more than once.
“Wait a second, why are we going to see the king?” Mariselle asked her father.
He smiled. “To tell him the news about your monthly, of course.”
Her eyes widened in horror. “What? No. You can’t.”
“He needs to know. Now, do what I say and change.”
23
GRIFFIN WAS IN the stables, getting ready to leave for North Haven when he was told that Marcus and Mariselle Langer had arrived and needed to speak with him urgently. Surprised, he told the steward to send word that he’d meet them in the courtyard.
“Griffin!”
Hearing Georgina’s voice, he groaned inwardly.
Forcing a smile to his face, he turned to face a woman he couldn’t stand to be around. Not that she wasn’t easy on the eyes. In fact, the queen was lovely and he’d been more than relieved, especially after his father had notified him of their engagement. But, she was a chronic complainer, turned her nose up at everything, and was impossible to please. Even his sister didn’t get along with the woman and Eva was the most patient and accepting person he knew.
“Where are you going?” Georgina asked, staring at him with suspicion.
For the last few weeks, she’d been acting very resentful and even jealous, for no good reason. At one point, she asked Griffin if he was bedding another. He’d told her that he wasn’t, although his wife was frigid and didn’t particularly seem to like sex, claiming it was “messy”. He could count the number of times on his hand that she’d performed her ‘wifely’ duties since her arrival in Syracuse.
“I’m off to visit Aiden.”
Her lips pursed together. “Really? Were you going to tell me? Or was I supposed to figure it out after not seeing you for several days?”
“I told you at dinner last night,” he replied, trying not to lose his cool.
She stared at him for a moment and then sighed. “You may have mentioned that you were leaving, but you didn’t tell me that it would be today.”
“What part of ‘I’m leaving for North Haven in the afternoon’ did you not understand?”
Georgina scowled at him. “That’s not what you said.”
“Yes, Georgina, it is exactly what I said. Look, I’m sorry if you didn’t hear me correctly. I’ll try and make myself more clear next time.”
She huffed. “Are you making fun of me?”
“No. Of course not,” he replied, his patience wearing thin. Every conversation seemed to end up in an argument, which was another reason he avoided her as much as he could.
“When will you be back?”
He told her he wasn’t sure and then excused himself. “I’m meeting with the sheriff in the courtyard, if you’d like to join me you may.”
She wrinkled her nose. “No. I’m getting fitted for a new dress in a few minutes. I just wanted to catch you before you left.”
“Okay.” He stared at her for a minute and thought about kissing her, since it would be the right thing to do, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. Knowing her, she’d flinch anyway. “Well, pick out something nice for yourself,” he said before walking away.
“I will.”
He looked back over his shoulder. “Good. You deserve it.”
With a loud “harrumph”, she headed in the opposite direction.
When Griffin reached the courtyard, he noticed Mariselle first, her beauty jarring him just like last time. He knew she’d grow up to be pretty, but nothing like the vision standing before him.
“Marcus, Mariselle, what a nice surprise,” he said, meaning it.
“Good afternoon, Your Majesty,” Marcus said. “I hope we’re not catching you at a bad time?”
“No. I was just getting ready to visit Aiden. I heard that you had some important news to share,” he replied.
“We do, actually,” Marcus said, lowering his voice. “Might I have a word with you alone?”
His eyes widened. What was this about? “Of course.”
Marcus looked at his daughter. “We’ll just be a minute. Why don’t you go and sit down on the bench over there?” he said, motioning toward the one by the flower garden.
“Yes, Father,” she replied and then walked over to it.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Marcus said, turning to him.
“Yes,” he admitted. “I imagine she has many suitors?”
He chuckled. “Yes, indeed. She’s already had a couple of proposals too, but those aren’t going to work out.”
Griffin looked at him curiously. “She’s not interested?”