“But she may not be. I can only pray Tobiah resists her, but if he changes at all—if the stress of what he’s been through begins to affect his duties as a king—please know that I want only what is best for the Indigo Kingdom. That, above all, is my priority, as I’m sure it is yours as well.”
He was telling her to spy for him. To keep watch over Tobiah’s activities and report to him. He’d already planted the seeds of doubt in her mind, though they must have been there already. She knew what I was. What I’d done. But still she’d made overtures of friendship. She’d shown me support and kindness in spite of the way I’d hurt her best friend.
Meredith had trusted Tobiah all these months, and he had betrayed her. In the breezeway. With me. He was honorable, but he wasn’t infallible.
We’d both betrayed her.
“The Indigo Kingdom is in a state of flux,” added Prince Colin. “I worry constantly for my nephew’s life, and his ability to rule the kingdom when those to whom he gives his trust are not trustworthy. I pray that he recovers from all of these traumatic events and proves himself a strong sovereign.”
“Crown Prince Tobiah is strong.”
“I agree. As proven by his swift recovery.” He paused. “And now it’s being said the injury wasn’t as great as we first thought, but saints, I saw the wound myself. It’s a miracle he lived. Truly a miracle.”
Meredith regarded him with a steady gaze.
“Though I certainly want my nephew to be king, more than anything else in this world, I hope no one else questions this miracle. Or . . . whatever it might have been. The law is clear, though. About magic. If someone were to contest his ascension to the throne—”
“Who would do that?” Meredith lifted her chin.
“No one, I’m sure. But I am so aware that I am next in the line of succession. When Tobiah becomes king this evening, I will become the crown prince. Heir to the throne.”
The duchess remained motionless, but it was a different kind of stillness, now. One filled with doubt and contemplation and unease. For a thundering heartbeat, I wondered if she’d give in and accept his not-so-subtle threats.
She could spy for him and be cared for when Colin made some kind of move against Tobiah.
Or she could go down with him.
Instead, she simply curtsied and said, “Excuse me, Your Highness. I must prepare for my fiancé’s coronation.”
“Of course. I’m sorry to have detained you. Please remember what we’ve discussed.”
“I don’t see how I could forget.” Before he could reply, Meredith turned and vanished from my sight. A door slammed, and Prince Colin glared after her for a breath. But then he clasped his hands behind his back, making a small noise of satisfaction.
Only after he went inside did I allow myself to move. My limbs groaned in protest, having stiffened from the cold. Theresa used the rail to help herself up. “I—”
The balcony door opened and Connor peeked out. “Wil? Rees?”
Theresa and I scrambled to our feet, the wool blanket falling to the balcony floor. Streaks of dirt smeared across the fronts of our dresses, and a few drops of rain dotted our faces.
“Oh.” His eyes widened. “What were you doing on the ground?”
“Eavesdropping. And it’s very rude, so you shouldn’t ever do it.” I bent to seize the fallen blanket. “Get ready for the coronation, Connor. We have to prepare as well.”
We waved to the boys on our way out.
Sergeant Ferris waited in the hall, as always. The pair of guards looking over the Ospreys stood with him. “Back to your quarters, Your Highness?”
“Yes. And I need Captain Rayner to meet us there.”
“I’m afraid he’s very busy today.”
I pulled myself tall and regal, like Meredith in the courtyard. “Send for him, Sergeant.”
Ferris’s gaze was long and steady, but at last he nodded to one of the other guards. “You. Fetch the captain to Her Highness’s sitting room. Be quick.”
James was already there when we returned, clad in his finest Indigo Order uniform. His sword hung at his side and he perched on the arm of the sofa, gloved hands on his knees.
“Pretty dress.” He inclined his head toward tonight’s gown hanging from a peg.
“Thank you.” The gown was a glorious creation of lavender silk and wool, with flowers and vines embroidered across the shoulders and down the sleeves. A thick sash of white crossed the ribs, and the front split revealed a layer of cream fabric. “I didn’t ask you here to discuss ladies’ fashion.”
“Maybe next time. You have so many more options and I admit I’m jealous.” He grinned and picked invisible lint off his sleeve. “How can I help you, Wil?”
“Prince Colin wants to keep Tobiah from becoming king.”
Every muscle in him tensed, and his eyes grew hard. “Start from the beginning. Tell me everything.”
With Theresa’s help, I recounted the conversation between Prince Colin and Meredith, even the accusations against me.
James’s expression grew darker as I finished the story. “But he didn’t say when he was going to do anything?”