What she didn’t say aloud was thatherloss had been immense. The one man who had not only believed she could do anything she set her mind to, but that she should. That shewouldsucceed, come what may.
She stroked the epaulet. “He gave this to me for two reasons. First, to promise me that he would make it back. When the war ended, Father was going to sponsor me before the king.
“Princess Mechtilda has requested my inclusion in the training squadron many times, but her wishes alone are not enough to sway the king. Even the express desire of a royal princess must first be corroborated by the opinions of a man.”
“Your father agreed you would make a superb guard, but chose to wait to give his approval?”
“He wanted me tobea guard. Not a frontline soldier against Napoleon. He feared I would face…exactly what happened to him.” Kunigunde’s fingers worried the epaulet. “He might have been right.”
“But once the war was over, with his support, you would have been allowed to compete with the other aspiring guardsmen.”
“Father had no doubt I would succeed. After all, I was hand-selected by Princess Mechtilda herself. What better post could there be? We were to celebrate together when I won the right to train alongside future guardsmen.” But it hadn’t happened. She’d lost her chanceandher father, all at once.
“I’m so sorry. For everything.” Graham wished he could fold her into his embrace. “You said he gave you the epaulet for two reasons. What was the other reason?”
She stared down at the epaulet. “To let me know that he carried me always in his heart.” Her voice broke. “I have carried it next to mine ever since.”
Quickly, she slipped it back inside her bodice and swiped at her cheeks. “I should go. I…”
Graham rose to his feet and reached for her. Slowly. Gently. So that she knew taking refuge in his arms was something she could do if she wished, but that his embrace would not be forced upon her.
She held herself still for a moment, then fell against his chest.
He held her tight for as long as he could. When she broke away, her cheeks were dry again, her composure restored.
She gave his lips a quick kiss. Just long enough to convey that he hadn’t ruined everything completely.
He felt the relief all the way to his bones.
You are already important and capable, he wanted to say.You don’t have to prove it.
But of course it wasn’t as simple as that. Shewouldhave to prove it, if she wished to have any hope of being accepted into a man’s world as a woman—and as an equal.
She turned away.
“Wait.” He frowned and reached for her hand. Parliament had barely begun and would not finish for several more hours. Chloe had said not to expect them until midnight. “What are you doing home so early? Was the attic too much to bear?”
Kuni gripped his hand tight. “Those malodorous powder-melons…”
“The…what?”
“It didn’t work. Not the petition, not all of the carefully constructed arguments…In the end, they threw the topic out because it hadn’t been brought by the affected parties.”
A strangled sound erupted from Graham’s throat. “What poppycock! That isn’t a rule. They just don’t give two flying figs about—”
“I know. Chloe knows. She went home to think, and said she’ll be over tomorrow.”
He rubbed his temples. “The laborers were talking of organizing a protest, but that must remain a last resort. If Mr. Throckmorten punishes his employees for daring to beg fewer hours for small children, he certainly will not forgive a transgression like that. A man with that much power in his small community can wreak worse vengeance than merely rescinding employment.”
“We cannot let down Mr. and Mrs. Goodnight. Or their pregnant daughter-in-law, Adella. Or their little grandson, Victor. Or the new baby…”
“All is not lost. There is always another option,” he said firmly. Kunigunde had never experienced poverty, but Graham and his siblings remembered exactly what it was like to be poor, and helpless, and out of hope. “A Wynchester makes no plan without a contingency.”
The corner of Kunigunde’s mouth lifted. “Fight dirty?”
“Absolutely.” They could not fail the Goodnights, and the hundreds of families just like them. “I’ll call a family meeting for tomorrow. You…can carry on withyourplans. Royal Guard, no contingencies. You have important matters to attend to. We shan’t bother you.”
“No,” she blurted out. “That is…I want to do my part. If you’ll let me.”
