Joy flared bright in Seraphina’s heart as she shouted back without thinking, “And the Lord bless you!”
At her side, Duke Percival flinched and shot her a curious glance.But she didn’t care. She didn’t care that crying out like a hawker in the marketplace wasn’t exactly the queenly thing to do. She didn’t care that she was expected to wave in magnanimous acknowledgment to the crowd. Duchess Edith had encouraged her to enjoy the moment, after all.
And so she would.
At least she could capture a little happiness for herself before she finished her long march up the steps to the cathedral and straight into the arms of that…Crowwho had dared to make such a fuss about the unfounded rumors concerning her and Lord Tiberius while he himself kept another woman. In the woods. Within riding distance ofherpalace.
No. She would not think of him. She would not let him ruin this.
Another shout rang out from the crowd. A different voice this time: “The Lord save the queen!”
“And the Lord save you!” she called back without hesitation.
A true smile broke across her visage as the people standing closest to the cathedral steps met her proclamation with a round of applause.
She would not let Aldric Hargrave—oranyone—steal this from her. If he wanted to be a hypocrite, that was on his conscience. If he wanted to be a man just like his father, unfaithful and heartless to the very end, that washisprerogative.
She could find her peace in such circumstances.
Shewouldfind her peace.
It was right here, with her people. Reminding them that she loved them. That she prayed for them. That she wanted only the best for them, no matter how they might feel about her.
That she would fight tooth and claw to keep them safe.
Chapter eleven
Aldric
The muted roar of raised voices echoed just beyond the closed cathedral doors—words he couldn’t quite make out from his place standing before the altar with Father Perero, waiting for his unwilling bride to finally make an appearance.
Aldric tensed at the sound, his fingers twitching toward the dagger he wore on his left wrist, hidden beneath his sleeve.
He was tired already. Tired of his body aching from standing still for too long. Tired of his left thigh throbbing. Tired of the sweat pooling uncomfortably beneath the heavy layers of his wedding attire. Tired of being gawked at by the nobles and other well-to-dos tightly packed into the pews like slabs of salted fish, eager to see their queen marry a little monster like him.
A part of him almost relished the idea that a riot might be brewing outside already. A riot meant purpose. Action. At least it would give him something to do.
He looked to his Sons Eisway and Tayn, where they were seated near the doors, doing their best to blend in and failing miserably. When they both shook their heads to signal nothing was amiss, he heaved out a quiet sigh.
The double doors of the cathedral abruptly exploded inward, flooding the cavernous space with golden light and the swell of voices from the crowd as they called out to his kirei.
“The Lord save the queen!”
“The Lord bless you, Your Majesty!”
“Long live the queen!”
Aldric squinted, unable to make out anything at all beyond two silhouettes standing there in the cathedral’s entrance. The bright light spilled around the pair, wreathing them like a halo.
Off to his right, a trumpet blared, calling the room to attention. Hundreds of bodies shifted to their feet as one, eyes finally turning away from him in favor of staring at the door.
Ather. The vision in blue and gold.
As she finally stepped out of the light and floated toward him, he didn’t know where to look first. At the rich gleam of her chestnut hair? The rosy flush painting her cheeks? The brilliant smile curving her lips?
Radiant. She was radiant—so beautiful it almost hurt him to look at her.
The most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
