Genova looked at her meaningless ring. She told herself that she didn’t want Ash to marry her only because a rapid wedding would suit. Anyway, Damaris Myddleton would snap him up.
“It is time I married,” Ash said, “though I doubt anything will convince the king that I’m a saint.”
“He’s pragmatic enough to realize that if he surrounds himself only with saints he will wander empty rooms, and lack some excellent advisers. His Majesty does persist, however, in believing that marriage can save a sinner. Have you read my mother’s papers?”
Genova looked up and saw the cousins assessing each other.
“I haven’t read all of the journal, but it doesn’t paint a picture of cruelty.”
“No, and I can pledge my conviction that my father was incapable of it. Perhaps he came to find her trying, however, so he may not have been a perfect husband.”
“Ifound her trying and I was only reading her daily grievances.”
Genova stood still, hardly breathing, not wanting to break this crucial dialogue.
Ash looked into the fire, then up. “Was she mad?”
“In the end, certainly. Whatever led her to believe that Edith must die cannot have been sane. Earlier?”Rothgar shrugged. “We all walk an edge between sanity and insanity and can be pushed over by a powerful enough force.”
Another edge, Genova thought.
“Some require very little pressure,” Rothgar said. “I think you will have seen that she was unstable.”
Ash turned to fully face his cousin. “Rumor said you would not marry because of the madness in your blood.”
“We all walk that edge,” Rothgar repeated. “I came to understand that I was my father’s son as well as my mother’s, that I had kept my balance through trying times, and that the factors forming future generations cannot be predicted. And I had fallen in love.”
“Love. Are men like you and I allowed to indulge in that degree of insanity?”
Did Ash glance at her for a moment? Genova’s mouth dried and her heart beat faster.
“It’s an unjust world if we’re not. Can we cry peace, Cousin?”
Ash looked into the distance for so long that Genova wanted to speak just to break the silence. Then slowly, he said, “Peace be with you, and upon your house be peace.”
Genova tried to not even breathe as the cousins shook hands and gave each other the kiss of peace.
As they stepped apart, Ash said, “I would like to take the journal and some drawings to show to our grandmother.”
Rothgar stilled. “I would prefer that they not be destroyed.”
“I give you my word that they will return here safely.”
“Then perhaps we could agree to an exchange of documents.”
“For some that you would wish destroyed?” Ash asked, and Genova knew that was of great moment.
“Precisely. We have no more need of weapons, I think.”
“Nor of defense, I hope. Very well. I will arrangeto have them delivered to you. Or perhaps you would trust me to destroy them and the supporting evidence. I will be thorough.”
Now it was Rothgar who hesitated, but then he bowed. “My thanks. Now, excuse me but I should return to my guests.”
He left the room and Genova exhaled.
“What was that about?” she asked.
Ash had turned to look into the fire. “The documents? I hold some work of his that in the right hands could destroy him.”
