His eyes went to Eda, and he remained where he was. ‘Queen Fayre has requested an audience with you in the solar.’
Astin released a breath. ‘Looks like we don’t have the luxury of time after all.’
‘Good,’ Lyndal said, trying to appear brave. ‘The sooner I break the news, the sooner I can go home.’
‘You’re leaving with me,’ Harlan told Astin, pushing off the wall. ‘You need to be as far away from this castle as possible. One sniff that you’re a factor in this decision and you’ll be drawn and quartered.’
‘He’s right,’ Lyndal said. ‘Go.’
Astin looked at her, his expression serious. He gave a resigned nod. ‘All right. You have this. I’ll see you on the other side of the wall.’
Her nervous smile was the last thing he saw before he exited the room.
Lyndal thought she was prepared when she entered Queen Fayre’s solar, but then she saw King Borin standing by the fireplace. He watched her like a snake as she entered and curtsied.
‘Your Grace. Your Majesty.’
‘It seems we have a quarrel to work through,’ Fayre said, looking between them. ‘I hear some heated words were exchanged last night.’
Lyndal’s gaze drifted to the glaring king. ‘If by heated words, you’re referring to your son almost pulling my shoulder from its socket in his effort to prevent me from leaving, then yes.’
‘Youwere behaving like a spoiled child,’ Borin spat, moving closer. ‘And then you turned on me like a feral cat.’
‘I said no to going to your bed, andyoubehaved like a wounded predator.’
Queen Fayre raised a hand, demanding calm with one simple gesture. ‘Let us not get stuck on the details. The question is what is it you both need in order to move forwards?’
Lyndal’s heart was thudding in her ears. That was her cue. Clearing her throat, she said, ‘I no longer want to do this. We’re ill-suited to a partnership of any kind, and marriage would be a disaster for both of us.’
The relief she felt at speaking those words aloud was short-lived. Borin descended on her like a ravenous dog.
‘You do not get to make that decision! It is not your choice!’
Fayre stepped in front of Lyndal, forcing him to pull up quickly. ‘I want you to step out of the room and let me handle this. Please.’
The veins in Borin’s neck were bulging. ‘This is what I was saying to you! She thinks she can do as she pleases with no regard to propriety and tradition. And now I have thrown away the respect of the nobility in choosing her as awife.’
Fayre made herself taller. ‘The nobility will come to respect a king who puts the needs of his kingdom ahead of his own vanity. Now, please, leave us.’
Borin stared hard at Lyndal before striding from the room, slamming the door on his way out.
Lyndal clasped her hands in front of her so the queen would not see that they were trembling.
‘You should not have said that,’ Fayre said, turning to face her properly. ‘It was very confronting for him.’
Lyndal glanced at the door. ‘I can’t marry that man. I’m sorry. He’s made it abundantly clear that he will not support the merchants, queen or not, so I see absolutely no benefit in going ahead with this insane idea.’
Queen Fayre drew a long, calming breath and smoothed back her hair despite not one strand being out of place. ‘You will be in the best position to help, I promise you that. But you must take your time with this. You cannot simply hold out your hand. He will willingly give you all that you desire if you take your time and build rapport first.’
Lyndal’s shoulders fell. ‘He’s cruel.’
‘He can be, yes. He can also be very sweet in the right hands.’
‘These are not the right hands.’ She held them up. ‘I know that now.’
Fayre never looked away. ‘I must ask if this change of heart is really due to your quarrel last night or a certain defender who spent the night in your bedchamber?’
She felt like a pale of ice had been thrown over her. Of course the queen knew. She missed nothing. ‘If you’re suggesting that—’
