The king rocked back and forth to the sound.
It didn’t last long. Eventually the king grew bored and wandered to another corner of the room in search of something. He had returned to muttering to himself, but apparently, the interlude had been enough to convince the queen.
“You will bring the strong medicine here tonight.” She looked at Olivia. “She will stay to serve it to him.”
Olivia turned back, her brows high in surprise. She didn’t speak, but she did bow deeply to the queen. As did Yihui, though it was awkward given her seated position.
“Right away, Your Majesty. Shall Olivia stay here now? Or—”
“She will stay. I wish to speak with her.” The queen dismissed them with a turn of her back. She didn’t even look to see the way Max and Yihui acknowledged her commands. And a moment later, Max was lifting up Yihui and praying he could carry her through the entire palace. She was light, but it was a very long walk.
Or perhaps it wasn’t. As he picked her up, she tightened her arms around him. She gripped him with the kind of strength he felt only when she was in the throes of passion. It startled him. By everything he’d seen, she had impressed the queen. She andOlivia both, which was not easy to do. Better yet, the queen had asked for her medicines, not just for the king but herself as well.
That was an unmitigated success.
“What is the matter?” he asked. “Do you fear you can’t help him?”
“No,” she said as she pressed her face to his cheek. “I can help the king, if they will let me.”
“Then what?”
She didn’t answer. She just clung to him so hard that her arms began to tremble.
“Yihui,” he said, growing alarmed. “What is it?”
She didn’t answer as he wended his way through the palace. They were led by a footman and followed by another. Neither offered to help, and indeed, he wouldn’t have released her even if they had. She was his, and whatever the matter was, he would hold her. He would take care of it.
“We’ll talk tonight,” he said. “After you get the medicine to the king.”
She shook her head. It might have been a slight tremble of her jaw against his shoulder, but he didn’t think so. And damn it, they were heading back into the party. There would be no conversation now.
As expected, the door was thrown open. The noise of several dozen courtiers swelled and then receded. They all wanted to know what had happened with the queen. Max could already see Prinny heading their way.
“Yihui,” he began, but she interrupted him.
“I love you,” she said. And then she straightened in his arms.
He thought to carry her the rest of the way. Apparently, a footman had called for the palanquin which was wending its way through the room now. Damn it, what idiot wanted such a display right in the middle of everyone? But the more he tried to support Yihui, the more she wriggled away from him.
And then to his shock, she stood upright before him. She tottered on her heels, and she winced in pain as she grabbed the nearby wall. He saw her scan the room, her gaze landing on his mother and sister where they stood with Lady Kimberly.
“Yihui—” he began, but she shook her head.
When she spoke, it was with growing strength. She started in a near whisper, but by the time she was done, everyone in the room heard her words.
“Max, it is time for this charade to end. I am honored by the patriotism of your actions. The prince showed kindness to me, and you honored his regard.”
Honored his regard? What the hell was she saying? It was like she was reciting a speech. “Stop this,” he commanded. “Whatever—”
“Thank you for your indulgence.” She braced herself against the wall as she pulled off the necklace and held it out to him.
“No.” His voice was loud and ringing.
“I am a woman of medicine,” she said, at last sounding more like herself. “The queen herself has seen my worth. But…” Her expression was breaking, even as her chin lifted. “But I cannot wed.”
Oh good God. This was his mother’s doing. This was the public refusal of their marriage. It included flattery of the prince, a repetition of the royal command, and then a plausible excuse for her to throw him over.
“You can wed,” he said, fury starting to color his tone. “You can be both.”
