I looked between their earnest, determined faces and felt overwhelmed all over again. “Can we try to tackle decisions one at a time? Starting with, are we going to publicly announce our marriage and ascension before we do things like move desks, staff, and knights around?”
James rocked on his heels. “Huh. We should probably do a formal announcement before making staff changes. It’ll get confusing and messy otherwise.”
Ramsey gave me a speaking look, as if to saySee what I mean?You understand the nuts and bolts better.
I understood his look and agreed with him on some level. Which meant, all said and done, it behooved me to be a king.
If I was going to sit on the throne, I was determined to do a good job.
Sixty-six
James
For all that Edwin confessed to being overwhelmed, he sure didn’t act it. He was a whirlwind of activity, starting with calling for an all-hands meeting with the palace staff, then sending out a letter to his parents, informing them they must meet with the both of us for a family dinner as soon as possible, then turning around and asking which room I wanted to take over for our shared office. It seemed I could barely answer one question before being asked another.
The staff meeting was held a bare twenty-four hours after our marriage, where we announced the change to everyone. Ramsey had assured us both staffs were pleased, but pleased was an understatement. People bounced with joy, hugged, clapped—the joy in the room wasincredible.
If this was the start of my reign, then it was an auspicious one. Much better than my previous reign, which had started under coercion and dire necessity. I liked this so much more.
After the announcement, Edwin declared there would need to be staff changes and called up several people by name to discussit with them personally. I stayed next to his side, watching as some people went back to work, while others came forward to the dais. Now would be the real test to see how people reacted when this impacted them personally.
Edwin smiled as he addressed people. “I want to start by saying this is my personal choice, and if you don’t wish to take on this position, that’s fine. We’ll assign you somewhere else. I’m asking a lot of you because I won’t be assuming the responsibilities Queen Beatrice held. I will be co-ruler with James and will be splitting duties with him fairly, so you’re in for a lot of work if you accept the position I offer you. Again, it’s fine if you don’t wish to, whatever your reason. All that said: Chandler, Leggett, Price—I want you three as my retainers.”
I had heard of his intentions earlier—I knew who he had chosen—so I watched those three carefully. The excitement that came over their faces was instantaneous.
Leggett actually offered a hand, seizing Edwin’s in a firm grip. “Your Majesty, I am incredibly happy you’ll make me one of your people. Yes. Absolutely yes.”
Chandler bumped him out of the way to do the same thing. “With pleasure. I hoped you would. Let’s have a short meeting after this. You can tell us what you’re doing, and we’ll take some of the workload off your shoulders. Knowing you, you’re probably running yourself into the ground already trying to do it all!”
How acute of him to realize. Edwin had indeed chosen the right retainers.
“We’ll have a meeting,” Edwin swore to him. “I’ve run off my legs already, and it’s not evening yet! But let me keep going. Judith, Silvia, Letitia, I want you to be our personal maids. Our rooms are entirely under your watch and no one else’s.”
Again, solid choices, as all three had been maids in the palace for twenty years and knew what they were about. One of them had been in charge of my personal rooms since I’d come in.
“We’ll do so, Your Majesty,” Letitia promised, her heart-shaped face beaming.
“Thank you. I’m relieved to have you in charge of things. All right, next, all the secretaries formerly under Queen Beatrice and King Patrick will join our current secretarial staff. The two of us are sharing an office, in fact—the king’s office—so I want the queen’s formal desk moved into that room.”
I tuned Edwin out a little, just watching faces. People were happy to keep their jobs, of course, but again there was rising excitement. I think they realized being under myself and Edwin meant solid change was coming, and considering how stagnant this palace had become, it needed a good wind to shake things loose.
Edwin declared his knights as well. He had insisted upon guidance, explaining that just because he knew all the knights didn’t mean he knew how good they were at their job. Which was a fair point. Commander Harland and I had picked for him, and he’d been happy with our choices.
The knights, of course, were ecstatic. They were able to step up into a whole different pay grade, plus the elevation of being aking’sknight was very prestigious indeed. Everyone I’d chosen liked and respected Edwin, so I knew they would protect him well.
When Edwin was done, I chose to step in and finally say something. “Thank you all for so readily agreeing. It makes both of us very happy. I want to say something as well. The former king and queen will vacate the palace by the end of next week, which means we need to transfer everything they’re doing to our new office by that time. So do keep this in mind. If the work is abit too much for all of you, let us know, and we’ll draft temporary help until things settle.
“Now, that said, there’s a major concern as well. As some of you may already know, someone tried to poison Edwin—”
The gasp that tore through the group sobered the mood instantly. I hated sharing for this very reason, as I wanted to keep the happy energy, but it couldn’t be helped. “I wish we could prove the culprit, but unfortunately, the mastermind left no evidence behind. I must stress to you,nothingcan be assumed safe. Not food, not drink, candies brought in from outside, nothing. I want each room we spend time in to be stocked with silver needles, and I want everything tested before you hand it to one of us. No exceptions.”
Captain Rowan took a half step forward. “I will give you the exact instructions of how to handle things. King Edwin’s knights, you, especially, must be very attentive. We cannot take risks at this juncture.”
Every knight saluted him in silent agreement, and I could only hope this was enough to safeguard Edwin properly.
“All right, dismissed. Go assume your new duties.”
Captain Rowan turned to the knights. “You’ll be working alongside King James’s knights for the time being, until you have the new duties down. Return to the training yard for now. I’ll be there shortly to work out schedules.”
