Once people had dispersed, Edwin leaned in against my side and let out a low breath. “That went better than I expected.”
“You thought at least two or three people would say no.”
“I did. I’m surprised they didn’t.”
I wasn’t. Edwin truly didn’t understand how loveable he was. “Well, shall we go and oversee things being moved?”
“I would feel better about that, yes. I have a specific layout of furniture in mind.”
“I know you do.” He always did.
I took his hand in mine as we left the room, heading for our old office, as there were certain items I wanted to keep on my person while things were moved about. Namely, my signet ring and seal. Those being lost in the shuffle would not be a good thing.
Come to think of it… “We’ll need to get a seal designed and made for you. And a signet ring.”
“Ah, yes, I’ll need both.”
“You do know your wedding ring is also a mage ring?”
Edwin blinked down at it on his hand. “Yes, I suspected you’d enchanted it in some fashion. Excellent foresight on your part. Now we can call each other readily.”
“Precisely so. I’m glad you like your ring.”
“I love it, in fact. It couldn’t be more perfect.” Edwin lifted our joined hands to kiss my knuckles, smiling up at me.
I wished we could bask in being newlyweds, but needs must. “I’m very happy to hear that. Also, I’m afraid to ask: Do we have an actual list of all the things that need to be done?”
Edwin side-eyed me. “You think I haven’t started a list?”
“I asked a stupid question, didn’t I?”
“Quite possibly the stupidest question you’ve ever asked me.”
Captain Rowan snickered behind a hand as he followed us. At least he was amused.
Dame Temperance came running up, looking grim, and I immediately braced myself mentally.
“Dame Temperance, what is it?”
“Princess Valentina learned you’re married and have been made king,” she reported with a grimace. “She threw an absolutefitthis morning. Throwing things, screaming, and hurting two maids in the process.”
“Bad?” Edwin demanded, already alarmed.
“Unfortunately. One she stabbed in the hand with a fork, the other she threw an ottoman at. It hit the poor girl straight in theface and knocked her out. I was called in at that point, and I’ve had everyone vacate the room. She’s still screaming, or she was when I left. What should I do?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose and groaned, wishing I could do something to the girl, all while knowing my hands were still tied. Unfortunately, throwing fits was “normal” for royalty, and the poor staff just had to endure them. I couldn’t justify throwing Valentina out because of a single tantrum.
Oh, but I wanted to. I desperately wanted to.
“Ask the mages to do a sleep spell on her,” Edwin requested. “Let her sleep off the tantrum for now and have anything sharp or glass removed from her rooms until she’s truly calmed down.”
Relief flitting across her face, Dame Temperance bowed, turned, and ran off again. I’d let her handle things unless it somehow escalated.
Although how it could escalate more was the question. What would Valentina do next, set the palace on fire?
Actually, knowing her, she might.
Edwin either read my face or knew me well enough to ask, “You sure I can’t call an assassin and have her dropped out to sea?”
