He patted my hand resting on his. “During the dinner, you'll take your place beside the king.”
“What if I spill food on the front of my pretty silver gown?” The thought of soup splattering down the bodice made me grimace. Maybe I should wear black.
“Don’t spill,” he said, his tone both teasing and serious at the same time. “The queen mother and the other high ladies will definitely notice if a queen does something like that.”
“They’ll be equally eager to point it out if I do.”
“Sadly, yes.”
Someone knocked, and Surren opened the door. Moira and Calista entered, ushering in a floating double layer tray laden with a covered platter and two teapots. Pretty, matching cups, and plates took up the lower level.
“My queen,” Moira said, using her magic to make a table appear on the floor beside us. She lowered the tray onto the smooth wooden surface.
“Would you like me to pour?” Calista asked.
“We can handle this.” Lord Briscalar gave her a polite nod.
“Thank you, both.” I lifted a smile, and they left the room.
Lord Briscalar laid a pretty plate and cup in front of me, and, at my nod, poured tea. He swept off the silver dome covering the platter and gestured to the array of pastries, serving me the one I selected. We sipped our tea for a moment and ate before tackling the rest of the items on his agenda.
“What can I expect with the coronation?” I asked.
“You'll be the last to enter the throne room, and you'll be accompanied by your ladies. You'll sedately walk down the aisle and stop at the end. An escort, the highest lord in Evergorne, will then walk with you to where King Merrick will be waiting on his throne.”
The image made my heart race. This was it. Once I wore the crown, I’d belong to this court. Merrick and I were married, but it didn't quite feel real. I slept in my own bed alone while heslumbered down the hall. Maybe that would be the night to join him in his bedroom. My skin tingled at the thought. “What happens next?”
“The king will stand and announce that he accepts you as his queen. The room will erupt with bows, cheers, and excitement. This moment will be steeped in magic and tradition. The highest elder will place the crown on your head herself.”
My breath caught. “Magic? What kind of magic?”
“Sparkles. The room is enchanted for such an occasion. When the crown is placed upon your head, the air will shimmer with light, a tribute from the realm to its new queen. It’s quite a sight to behold, and I'm pleased to say this will be the second queen coronation I'll witness.”
“Erisandra's was the first.”
He nodded, his cheery mood dimming.
“She had some interesting, though cryptic things to say when she visited earlier.”
His head tilted. “Like what?”
“First, that she doesn’t like me, but I don’t care about that.”
He brushed off the comment with a flick of his hand, agreeing while leaning forward, waiting to hear more.
“That she was a willing bride—”
“They all are.”
Interesting. “You mean every single Evergorne bride has been willing?”
“The men of this family may have found it a challenge to rule at times, but none have found the need to force a woman to marry them.”
That was good. “She said King Theon’s advisor talked her into the marriage. I believe she . . .”
“Rumors such as that have circulated through the court from the moment she stepped inside the castle.”
“Were they lovers?”
