“And Hayden and Leighton and Devon?”he asked after therealm’s two princes and princess.
“Hayden’s regiment is stationed on the northeast coast.He’ll be granted leave to attend your wedding.Devon is at school, but will beleaving soon, also to journey in order to attend your wedding.And Leighton isundoubtedly testing the efficacy ofpennyriumas hebeds the maids inKarsvallwhile training with Apolloin the House of Ulfr’s seat.I’m afraid he’s too far away to return in time foryour wedding.”
“I wish I could refute this about Leighton, but sadly, I’vebirthed a rake,” Cora grumbled.“That said, he’s half Tor’s, so it really comesas no surprise.”
Everyone laughed, except Tor, who looked at the ceiling.
Loren laughed as well.
However, he did being reminded aboutpennyrium,wondering if Corliss had already taken care of that forSatrine.
The time was nigh for them finally to consummate theirrelationship.The stitches were probably not ready to be cut out for a coupleof days, but the pain was all but gone.
And he could be creative, but his fiancée’s libido rivaledhis own.As splendid as his creativity was, and her response to it, it nowcarried a vein of frustration.
It was time to give them both what they desired.
Loren looked forward with great relish to them having afamily.
But in the now, he looked forward to practicing, copiously,making that family.
She needed to be takingpennyrium,which would guard against pregnancy, until they decided they were ready.
He’d be certain to make sure all was well with that and madea mental note to do it tonight.
“Hopefully, she’ll be found before dinner.We look forwardto meeting her,” Circe put in.
“That is my hope as well, Your Majesty,” he replied, just asthe door opened.
They all turned to it.
Marlow strode in, only two feet, and he stopped.
“Tor,” he said.Then, “Cora, would that I had found youfirst.I would have made you far happier than this tall, dark lout.”
Cora giggled.
Tor let out an audible sigh but said nothing, as he knewwell this was Marlow’s way.
“Royals all,” he greeted casually, then his gaze hit Loren.“I’m afraid I must steal you.”
“Marlow, come in and meet the king ofWodelland his queen,” Tor bid.
“My most fervent wish,” Marlow replied to them.“But I’mafraid a game is afoot and at this moment, Lore’s fiancée, her houseman, andone of their grooms, who is large, but I fear that’s all he has going for him,are meeting with some ruffians in an alley not too far from here.And I’mafraid they’re going to need rescue.”
Fury seized his head while something else took hold of hisheart.
“What?” Loren barked, striding toward his friend.
“Search me,” Marlow replied.“They thought they were beingclever, and that they’d lost their guard.They did not and he sent word to me.Further word shares this might be about a certain madam.In short, we must beaway.”
Loren had a strong suspicionSatrineand Carling touching the sides of their noses had not been about birthdays.
However, as necessity demanded, they’d added thatmachination along the way.
Loren was at the door with Marlow when he pivoted to bow tothose who occupied the room, and nearly ran into Tor.
“Tor, what the—?”he started.
