The king didn’t immediately open it, frowning down at the seal. “This is the seal of my Council of Lords,” he said.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the steward confirmed. “A messenger just delivered this. He said he’d come directly from the Duke of Nirocha’s manor here in the capital.”
“Very good.”
Elowen’s father dismissed the steward with the words, waiting until the door was closed before ripping open the letter. His expression darkened before Elowen and Patrick’s eyes.
“What is it, Father?” Patrick demanded.
“The Council of Lords has just met.”
“Without the sovereign or a representative?” Patrick looked outraged.
“It’s not unheard of. In certain circumstances, the council will meet to reach unanimity before presenting an appeal to thecrown. But for a meeting to be called so urgently in peacetime is irregular, to say the least.”
“Urgently?” Elowen repeated, her eyes narrowing. “What was the topic of the meeting, Father?”
The king let out a heavy breath before meeting her eyes. “Your betrothal, Elowen. It seems news of the Siqualian princes’ departure spread quickly in spite of our efforts. Several members of the council appear to have taken great offense. They’re bringing a formal motion to dissolve the betrothal as allowed under Torrenese law.”
Patrick let out a soft noise of annoyance. “Well, they’ll be disappointed.”
The king didn’t answer at once, causing anxiety to trickle over Elowen.
“You surely aren’t considering agreeing, Father?” she said.
“I am not,” he confirmed heavily. “But it’s more complicated than you realize, Elowen. There are certain aspects of the alliance that I can’t effectively enforce, with regards to trade and communication, and…” He trailed off, giving his head a shake. “To put it simply, for the alliance to succeed, it has to have a certain amount of support from my lords.”
“So convince them that it’s for everyone’s good!” said Elowen. “Tell them that he only left because he’s ill!”
“That is obviously what I intend to do.” The king rose, and his children both mirrored the motion. “Patrick, you’ll accompany me.”
“Of course, Father,” Patrick said, his stern features more set than ever.
“Who brought the motion?” Elowen asked quickly, realizing her window for gaining information was closing.
“The duke,” the king said, with a grim glance at the missive.
“The duke is still on his lands,” Elowen protested. “It was Bertrand, it must have been! Is it inconceivable that in hisfather’s absence, he would take charge and use his father’s name and seal to call the lords together and plant his seeds in their minds?”
“If Bertrand acted on his father’s behalf, we must assume it’s with his father’s approval,” Patrick said.
Elowen didn’t assume anything of the kind, but the two men were already leaving the room. Her brother sent her a look that made it clear he felt he was cleaning up her mess, and she could have screamed with frustration. They were so determined to miss what was right in front of them. It was almost unbelievable that his status and position could protect Bertrand so completely and yet, at the same time, it was barely even a surprise. Hadn’t Bertrand been indulged and covered for all his life? Even sweet Sophia had always been ready to smooth over his misdemeanors. Elowen herself had made excuses for him, she realized with discomfort, not out of any desire to think well of him, but to try to justify his behavior to Theo to avoid embarrassment for everyone.
No more.
She swept from the room, following the direction she knew her father and brother would have gone. She didn’t enter the audience hall in which her father usually conducted such meetings, however. She paused outside the door, directing her question to one of the guards on duty.
“Is the viscount, Lord Bertrand, in this meeting?”
His expression was hard to read, but she was beyond caring what conclusions he might draw.
“No, Your Highness. He did not attend.”
Of course not. He wasn’t about to start doing his own dirty work now.
“I require two members of the royal guard to accompany me,” Elowen said imperiously.
“Your Highness?” He was startled.
