Keris’s bet was the very silent Alexandra, who was listening to Lestara’s wails with an expression of irritation.
“You need to execute him!” Lestara demanded. “He broke Harendellian laws—your laws! He’s a murderer!”
William frowned. “Darling—”
“Why is he even here?” Lestara’s hands balled into fists. “I’ve told you all the awful and unjust things he did to me in Maridrina. How he blamed me for Petra’s actions despite it being his choices that provoked her. Right in front of you, he insulted me to my face. Yet here he is, treated as a favored houseguest. He’s murdered my uncle and put our alliance with Cardiff in jeopardy, and everyone seems more concerned that their sleep has been disrupted.”
William’s frown deepened, and Keris was struck with the sense that the king was actually considering Lestara’s demands.
Alexandra, who had said nothing until this moment, gave a loud huff of exasperation. “Lestara, calm yourself. This is not good for the baby.” She flicked her fingers at Cavendish. “Georgie, this behavior is beyond the pale. His Highness is a prince of Maridrina and consort of the empress of Valcotta. What possessed you to treat him like some common criminal? Get those shackles off and unhand him.”
“With respect, Your Grace—”
Alexandra cut Cavendish off. “Precisely. Show some respect. This is Harendell, not Maridrina, so we will conduct ourselves with civility.”
Keris bit his tongue to silence the rising retort, but the moment Cavendish removed the shackles on his wrists, he stepped away from the man.
“Now let us get to the bottom of this.” Alexandra smoothed her dressing gown. “Georgie, do we have an idea of what poison was used on poor Cormac? While I’m thinking of it, Lestara, I think tomorrow we should sit together to write a message to your father. This will be quite a blow, I’m sure.”
Lestara gave a miserable nod.
“My best guess from the descriptions given by the patrons is hemswart.” Cavendish crossed his arms and glared sullenly at Keris.
“Then this was surely Amarid’s doing.” Alexandra pushed her light brown braid over her shoulder. “Really, you ought to think these things through, Georgie. Katarina fears our alliance with Cardiff and seeks to turn Ronan against us. Keris was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Her green eyes fixed on Keris. “Precisely what were you doing in the tenderloin in the middle of the night?”
“I was invited,” Keris answered, for there was no sense lying when Cavendish had searched his pockets and found Cormac’s note. “He requested I come alone, so I took the necessary measures to do so.”
“I found these on him when I searched him.” Cavendish held out the note, but also the forged letter from Edward. The latter was the far more damning document, and it was a struggle not to hold his breath as Alexandra looked it over.
Her face fell as she read. “Edward wrote of such trivialities. Such inconsequential pieces of gossip.”
Keris had wanted no part of this scheme. Had fully intended to reject Cormac’s request. But the moment Cavendish had extracted the crumpled letter from Keris’s pocket, he’d had no choice but to give it life. “I received Edward’s letter when I arrived at Southwatch. It was the last time I was wearing this coat, so I forgot I had it.”
Set it aside,he silently willed her.Take it for nothing more than idle gossip, and set it aside.
Instead, Alexandra traced a finger over the words, her eyes glittering with unshed tears. “It is like having Edward in the room with us.”
Keris fought the urge to tear the letter from her hands and cast it into the fire. “I’m afraid I didn’t get the chance to read it, as I received it in conjunction with the tragic news of His Grace’s passing.”
Alexandra gave a soft choking sob.
“Mother, this is too much for you.” William patted Alexandra on the back, giving the letter she held only a quick glance. “You should be abed.”
Set it down,Keris willed them.It’s meaningless.
Yet though the queen mother’s face showed nothing but grief, his skin crawled with the sense of imminent danger.
She sees the code.
Alexandra lowered her hand. “Do you mind if I keep this, Keris? It would be a comfort in my dark hours.”
Fuck!
Keris gave a slight smile. “Of course.”
“Why did Cormac want to speak to you in secret?” William asked. “I do say, it has a bad smell—you sneaking out the window of my house in the middle of the night to meet him.”
