“Not on its own, it’s not.” Emmett walks to the front of the room, sidestepping in front of Langley and his papers.
“But Ivy is more than just brave. She is kind and just and steady. She held this country together while Bram attempted to turn it to ashes. You all bore witness so do not deny it. Her first thought is always of others, and she turns those thoughts into actions. England needs a ruler who is not only powerful, but just andkind. No one in this room fits that description other than her.”
I wipe a tear threatening to escape. My first instinct is to respond with humility and shyness to Emmett’s impassioned speech. I’ve been raised and trained all my life to be sweet and agreeable. But why would I want to be sweet? The only thing being sweet has ever done for me is make me easier to consume.
I take a steadying breath and rise. “Lord Langley, who looked over your railway proposals? Lord Bexham, who arranged for more wheat for your tenant farmers? When Bram’s actions threatened to plunge this country into darkness, it was I who stood with you all. I continued to respect this institution enough to meet with you all, to help where I could, even as chaos reigned.” I pause and look up and down the risers, meeting as many of their eyes as I can manage. “I don’t believe that any one person has inherent right to rule overanother, but if you insist that this country have a figurehead, let it be me. Together, we’ll build something for the people, a government that serves us all.”
About half of the room starts clapping, but Lord Langley silences them swiftly with a strike of his walking stick against the floor.
“Are we really going to hand our country over to an eighteen-year-oldgirl?”
“Queen Mor was a woman, and she ruled for centuries,” I point out.
“Yes, but she always had a regent.”
“She’ll have a regent.” Emmett’s proclamation cuts through the room like a blade, leaving silence in its wake.
He turns to me, blinking and stunned. “I planned to have a ring when this happened. I commissioned one first thing this morning.”
“Is this a proposal?” I whisper in shock.
“I meant for it to be more romantic than this.”
I beam back up at him. “It’s all right. I’ve always been the practical sort.”
I turn back to the room. “Well, there you have it. You know who I am, and I see no use in a drawn-out debate. Let’s put it to a vote and be done with it.”
Lord Langley sighs heavily. “All in favor of letting Ivy continue ruling as queen?”
Overwhelmingly, the council cries out. Their voices echo through the Painted Chamber and pierce me right down to my bones.
“All opposed?”
A few scattered “nays” sound out around the room, but the verdict is clear.
Lord Langley pounds his walking stick against the floor one last time. “God save the queen!”
“God save the queen!”
Emmett looks at me, his eyes shining.
“Don’t you dare say it, too.” I laugh and wipe the tears from my eyes.
It’s raining on the day of our coronation. Heavy gray clouds hang over the city like an embrace and raindrops fall gently down the windows of our carriage.
Emmett and I insisted on taking the same one, despite Lord Langley’s protests. My fiancé sits across from me now, every inch the prince. He adjusts the diamond star pin on his royal-blue sash and glances up at me.
“Like what you see?” He smiles.
“I’m sad you cut your hair.” I pout.
Emmett runs a hand across his head. “I’ll grow it back out for you.”
“This is hardly the time to be flirting with me, Emmett De Vere. We’re on our way to the most important moment of our lives.”
His gaze flits down to the engagement ring I wear on my left hand. “What about the wedding?” I sigh against the plush seats of the carriage. From outside the window, thousands of people have gathered to shout well wishes as we pass. The snow-white horses that pull us are adorned with golden saddles and white feather plumes on top of their heads.
I understand the purpose of all the pomp and circumstance, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy it.
