Page 24 of Beacon

CHAPTER9

When we emerged from the parlor following our discussion, we found the Queen of Bytamia waiting for us bearing an expression much more serious than the warm one she’d exhibited at dinner. Prince Owen stiffened at his mother’s narrowed eyes, looking panicked, as if he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

He forced a tight smile. “Good evening, Mother. I was just spending a moment alone with my fiancée.” He wrapped an awkward arm around me, a pose that didn’t feel at all natural. I fought not to shrug him off knowing how it’d look.

She pursed her lips. “I see. I was hoping for the opportunity to visit with her myself in hopes of getting to know her better.”

I tensed. She wanted tovisitwith me? But how could I—

“She doesn’t speak, Mother,” Prince Owen reminded her, seeming to, like me, believe his mother had forgotten such a crucial detail.

Her expression gentled as her gaze settled on me. “I know. I’m hoping my questions will be easily answered with a simple nod or shake of your head, but I’ll understand if you’re not comfortable with even that much conversation.”

Despite her permission for me to deny her request, I couldn’t find it in me to refuse the queen. I reluctantly nodded, ignoring Prince Owen’s look that made me wonder whether he wished he could refuse on my behalf…which meant he likely shared my suspicions about what the queen wished to discuss with me.

She smiled warmly before leading me back into the sitting room we’d just vacated, closing the door firmly on Prince Owen, who stared after us with a look like he very much wished he could follow. She guided me to a nearby settee and wasted no time after she’d comfortably settled to face me, her serious expression now lined with concern.

“My apologies if my desire to speak with you has caused you any discomfort, but I can’t help but question my son’s sudden announcement at dinner. Though in his exuberance my husband failed to notice, from what I gathered you seemed just as startled when Owen announced you were engaged, which leads me to believe he coerced you into the arrangement.” The queen’s jaw tightened in disapproval. “I’m quite disappointed my son would do such a thing. To think he’d take advantage of his title and use it to bully someone who can’t speak for herself…I assure you I didn’t raise him to behave in such a callous manner.”

It was no surprise that Prince Owen’s scheme had failed to escape his mother’s suspicion; even if she hadn’t immediately suspected it, she’d have no doubt been able to discern its true nature in the early days of our charade.

While the part of me that was still annoyed by the prince’s mischief welcomed her giving him a much-needed scolding, I couldn’t quite quench the inexplicable yearning to defend him. While his behavior had undoubtedly been foolish, deep down I knew he hadn’t meant me any harm.

The queen’s eyebrows lifted in surprise when I shook my head. “Are you not upset with him?”

I shook my head again and continued shaking it several times in hopes doing so would allow her to understand I was denying her assumptions Prince Owen was coercing me into the scheme. Though it’d undoubtedly started out that way, the promise of a reward substantial enough to purchase my lighthouse had made me a much more willing participant.

The queen watched me warily for a long moment, her brows drawn as she attempted to discern my meaning. Her eyes slowly widened. “Are you trying to tell me…that thisisn’ta setup for my son to wriggle out of his duty of marrying Princess Lavena? To be fair, I’m not entirely pleased with the arrangement myself; the king always thinks the best of people.”

Though she was right in assuming her son’s motive, affirming her suspicions would only hinder our scheme before it’d even begun. Relieved she’d understood my attempts to protect the prince, I nodded. Even after my confirmation, she continued to gape in disbelief.

“My apologies that despite your insistence I still find that difficult to believe. This is all just too sudden, and the timing of his announcement gives me reason to wonder…when did he court you? He certainly kept you a secret.” She released a heavy sigh that caused her elegant posture to slightly falter. “My apologies for my doubt. Owen has a difficult time speaking up for himself, so I viewed this as his attempt to get out of his father’s rather spontaneous plans without needing to confront him directly.”

The queen certainly knew her son well. It was all I could do to maintain a neutral expression so as not to betray the prince.

“I’m afraid what happened between the king and our son isn’t uncommon,” she continued. “I used to interfere more on Owen’s behalf, but recently, I’ve come to realize he needs to learn to speak up for himself and fight his own battles. This particular matter is more delicate, considering it involves our relations with another kingdom, so my interference might have caused additional problems. But no matter how difficult doing so might be, I could never allow an innocent bystander to be punished for my son’s shortcomings.”

I appreciated her concern, but the promise that awaited me, should I fulfill my end of the charade, had changed the situation entirely. Deep down I had another reason to pretend—an unexpected desire to help the prince, not only to repay him for the kindness he’d shown me but to linger with him a bit longer.

My first act in this performance would be to convince the suspicious queen of my sincerity. I rested my hands over my heart and nodded with a sincere smile in hopes I could convey some semblance of affection for her son. She studied me closely, searching for my earnestness, and must have found it considering she visibly relaxed.

“I’m admittedly surprised that my suspicions proved unfounded…yet profoundly relieved. After all Owen has been through, he deserves to find happiness. Though I want nothing more for him, I’m not sure how this will work…”

She murmured this last part almost to herself. She nibbled her lip in thought before her regal composure returned and she straightened with a warm smile.

“Thank you for visiting with me; I sincerely hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable. Though I’m still unsure how things will turn out, I’m now much more at ease.”

Unable to say anything, I simply smiled and allowed her to lead me back to the corridor where we found Prince Owen pacing. At our arrival he spun around to face us, his forced façade of calm doing little to mask his agitation.

“You’ve finished already?”

“We have. It was a nice conversation.” The queen’s glance towards me was warm and almost motherly, a look that caused my heart to twinge with longing for my own mother, a feeling I’d spent years fighting to keep locked away. I hastily forced the emotion back down before it could take root.

“I’m glad your conversation went well.” Prince Owen wrung his hands, clearly ill at ease, leaving little doubt he knew we’d been talking about him.

“Indeed.” The queen’s expression became rather knowing, but she simply rested a gentle hand on her son’s arm. “I will alert the servants to prepare Marisa’s room.” And she left us alone in the hallway.

Awkwardness lingered following her departure. I stared after Her Majesty, feeling a mixture of relief and anxiety at the thought of staying overnight at the palace. Even if my stay lasted for several weeks, it wasn’t as if my uncle would miss me; considering I’d taken to spending most of my time at the lighthouse’s different locations, he likely wouldn’t even notice my absence.

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