Page 59 of From London, With Love
“Yes, your cousin Imogen. I believe she’s been planning something like this for a while, as she’d ordered the brooch months ago.”
The queen pressed her fingers to her temples. “No matter where I turn, there is always treachery.”
“Not everywhere,” he reminded her.
She shook her head. “I wish I had never been born to this life. I sometimes wish I was just a common woman out there on the streets of London.”
“No, you don’t,” he said softly. “For those lowborn women have their own challenges, their own suffering. And you are the one who is in a position to do something about their lives.”
The queen sighed. “I just wish this wasn’t so complicated. And that Gideon….”
Her composure dropped, just for a second.
“Sir Gideon is safe,” Malloryn assured her, squeezing her shoulders. “His wounds will heal.”
“This time,” she whispered. “He took a bullet for me.”
“And he would do so again, if he saw another one coming.”
“But I don’t want that!” she cried. “I don’t want to lose any of you.”
“Any of us?” he asked gently. “Or mostly Sir Gideon?”
Faint circles of color crept into her cheeks. “I am fond of you all.”
“But fondest of him, I think.”
Their eyes met.
And perhaps it was time to reveal his cards. She’d suffered enough today, and as Adele had pointed out, sometimes he instinctively chose the more convoluted route when a simpler one would do.
“You should marry him.”
She blinked. “Marry whom?”
“Sir Gideon,” he said. Perhaps Adele had been right. Perhaps it was time for the games to end. “Forget the alliance. A foreign prince will never love you, nor you him. Not the way Sir Gideon would. And if you don’t marry him, then you will always wonder at the life you could have had with him. You will always wonder what it feels like to love and to know love.”
The queen’s mouth dropped open.
“I…. You…. How did you…?”
He took pity on her. “What did you think this entire affair was all about? It was clear the pair of you held feelings for each other. I was merely trying to push one of you into taking action. You were wrong, Alexandra. Sir Gideon was my choice all along.”
“You orchestrated this entire bloody husband hunt so I would finally act on my feelings for Sir Gideon?”
He shrugged. “I told you that you’d never guess which candidate I was backing. I told you it would be your choice.”
The queen balled her fists. “I swear I should kick you off this tower! This is beyond the pale, Malloryn. Beyond!”
“Why?” he goaded her. “Because he’s the one you want, and you hate it when I’m right?”
“I hate it when you always have toberight.”
“I’m your spymaster. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t have my finger on the pulse at all times. Marry him, Alexandra. Be happy. You deserve to be happy.”
“Good God.” She shook her head in disbelief. “Your wife has completely turned your life on its head, hasn’t she?”
Malloryn drew back. “Well, of course, she has. But I don’t see what that has to do with—”
