Page 73 of The Reluctant Queen
“Lifted first son from womb at twenty minutes ’til midnight. Lifted second son from womb at eighteen minutes ’til midnight. First son marked by ribbon on ankle, presented squalling, robust, latched to nursemaid immediately. Second son marked by natural spot on left buttock, squalled after second smack, smaller, latched to nursemaid immediately. Queen pronounced dead at fifteen minutes ’til midnight.”
That glimmer of hope must have been hit by a huge gust of wind, for it roared to life in Ehmet’s chest. “Grandfather didn’t have a spot on his left arsecheek, did he.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yusuf certainly does,” the dowager queen murmured through a sly smile.
“How do you—” Ehmet shook his head. He didn’t want the answer.
“Let me see that.” Nekash snagged the book from his brother’s hand and pored over the page. He flipped through, checking some of the other entries. “Oh, this isgood.A good find, I mean.” He sniffed the pages and scrutinized a few lines. “It’s in surprisingly fine shape for its age.”
The dowager stuck her palms out, requesting thereturn of the journal. “I’ll take care of that.” She set it on the empty chair to her right, before serving herself a smattering of eggs, bacon, and fruit.
“Tea will age pages nicely. Make sure you don’t use anything overly fragrant though. Dead giveaway it’s fresh.”
“Stop.” Ehmet held up a hand. “No more. I am the king. Do not speak of illicit activity around me.”
His mother snorted.
“A significant find has been made on this day,” his brother said in an official tone.
“So...?” Ehmet’s heart pounded in his chest. His thumb found its way to his knuckle, and he tried to rub away some of the anxiety building within.
“So.” Nekash grinned, reveling in the chaos.
“So,” the dowager began. “It is best if this is discovered whilst you’re not here.” She pointed her fork at Ehmet. “But it should be found while some of theothersare still in town. Namely Kashuvol, Rohapavol, and Midlake, who are still lingering even with the party so many days past.” She sneered at the thought of her overwelcome guests.
“Make certain Kashuvol and Rohapavol are present, or nearby when it is discovered,” Nekash added. “Make them think twice about aligning with Yusuf.”
The blaze of hope in his chest was intensifying into an inferno with every word his crazy mother and scheming brother spoke. Ehmet thought it was quite probable that smoke was escaping through his nose, his hope raged so. Bursts of energy ricocheted off his ribs and his palms began to sweat with anxious energy.
“Why are you still sitting here, idiot?” Nekash chortled. “The Crown’s secure. Go.”
“What of Lady Tahereh?” Ehmet choked out.
“I’ll take care of it.” His mother offered a placid smile. “I believe Baron Kashuvol was quite smitten with her.”
He knew he was the king. He knew hereallyshouldn’t let his mother “take care of it,” ofanyof it, it was morally reprehensible. But for the life of him, Ehmet could not seem to make himself care. So, hestood from the table, thanked his mother, and strode from the room feeling lighter than he had in weeks.
twenty-six
Hevva is dragged from bed.
“Please?” Kas begged fromthe foot of her bed, where he tugged on her big toe.
“Nnhnhmph,” Hevva mumbled sleepily into the pillow. She’d pulled it over her face when her blasted little brother had bumbled in, tossing open the curtains with a flourish of air and flooding the room with unnecessary light.
“Come on,pleasecome swim with me?” he pleaded, coming around to stand at her side. “It’s almost luncheon! You can’t sleep all day.” Kas stuck his too-long fingers beneath the edge of the pillow and lifted it up.
A narrow face, all cheekbones and chin, peeked in at her, and he smiled.
She sighed.
“Please, please, please, pleeease?”
Hevva rolled away from her brother, winding up flat on her stomach. She turned her head toward him and swiped a swath of hair from her face. “I’msad, Kas.”
“Iknow, Hevva,” he mocked her. “We’ve been here fordays,and I’m bored. Why did you bring me along to Summer Cottage if not to have fun and get un-sad?”
“Do you not mean ‘happy?’”
