Page 14 of The Reluctant Queen
She glowered at him.How rude. He’s just like other titled men. Pompous. Arrogant. Disarmingly handsome.Nope. No. Not that last one.“Well, so sorry to have rained on your parade. I’m surprised to find you lying about.” She eyed the spot where he’d been stretched out, asleep, moments before. “Don’t you have work to do? You are the king, after all.”
He scoffed. “Quite a lot in fact. But I am nothing if not a gracious host. Ah, there’sourmeal now.” He tilted his head at her knowingly as a servant pushed through the intentionally overgrown grasses and into the small sitting area.
A tray heaped with fruits and cheeses along with a pitcher of iced lemonade were set out on a folding table before them.
“It’s a bit warm in here, do you agree?”
Why the king was asking her opinion, she wasn’t sure. But always happy to provide it, she nodded. Itwasoppressively hot and terribly scary, considering the night before.
“Open the vents,” the king commanded the servant, who scurried away.
“Well then, why are you in here, sleeping the day away?”
“I’m sorry?” He popped a piece of cheese into his mouth and eyed her curiously.
“You said you have a lot of work to get done.” Hevva shrugged saucily, bending forward over the low table to take up the pitcher and pour aglassful for each of them. Then, she leaned across to hand him his drink.
He growled, a low sound that reverberated through her and, for some odd reason, had her clenching her thighs. “Is there something wrong with your memory? Have you forgotten to recall the disastrous fire from...” He feigned looking at a pocket watch that he wasn’t carrying. “Less than eight hours ago? The one during which you insisted on putting your life in peril?”
With a sip she replied, “No.” A whispering breeze swept through the room coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. The staff had opened the vents, and someone was moving air with their magic to quench the sweltering heat. Feeling moderately relaxed, she settled her braid over her shoulder so the air could reach the back of her neck.
“Speaking of, what were you planning to do if I hadn’t shown up when I did?”
She sucked her teeth. Hevva set to selecting a smattering of fruits and her favorite types of cheese, the sharp ones, plucking them one by one and placing them daintily on a small plate. Finally, she sat back with unhurried languor and began to peruse the assorted bites.
The king growled again. Clearly, she wasn’t going to get off the hook without replying to his question.
“Thank you,” Hevva ground out, not wanting to admit she wasn't sure. She supposed she could have jumped. She couldn't have lifted the earth or produced stairs at that point, as drained as she'd been.
“For?” he prodded.
She balled her skirts in her free hand. “Thank you. For helping me. At the very tail end of rescuing the children from the fire at the inn. At which point I didn’treallyneed assistance anyway.”
The king’s face contorted as he attempted to bite back a smile but failed, and a grin burst free.
Hevva almost smiled back,almost. She softened for a moment, then concern ruffled her features when she remembered the poor terrified babies. Pausing with a grape halfway to her mouth, she asked, “How are they? The children. They are staying here, right?”
“They are. That’s why I’m here in fact. Didn’t want to leave themalone.”
“Don’t trust your guests enough to leave them alone?” She couldn’t resist making the sharp remark.
His eyes flashed as he chewed on a piece of melon. “I can see you’re dead set on believing the worst of me. Bet you’re glad I repealed those sedition laws, huh?”
“What are you going to do, now that you can’t imprison me? Shout at me?” She shrugged a shoulder, and it was the king’s turn to suck his teeth, though his lips quivered with mirth.
“You know, I don’t owe you any sort of explanation. I’m the king.”
“I know.” She sipped her lemonade and awaited his explanation.
He huffed. “I figured the children would be shaken up after their horrible night. Their parents are busy running the inn and having them here was the least I could do to help.”
“Smart.”Thoughtful.
“How doyoufeel after last night?”
“I’m quite well. Coughed a bit, but I’m fine now.”
“How do youfeelafter last night?”
