Page 55 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 2
I hand Pip's lead to Linc and take off my cloak so I can give it to her. I can say my goodbyes once she's hung it up and taken Pip.
"Lord Fallmartin would like to see you," Jemima says as she takes it from me.
"I'll be right there," I promise.
"I'll say goodbye," Linc says to me.
Jemima clears her throat. "He said that he wishes to see you too, Your Highness, if that isn't too much trouble."
Surprise flits over Linc's face, and I have to admit that I feel it too. "Of course. Would you mind taking my cloak?"
"Of course," my maid says. "I shall put it with Lady Beatrice's." She takes his outerwear off him and puts it with mine before taking Pip and heading to deal with her. She's probably going to give her a bath, considering how soggy and dirty she is from playing out in the snow.
"What do you think Lord Fallmartin wants?" Linc asks.
"No idea. I didn't even realise he knew we were together." Though as I say it, I realise that's foolish of me when Linc came to meet me before our walk, and the servants talk, especially to the man they're paid to serve. "I suppose we should go find out."
"She didn't tell us where he was," Linc points out.
I shrug. "I'm guessing in his study." I take his hand and lead him deeper into the apartments, trying not to feel too nervous about the conversation to come. I have no idea what Lord Fallmartin could want to say, and it's even more nerve-inducing that he wants to talk to Linc too.
Lord Fallmartin's study door is less intimidating than it used to be, but I still feel nervous as I reach out to knock. I think it'll probably take centuries for me not to feel this way.
"Come in," he calls.
I push open the door and step inside as Lord Fallmartin looks up. "Ah, Beatrice, Your Highness." He dips his head to Linc.
"Lord Fallmartin," he responds, a wariness in his voice that I don't blame him for.
"Why don't the two of you take a seat?" He gestures to the chairs on this side of the desk.
Not really knowing what else to do, I go over and sit in the one on the right, while Linc sits in the other one.
"If the two of you want to gain power at court, then there are some things you need to change," Lord Fallmartin says, not wasting any time getting to the point. I wonder how long he's been waiting to say this to us.
"We're not having a feast at our wedding," Linc says firmly.
"No, I am aware of that. I'm not a fool, Your Highness. I know better than to suggest you're put in that situation. But you are going to have to stop disappearing from balls and other events as early as you have been doing. I'm not sure where you go when you leave, and I don't particularly care, but it needs to stop. If you are to gain the favour of powerful Houses, then you can't be seen as wanting to get away from them."
I nod. "Understood."
"Good. I thought it might be. I realise that these events might not be to your tastes, but there are certain expectations that come from being a royal couple. There hasn't been a royal wedding since the King and Queen were married over a century ago. People are going to be looking at you because they love the excitement of it. You need to make sure you make the most of that." He looks between us as if he expects us to answer.
"How are we supposed to do that?" I ask.
"Talk to people. Let them talk to you. Be present."
I exchange a look with Linc. It sounds straightforward, which makes me feel like I'm not getting something.
"How will that help us?" Linc asks. "It sounds like it will just make us available for entertainment."
"It probably will for now," Lord Fallmartin says. "But the main thing it will do is make people like you. And people who like you are far less likely to kill you."
"You think people will try?" I ask.
"Not right now, no. Very few people know who you are, and if they do, they don't know anything about you to want you dead. Once some of your opinions become better known, that will likely change. Some people won't like the idea of the two of you not participating in feasts, something that will no doubt influence several of the younger vampires into making the same decision for their weddings and events."
"I doubt they'll kill us over the feasts," Linc says.
