Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology #2) - Robin LaFevers Page 0,120

force myself to let go and step away from the door. I will be of no use to him if I sit here weeping for all that he has had to endure.

 Chapter 65

When I have finished telling the queen everything we have learned over the last two days, from the regent’s ultimatum to General Cassel’s horrifying fascination with Beast, she lifts a trembling hand to her brow, as if to rub away the weight of all these revelations. In truth, she has aged at least ten years during the telling of it.

She takes a deep breath before speaking, “Please tell me you have a plan for protecting Beast from any more interference from the general.”

The question is like a thorn in my heart. “Not yet, Your Majesty. I have counseled Beast to remain deep within his cell and not come to the door unless they drag him bodily, but other than that, we are somewhat limited.”

She looks hopefully at Gen, who glances down at her feet. “The king has already summoned me once, Your Majesty. It did not go well. Especially when I attempted to gently point out the flaws in both the general’s and the regent’s claims. I was, in effect, ordered to leave and not come back.”

The queen closes her eyes. “My fool husband’s pride is going to blind him to the attempted coup taking place under his nose.”

“For whatever reason,” I say slowly, “the regent is choosing to fashion this into a weapon against you rather than believe it is a credible threat. General Cassel is not inclined to believe any woman and has the king convinced that listening to you is somehow a weakness. It does not help that the truth of Beast’s absence fits so nicely into the falsehood they are trying to build.”

She snorts in disgust. “Well, it seems they’ve succeeded. If ever there was a case of cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face, surely this is it.”

“Of a certainty, I agree with you.”

“But then what am I to do?”

“Do you think the king will be more receptive once he has absorbed it all?” Gen suggests tentatively. “Perhaps if you spoke with him in private, without the general or regent nearby.”

She casts her a wry glance. “You mean in the marriage bed?”

“No! Just somewhere alone.”

The queen gives a firm shake of her head. “He has already cast me as one of the villains in this. I do not think he will listen to reason, even if I clout him on the ear with it.” She is quiet a long time. “It makes no sense. They have fought so long and so hard to possess my country, now they will let it slip so easily through their fingers.” She reaches up to rub her forehead again, as if it has begun to ache. “So all we must do is remove Genevieve from court so she cannot be used as a weapon against the king, get you someplace where Pierre and the regent cannot find you, and free Beast from prison to get him far away from the general and his disturbing interest.” She lets her hand fall into her lap.

“And find a way to clear you from these false allegations of treason,” Gen adds.

The queen throws up her hands. “May as well ask me to turn water into wine.” Then her face hardens into decisive lines. “Very well. We shall have to deal with all of this ourselves. I will tell the king that I have had Genevieve sent away from court, no longer wishing to bear the burden of her company.”

“My lady,” Gen says, stricken, “I would ask you not draw the king’s wrath to yourself for my sake.”

“It is too late for that now,” she says dryly. “Although this is not of your doing.”

“While I agree with the need to get Genevieve away from the regent,” I say softly, “I do not think it is wise for me to leave you.”

“We have no choice. And as wroth as the king might be with me, he will do nothing to harm the babe, so I am at least safe until it is born.”

“But what if—”

“Furthermore, Heloise and Elsibet will both be here. I shall be safe. Far safer than my people who are about to have war brought down upon their heads.”

I decide to put aside my arguments for the moment. “What are you proposing, exactly?”

She straightens and casts her gaze toward the fire in the hearth. “I am queen. In spite