more gratitude than confidence in her smile, but I would prove myself to her. "Thomlinson will try and bar you as much as he can. And he can't be blind to the fact that we're gaining allies," Bryony said, turning to Jack. "Is there anyone who can be trusted to keep us apprised of conversations taking place outside of meetings?"
"Yes, there's a man I've been using for as much when it comes to two-natured issues," Jack said. "And as it stands, the council can't vote on new measures without every member given the opportunity to vote."
Bryony's smile was tight. "I'm beginning to see my mother's point about why I should rather have my Chosen at my side than chasing the council all around the kingdom."
As poorly timed as it was, Bryony's regret created warmth in my chest, and I tugged her out from between Cosmo and Owen and onto my lap. I rested my chin on her shoulder and let my lips brush against the corner of her jaw, my arms wrapping tight around her waist.
"I promise to serve you perfectly at every opportunity, including this one," I murmured, savoring the shiver of her in my arms.
14
Bryony
I paced the floor of my mother's sitting room, Daniel's eyes tracking the line my feet carved through the dense carpet on the floor.
"I don't think that woman even told her I was waiting," I muttered, glancing at the door again.
"We could come back," Daniel offered softly.
I shook my head. "She's just as likely to be occupied later as she is now. Or simply not in the mood to see me."
"I think you're making yourself more anxious, pacing like that," Daniel said. His voice was mild, and it occurred to me, a little late, that Daniel usually grew quiet when he was uncomfortable.
It was barely perceptible just by looking at him. If I hadn't grown to know the man from the past few months—his laughter and smiles and the easy drape of him in a chair when he was relaxed and not constantly judging himself and his place in our company—I would've said he was fine. I was learning that stillness and measured volume and tone were Daniel's way of hiding.
I slowed to a stop and then crossed to the armchair where he was seated, perfectly frozen in a tableau of patience. He stiffened as I helped myself to his lap, eyes on my face as I wrapped one arm around his shoulders and gripped at his collar with my free hand, flicking a button open and watching his throat bob with a swallow. He released a soft sigh as my forehead touched his, and together we melted into the cushions of the chair.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he answered immediately.
"Tell me. Or I'll start pacing again," I teased.
"What are you going to say to your mother?" Daniel asked, arms circling me in return, one hand sliding to cup my bottom.
I frowned and lifted my face to look more closely at him. "I…I'm not sure really. I just want her to know what a terrible idea it was to give Thomlinson that permission."
"Is it wise to question the queen like that?"
I blinked at the question, lips parting without an answer ready. It struck me finally that Daniel was tense on my behalf, afraid of what might come from this conversation I was waiting to have with my mother.
"I think…if anything, it might be a waste of time," I said slowly, frowning. I hadn't meant to say as much, but it wasn't untrue. "My mother is too agreeable. She'll agree with me just as she did with Thomlinson."
"Then why come here?"
I hesitated, one finger absently tracing a swirling pattern over the muscle of Daniel's throat. "My grandmother and I agreed that Kimmery's power was moving out of the crown's hands and into the council's. But I don't think she disagreed with the treatment of the two-natured. And I know we had different opinions in regards to Chosen."
Daniel sat up a little at that. "Did you?"
I nodded. "She thought of it as a duty that men should answer, and I think it ought to be something that a woman and her Chosen want equally to share. She believes—believed in the right of the nobility, and to be honest, I'm not sure I do."
"And your mother?"
I took a deep breath and lifted my head to gaze out the window. "I want to believe that my mother's gentle heart would mean that it was impossible for her to approve of the