The Queen's Secret (The Queen's Secret #2) - Melissa de la Cruz Page 0,42

were held at a warmer time of year. Hansen was outraged. He bleated on about it being a tradition since his great-grandfather’s day, and something that every Montrician from prince to peasant views with eager anticipation.

“As we discussed at the last meeting of the Small Council,” the duke says, looking at me as though I’ve gone soft in the head, “I believe it’s vital that we hold them as usual.”

“I believe that I was the one who argued that very point,” I say. If I irritate the duke, he irritates me twice as much.

“Quite true,” he says with a grimace masquerading as a smile. “We should not needlessly alarm the citizens of our capital city, as you so succinctly pointed out in our meeting. If we cancel the great tradition of the Winter Races, then we deprive our people of great pleasure.”

“Not to mention depriving the king,” I observe. Hansen loves horse races. He loves anything where he can place bets and—usually—lose money, anything where he can enjoy himself without being in personal peril or discomfort for a single moment.

The duke chooses to ignore my comment.

“It’s also an opportunity for you and His Majesty to appear in public together, to reassure your people that you are safe and happy. Very much a united front. Despite—everything that has occurred.”

“Of course the king and I will require extra guards and protection. It’s unfortunate that you’ve sent the Chief Assassin away.”

“We will ensure your safety,” he replies with a bow. I decide to torment him some more.

“Though I believe it is my duty as queen to attend the Winter Races, and be seen at the king’s side, you must understand that I remain quite unwell.” I sink back into my pillows with a breathy sigh.

“I think you look very well indeed today,” argues the duke. “Quite rosy in the cheeks, if I may be so bold as to venture the observation. And you may be a little fatigued by being cloistered here in your chambers, unable to enjoy the brisk fresh air. A change of scene, just for a short while, and the entertainment offered by the races—”

“Yes, yes.” Of course I’m tired of being stuck inside. But the duke was the one who stuck me here and told me it was too dangerous even to walk in the yard. I’d rather be riding a horse than watching one race past me, but I can’t pretend to be feeble and be seen galloping around the place.

“So it’s settled,” he booms, clapping his hands. The doors pop open, because the guards outside think he’s summoning them. “We have just a few days to prepare, but that is a trifling matter. I will order the carpenters out immediately to build the usual scaffolds for seating.”

Scaffolds make me think of a public hanging, but I don’t mention this to the duke. He’s cheered up considerably at the prospect of his silly race day. No doubt he has a new horse he wants to show off or a new lady of the court he wants to impress. And then there’s Hansen and me, his puppets, to display to the public.

“You think they will cheer?” I ask him. “The king finds it very distressing when it is the opposite.”

The duke turns red in the face.

“Anyone who demonstrates even the smallest amount of disrespect will be arrested and imprisoned,” he says, his voice rising with anger. “I will not have it! Not in our own capital city.”

“Very good,” I say. “You must leave me this instant and attend to this important business of scaffolds and arrest. I just hope that I will be well enough to attend.”

The duke stands by the open door, frowning at me.

“I would very much hope so, Your Majesty. We will have triple the usual number of guards in your detail. Anyone who dares to boo you or His Majesty—well, I shall run them through with a sword myself, on the spot.”

“That sounds quite illegal,” I say, and sink back into my pillows, starting up my usual fake cough.

Really, I do long to leave this room. The only things required of me at the races will be smiling and waving from the platform. Hansen and I can make a show of things, reassuring the suspicious Mont public that the union between king and queen is loving, and that I am not a monstrous witch or a conniving outsider, but a dutiful wife.

How much longer I can postpone the actual duties of a royal wife, I