Beguiled (The Fairest Maidens #2) - Jody Hedlund Page 0,52

to coerce me away from the others with tales of a beautiful white buck. I went with him, only to have him creep up behind me and start squeezing my neck.

Thankfully, another of the huntsmen had been suspicious and followed us. He knocked out his companion from behind, warned me of the queen’s scheming, and told me to run away and not come back. I was indebted to that lone huntsman for looking out for me and prayed he had escaped the queen’s wrath when she learned I hadn’t died after all.

I had to accept the truth no matter how much it hurt. She’d never loved me. Not even when I’d been a little girl. I’d always fallen short of earning her favor and attention. Mostly she’d used me like an object on display, having Ruby and me trail her in our glorious gowns and brilliant jewels as an extension of her glamour.

However, in the last few years, I’d consistently drawn the attention away from her rather than to her. But was jealousy enough to lead to murder? Especially of one’s daughter?

“Why does your mother want to kill my brother?” Mikkel’s voice broke through my reverie. Accusation dripped from every word.

My attention snapped to him. Though the darkness of the woodland shrouded him, I could sense the rigidness of his posture.

Did he think I was connected with my mother’s scheming against Vilmar? Or that I was in some way to blame? My ire flared to life as rapidly as dry windfall catching a flyaway spark. “And why do you think I would know such information? Have you forgotten that my mother wants to kill me too?”

I kicked my mount into a trot, moving ahead of Mikkel. Now that we were so close to Kensington, I knew the forests well. I’d hunted this land oft enough over the years with my father. I had many good memories of my adventures with him, which only served to heighten my sorrow.

“She is angry with Vilmar for capturing Grendel,” Mikkel stated, his voice still hard. “Therefore, I conclude she had need of the madman in some way. You must tell me what it is.”

Had the queen needed Grendel? I’d always believed her resistance to capturing the monster had to do with her unwillingness to put my father at risk. But she could have assigned her toughest warriors to the task, could she not? Why hadn’t she?

“Speak the truth, Pearl. I must know everything.”

“And I have told you everything.”

“Vilmar has discovered her secret for needing Grendel,” Mikkel continued, “and she seeks his death so he won’t tell anyone else.”

“’Tis possible.” Mikkel’s observations were astute as usual. That he could so quickly analyze information and draw conclusions never failed to amaze me. And now curiosity replaced my irritation.

“You must tell me her secret,” Mikkel insisted.

“I have no knowledge of a secret.”

“Does this have something to do with her obsession with the white stone and alchemy?”

“I cannot see how.”

“You must have some inkling.”

“I have been honest with you about everything.” Once the words were out, guilt slapped me hard across my face. I hadn’t been honest with him about my appearance.

He didn’t contradict my statement, but his ensuing silence indicated that he was thinking of my veil too. Perhaps he was justified in his mistrust. Perhaps we both still needed to learn to trust each other.

Should I remove my veil and tell him the truth about myself at this very moment? I reached for the strings that held the covering in place. If I showed him my face, would he treat me like all the other men I’d known? Seeing only my beauty and focusing on that to the exclusion of everything else?

He was the first man who valued me as a friend, accepted my ideas, and listened to my opinions.

I let my hand drop back to the reins. I loved the camaraderie we’d developed, especially over the past fortnight of traveling, and I didn’t want that to change. Not yet. Once we had Ruby, I’d tell him the truth then.

For now, what would it hurt to keep the veil in place a little longer?

“If Vilmar has made an enemy of the queen,” Mikkel said, “will she consider me a foe as well?”

“’Tis quite likely she will regard you with ill will.”

Mikkel muttered something about Vilmar being foolish. “Let us pray she will not reject my request for Ruby on account of Vilmar.”

My heart stumbled a beat at the thought of Mikkel seeking an audience with the