The Consolation Prize (Brides of Karadok #3) - Alice Coldbreath Page 0,124

her and reached out to unwind the gray headscarf from her head.

Una covered her mouth with her hands as she watched Otho start carefully placing the flowers into Rose’s golden hair. “Oh,” she murmured, as tears began to roll down Rose’s cheeks. “Oh, Armand,” she whispered. “Look!”

Armand shifted in his seat beneath her. “It seems too private a moment for everyone to be watching,” he muttered, but Una could see that neither Otho nor Rose had eyes for anyone else present. Her hand sought Armand’s and she squeezed his fingers tight. After a moment, he returned the pressure.

“If he wants her, then good luck to him, he’ll need it!” he murmured.

“Armand! Rose saved my life,” Una reminded him reproachfully.

Armand snorted. “She’ll probably say the faeries told her to push him over!”

“Armand!”

“Besides, you saved hers right back,” he pointed out. “She would have gone over the edge if you had not caught her.” When she did not respond, he ran a finger down her spine. “Remind me to warn Otho never to inadvertently step on that dog. She’ll pitch him out the window faster than he can beg its pardon.”

Una shook her head and stole another glance at the fireside. Rose was now in Otho’s arms. She could have cried to see the look of tenderness on her brother’s usually stern face. “Oh, Armand,” she sighed. “We shall soon have another wedding feast here at Lynwode.”

Janet and Mrs. Brickenden started clapping enthusiastically and soon everyone else had joined in, so the hall was buzzing with good cheer.

When a loud clamoring started at the door, Una did not even flinch. “Likely it’s my in-laws,” she murmured, tipping back her head to look at Armand when his arms tightened protectively around her. “I told you they would soon hear of last night’s excitement.”

In this, however, she was quite wrong, for it turned out to be a royal deputation. One herald blew a trumpet as the other unfurled a long list of items. Then a third clapped his hands and a staggering array of wedding gifts were carried into the great hall. The first herald cleared his throat and informed them their unexpected departure had prevented the King from bestowing them before they left court.

Una watched in amazement as a procession of costly raiment, linens, damasks, brocades, tapestries, and lavish furnishings were paraded into the hall. The servants were open-mouthed as the pile grew high and items were stacked up against the far wall.

“I think,” Armand murmured in her ear, “that we must be grateful neither Muriel nor Henry are here to see this disgusting parade of extravagance.”

Una choked back a laugh. “They would not approve,” she agreed. “And it seems I no longer need to visit that marketplace. Only consider how well those vibrant tapestries will look in the solar!”

The second herald cleared his throat and approached them with a letter in hand. He bowed low and presented it. Armand made no move to take it, merely looked steadily at Una, so she plucked it from the herald’s fingers and opened it.

“It’s an invitation,” she said steadily, “for us to attend the Royal Autumn Tournament at Aphrany as the King’s honored guests.”

Epilogue

Three months later, the Autumn Royal Tournament, Aphrany

Una sat in the royal balcony once more. This time she was seated at King Wymer’s left while Queen Armenal sat on his right. It was both familiar, and yet also, vastly different to how she remembered the experience.

At first, she had been heartily dismayed to learn that the King expected her to sit in the royal box. She was not a royal, as she pointed out firmly to Lord Vawdrey. She wanted to sit among the other sundry nobles in the less exalted stands. She neither deserved nor desired such a mark of distinction from the King.

Lord Vawdrey, however, had been equally firm, an amused smile played about his lips. “Lady Una, I believe you must indulge the King in his wish. Since you have married De Bussell, he believes you have done him great credit and is very gratified to have you back under his aegis. He was most upset that you rushed off so precipitately after your wedding.” Seeing she was unconvinced, he added softly, “I fear if he does not see enough of you on your month-long visit to court, then he might suggest you extend it.”

His mildly spoken words hit their target and Una sucked in a horrified breath. “Oh no, no,” she blurted. “That would not be convenient at