The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger #3) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,7

ought to know how much I valued their son.

"Your son has taught me a great deal since we met. Of friendship and respect, how to support someone in deed rather than only words. He has shown me the best and worst of my pride, and I have taken great pleasure in learning every wonderfully generous, intelligent, and kind facet of him," I said slowly, gazing at Wendell, speaking every word of truth and knowing that whatever came next, it was worth the happy flush in his cheeks. "I love Wendell, far more deeply than I knew was possible before meeting him."

Miriam Pope sniffled, a handkerchief conjured from her sleeve to dab at her eyes, a wavering smile on her lips. Douglas Pope, however, remained frowning. He didn't appear angry, but he certainly wasn't as touched by the sentiments as his wife.

"And I love you," Wendell said, bowing his head to me, stopping just shy of a kiss.

"And the princess?" Douglas asked.

Wendell frowned and turned back to his father, blinking. "Bryony?"

"What will you tell her of all of this?" Douglas's question sparked obvious concern in Miriam's expression, and all four of us sat up straighter.

"Bryony was aware from the very start, and we are every bit her Chosen," Wendell said, shrugging. "But it doesn't change the fact that Thao and I… How important it was to me that you know what Thao means to me."

"Wendell and I love the princess, but for myself, I don't know that I would've been capable of such a depth of feeling without Wen first teaching it to me," I said.

Miriam sighed, her smiling returning. "Oh, that's lovely. Isn't that lovely, Douglas?" she added, a little more sharply.

"And you fulfill your duty to the young woman?" Douglas asked, eyes narrowing.

"Douglas!"

"We do," Wendell said, but the happy flush narrowed into darker twin spots of embarrassment.

Douglas Pope eased back in his chair, returning his attention to his pipe in his hand. "Ah well, that's all right then, isn't it? Long as there's no offense to the crown, you might do as you like."

Wendell stiffened, and Miriam stood up from her chair.

"Prince Thao, I wonder if you wouldn't help me pick out a bottle of wine for our dinner?" she said.

Wendell was simmering at my side, and I hesitated briefly, wondering if I shouldn't stay with him to hear whatever came out next. But I had faced my father alone in Mennary when he discovered my relationship with Wendell. At the time, I'd felt the shame firsthand and carried it on my own shoulders. If I had to sit through the same conversation today, I would've been more ashamed of my father than myself. I glanced at Wendell who nodded firmly and then I stood, offering Miriam my arm, although it was she who led me out of the room, a low murmur of voices rising at our back.

"I am happy, you know," she said as we stepped into the hall. "I always was. It was exciting for Wen to receive the ambassadorship so young, but Mennary is such a long ways away. When his letters began to arrive, they were lonely at first. A mother can tell. And then you appeared in them. And then they were full of you."

"I felt the same. Wen erased a great deal of the isolation I'd been raised with," I said.

Miriam beamed up at me, washing away some of the awkwardness of the study. "I am so glad you all decided to visit. I've wanted to meet you for so long."

She paused outside of a narrow service door, squeezing my arm and turning to face me.

"Thank you for taking care of my son, Your Highness."

"Thao, please," I said, bowing a little and making the older woman giggle. "The care was mutual."

"Now, I think we ought to pick one of Wen's favorites for dinner. I suppose as Chosen, I won't have many more opportunities to see him."

I hummed as she opened the narrow door and lit the lamp for the stairs down to their cellar. "I wouldn't discount it yet. Bryony is very conscious of our comfort and feelings. She would never deny Wendell time with his family."

Miriam brightened further at that. "I shall have to learn to say her name then, I suppose."

I worried briefly over how Wen was handling the remnants of conversation with his father, and then realized we'd already been given their blessing. Douglas Pope might not be as fond of his son's romance with me as he was