Kneel For Me by Laura Greenwood

Author:Laura Greenwood [Greenwood, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Drowlgon Press

Chapter Fifteen

"I don't think that china is the right one," I told my staff. "What about the one with the gold leaf flowers?"

"Of course, ma'am," the head of catering responded.

I smiled at the woman. It couldn't be easy for her to have to stand and take criticism from me when all she'd done was stick to a brief. Admittedly, not one I'd written, but still.

"Other than that, everything seems to be in order," I added. The organisations for my coronation banquet had started the moment my mother abdicated, but this was the first I was really hearing of it. No one bothered me with details like this until close to the end.

Of course, I had other problems to deal with before then. Most notably, what to do about the fact I needed to marry and that I was pretty sure Margaret was trying to do her best to steal the throne from me. That problem really did need sorting out or I was in big trouble.

"Your cousin is in the parlor, ma'am," a servant said.

"Thank you," I responded instantly. Think of the devil and she would appear it seemed.

I gave the staff a grateful nod and swept out of the room. More Margaret damage control seemed to need doing.

"Cousin," I greeted loudly as I entered the room, taking in the situation as I did.

She was sat demurely at one of the game tables, with her husband-to-be on the other side, shuffling a deck of cards in his hands.

"Would you like to play, Amara?" Margaret asked.

"No thank you, I don't play games with cheaters,” I responded cooly. I watched her face carefully, trying to gauge how she’d respond.

“No matter, I invited an old friend to play anyway. When I heard he was at court, I knew I had to reach out.”

Blood rushed from my face as I put two and two together and realised who she was talking about.

“Good morning, Your Majesty. You look well today,” Vincent said.

I turned around and gave him the most dazzling smile I could while glaring at him.

“Good morning, Vincent.”

He grinned, looking like he was enjoying himself just a little too much for my liking.

“Why don’t you take a seat, Vincent. We’re just about to play.”

“What’s the game of choice?” He pulled up a chair as he spoke.

I bit my tongue, clenching my fists as I did. He really wound me up the wrong way and pairing him with Margaret was only making matters worse. It did make me wonder why she was with the Earl and not Vincent though. Surely the latter would be more helpful to her plans.

"Are you sure you won't join us?" Margaret asked again.

"Fine," I muttered, taking a seat opposite her.

"You never did say what the game was," Vincent pointed out.

"Gin rummy," she replied.

Vincent nodded and leaned back in his chair while I sat on the edge of mine, nervous and waiting for whatever scheme had been put into motion to start. Though I would admit, it did seem like a perfectly normal pack of cards to me.

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