Queen of Coin and Whispers by Helen Corcoran

Author:Helen Corcoran
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The O'Brien Press
Published: 2020-07-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Lia

There wasn’t enough face powder in the country to help me with the day ahead.

‘You look about as good as I feel,’ Matthias said.

‘You’re most kind.’

He collapsed into a seat and scraped his hands over his face. ‘Can we claim illness and go back to bed?’

In the entire time I’d known Matthias, he’d never shown weakness. But he’d dragged Xania into this, and now she was hurt. I dumped sugar and cream into his coffee, as he sat miserably with his guilt.

I passed his cup over. ‘Have you seen her yet?’

‘No answer when I knocked. I presumed she was with your physician.’

We drank and ate despite our lack of appetite, steeped in silence, until Xania walked in. She moved carefully, her face tight, but attempted a smile. ‘Good morning.’

‘Don’t even think of curtseying. You’ll faint.’ I jabbed a finger at the seat beside me. She meekly lowered herself into it.

Matthias raised his eyebrows. ‘Did you manage any sleep?’ he asked her.

‘A little.’ She nodded when I pointed at the teapot. ‘I woke before dawn, but didn’t try to sit up for a while.’

‘Are your stitches all right?’ I asked.

‘I didn’t pull any. The physician is satisfied, though she’d be happier if nothing had happened in the first place. How is our friend this morning?’

‘Better than when he regained consciousness last night. What did you hit him with?’

‘The wall,’ Xania said serenely. ‘Has he said anything?’

‘Not yet. Kartek and Curjan are enjoying the challenge.’ Matthias undermined his calm words by tearing up a slice of bread.

‘So you’ve no idea who employed him?’ I asked.

Matthias eyed more of the bread. ‘Not yet.’

‘It was probably Rassa,’ Xania said.

Matthias and I stared at her. She continued eating Matthias’s shredded bread.

I recovered first. ‘Any particular reason?’

She sipped her tea, then said, ‘I did actually meet him, but not for what he implied.’

‘What happened?’

‘We ate dessert,’ Xania said, ‘and he threatened me.’

‘He what?’

‘Don’t act so surprised, Your Majesty,’ Matthias muttered. ‘Rassa isn’t subtle.’

‘I’m going to–’

‘What, Your Majesty?’ Xania’s eyes narrowed. ‘What precisely are you going to do?’

Rage thickened in my throat, choking my common sense. ‘I don’t know! Why didn’t you tell me this last night?’

Matthias’s eyebrows drew together, likely at my tone, but I was too furious to care.

Hurt flickered across Xania’s face, swiftly followed by anger, then embarrassment. Of course she wouldn’t have wanted to admit what Rassa had done. I had no right to lash out – even if, when I closed my eyes, I saw her standing before me, bloody and panicked.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said.

She nodded uncomfortably.

Matthias looked between us, perplexed and suspicious. I’d fussed since Xania had arrived, and not only had she allowed it, she’d addressed me by title only after I’d provoked her. And, as Xania had said last night, monarchs didn’t apologise. Uncle never had, and even I tried to avoid it.

Whatever expression was on my face, it made Matthias gulp the last of his coffee. ‘I’ve suddenly remembered something I should do.’

I waved him off. To most people, his speed would have been unseemly.

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