Queen of Shattered Dreams

15 - Chocolate and Secrets

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I stare out my window from my bed, where I've been propped up since yesterday. Hassiba and Vlad have both insisted that I rest it, but neither of them have offered much diversion while I wait for my ankle to heal. It's left me with a lot of time to think of Alfrid. We hadn't parted on the best of terms when I was engaged to the king but yesterday it felt as though none of that had happened. Aside from him looking older it was as if no time had passed. I must see him again and I have a plan I think will work without raising suspicions.

The door to my room burst open and Lady Bryde bustles in. "I came as soon as I heard." She's carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses, a box tucked beneath her arm. "I brought medicine!"

I give her a weak smile. "You're a godsend." I hold out a hand for a glass.

She laughs, handing a glass to me and then filling it. She slips off her shoes and takes a seat on the bed next to me. There's a chair set up next to the bed for visitors. But Lady Bryde isn't simply a visitor, she's family. She fills her own glass and giggles as she takes a sip, almost spitting wine on me. I can't help but laugh with her as I put a hand up to protect myself from the spray.

Apparently she's already started on the "medicine". "I've brought you some chocolates, too." She holds out a small tin filled with various shapes of creamy, brown chocolate. My eyes flick from the candy to her face. Chocolate is not easy to come by for most.

"Where did you get these?" I ask. Perhaps Lady Bryde has found herself a wealthy suitor.

She swallows. Her eyebrows lift just slightly before she puts on her confident smile and says, "They were a gift for my birthday."

I eye her. "I hope he's worthy of you. How kind of you to share." I take one of the chocolates and put it into my mouth, letting the rich flavor melt on my tongue. I lean my head back and close my eyes. I should eat every piece she has. Here I am, the queen, and no one gave me chocolates for my birthday. Why should my lady have something I do not? I open my eyes and reach for another. "What news of the outside?" I say as though I've been held prisoner for months, rather than a day.

She screws up her lips and looks toward the ceiling as she thinks. "Oh!" Her expression changes in a second. "Prince Dashel asked after you, said it was such a shame about your ankle. But he hopes you'll recover before the end of the week as he is leaving for home then."

"Hmm." The ankle is a blessing in a way, it will be a good excuse to avoid the prince for the rest of his stay. Feodor certainly can't misread anything between us if I stay in my room. I take another chocolate. I wanted interesting gossip. Lady Bryde has never disappointed where gossip is involved. Which means there are things she doesn't want to tell me but which are occupying her mind. How many glasses of wine would she have to drink to loosen her lips enough to tell?

"He's very handsome, is he not?" She's still talking about the prince and wags her eyebrows.

I scowl at her but can't hide my smile. He is handsome but the prince has mostly slipped my mind since yesterday morning—replaced by thoughts of Alfrid.

"Oh." Her mouth hangs open and her eyebrows rise. The corners of her mouth threaten to pull up into a grin.

"What?" My face straightens. Then my cheeks warm. She probably thinks I was smiling about Prince Dashel. "Don't give me that look."

"What look?"

"Like you think there's something going on between the prince and I."

"Is there something going on between the handsome prince and you?" Her eyes sparkle.