Crossed Hearts | h.s

Thirty One

There was an audible gasp that echoed throughout the room, leaving it silent. Everyone's eyes switched to the drunken queen, her secret lover, and the man who had unraveled it all.

The silence sobered Geneva up immediately. Her mouth went dry and heart dropped at the realization of what she had just done. She sidestepped out of Harry's grasp and found Estelle by her side, her hand outstretched. She took her friend's hand and frantically looked around the room, the faces dizzying her. Lords and ladies were shocked, the Nydalen king and queen were silent with judgement, Caris was pale with anger, and Anna looked at her daughter with disappointed eyes. Geneva felt her cheeks flare with embarrassment. She dropped Estelle's hand and stalked out of the room, parting the crowd as she walked through them, her head still held high and her eyes focused on the door.

Anna cleared her throat. "Her majesty is overworked, but let us continue this celebration of my daughter and her fiancé." She glared at the musicians, commanding them with her dark eyes to pick up the music.

As the musicians plucked the strings of their lutes and blew into their flutes, desperately trying to appease the infamously ill-tempered queen mother, murmurs and music filled the room once more. On the opposite side of the room, Harry was left standing in front of Lord Crofton, abashed and in a state of shock.

The lord turned his nose up at the guard and scoffed. "A queen and a servant... I guess it runs in the family," Crofton said before turning on his heel and disappearing into the crowd.

Harry walked backwards, sinking against the wall to conceal himself from the judgmental eyes of courtiers. When he felt a hand on his arm, he flinched, but calmed when he connected eyes with Estelle, who he knew to be a friend of Geneva.

"The servant's passageway is behind the tapestry," she said, pointing to a sheet of fabric hanging on a wall nearby. "I can take you through to get you out of here."

He nodded, anxious to leave the room that was thick with discrimination. "Yes, thank you."

They quietly walked over to the tapestry that was dyed purple and white, and Estelle lifted it, revealing a door. She pulled on the metal handle and hauled it open, ducking inside and waiting for Harry to follow. When he did, she lifted a torch from the wall of the entryway to light the rest of the way through.

They walked in silence until curiously got the best of Estelle, and she couldn't help but ask, "Is it true?"

Harry sunk his teeth into his bottom lip, not daring to look at her. "She had no intentions of announcing it tonight, she said she was going to wait until the time was right. The pressure got the best of her and the alcohol didn't help."

Estelle didn't say anything. She led the rest of the way through the dim passageway and stopped when they came upon another door. "This will put you in the kitchen."

"Thank you, Estelle."

She curtsied, but didn't turn to walk away. "I know it's not my place," she said before leaving, "but, perhaps it's best to let her majesty rest tonight."

He cast his eyes downward, knowing she was right. With the rumors that were undoubtedly spreading throughout the kingdom like wildfire, the last thing he should have done was to visit the queen at night, no matter how badly he wanted to comfort her after this humiliating event. "Quite right. Good night, Estelle."

"Good night, sir."

❁ ❁ ❁

"How could you?" Caris shouted, throwing the door to Geneva's chamber open and stomping inside. The room was dark and Geneva had fallen asleep, but that didn't stop the angered princess. She stalked across the room after slamming the door shut and tore the duvet off her sister, scaring her terribly. "You harlot!"