Page 135 of The Witch Queen
“Indeed. And perhaps it’s time to start considering alternative solutions,” he continues. Drops his voice. “I can make discreet inquiries with Lord Warbeck. See what it might take to…sway him to our side.”
What it might take to get his son to withdraw. To allow Blodwyn to win the trials and become regent. I look across the hall, to where the princess is standing with a small group of courtiers. Her gown is gold satin embroidered in sparkling white, the fabric glowing against the torchlight. During our last conversation, the princess suggested a way forward. But would that hold if Blodwyn won the trials? If she everdiscovers the extent of my lies? More than that…can I really hand her, or anyone else, the throne?
You will burn,Mother’s warning comes back to me.
“Not yet,” I say to Parnell.
“But, Your Majesty, the duchess’s army—”
“I said notyet,” I repeat, sharper. “There’s time enough for me to decide.”
Parnell’s expression suggests otherwise. And he’s right. If we’re going to make a move with Warbeck, it should be now. But I cannot walk away yet. Cannot let go of everything I’ve achieved. And I certainly cannot allowMargaretto win.
As if on cue, heralds trumpet their horns.
The duchess sweeps into the chamber in another of her elaborate gowns, sapphire brocade trimmed in silver.
“Your Grace,” Weston calls, raising his glass. “Here you are. I thought you abandoned us.”
“I do apologize for my tardiness,” she begins, holding up her hands for quiet. “But I assure you that I have a very good reason. One that will put all our minds at ease. Something that could stop that abominable creature and end this war once and for all.”
Confused murmurings churn through the audience.
“End the war?” I ask, stepping forward. “What are you talking about?”
Margaret fixes me with one of her feline smiles. “I trust you remember the rumors about the escaped prisoner? Well, I have found her.”
Escaped prisoner.
An icicle of fear skims down my spine.
At Margaret’s signal, someone else strides into the chamber. A pair of blue eyes lands squarely on mine:
Jacquetta.
—
The walls of the chamber seem to narrow, my heartbeats thundering in my chest as the court erupts with shouting. But I can hardly hear thechaos over the storm of questions in my mind. What is Jacquettadoinghere? Margaret claimed that she found the escaped prisoner, but Jacquetta isn’t chained. In fact, she holds her head high, completely unruffled by the jeering crowd, like she doesn’t fear them at all.
A thought clicks into place. Maybe there’s a reason Jacquetta isn’t afraid. Maybe she’s here bychoice.And if that’s true…
She betrayed you,that voice hisses.
Malum rumbles in my chest.
“Enough!” I shout. The crowd quiets. “Someone explain what’s going on.”
From across the room, I spot Joan, who stares back at me, open-mouthed. Heat floods my face, but I shove that down. Joan is a problem for later. For now, I turn my attention back to Margaret. The duchess hasn’t moved. Blodwyn stands at her side, her gaze wide and terrified.
“Happily, Your Majesty,” Margaret continues. “Allow me to introduce you to my special guest, Jacquetta. Here on behalf of the covens to negotiate.”
Covensripples around the room in shocked gasps, instantly followed bywitch.My fists clench at my sides. What is Jacquetta playing at? What has shedone?
“Negotiate?” Lord Warbeck bullies his way through the crowd. “With awitch? If you intend to make a mockery of the council, Duchess, I will—”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake.” Margaret waves him away as if he’s no more than a bothersome insect. “Aren’t you curious to hear what she has to say?”
I, for one, very much am. Because if Jacquetta is supposedly here to negotiate, that means she went to Margaret on her own. Has she exposed me? Shade was right. I should have taken her power while I had the chance. Never should have released her from the dungeons.
