Page 112 of The Favourite

“I would never criticize Her Majesty’s choice,” he said smoothly, but something about his manner made it quite clear he thought it a mistake.

“Very well, Jane, give me the pearl one,” Armenal said irritably. Jane handed over the pearl brooch. Was this really what she had been summoned for? she wondered. It seemed such a trivial matter and surely anyone could have sufficed. Alisander was far better at selecting jewels than she.

“Lord Bardulf and I have been discussing that little matter, once more. The one from the other day,” the Queen said airily, fiddling with the brooch pin.

“I see,” said Jane, though she was a little surprised to be included now in such a discussion. She suspected her presence had been superfluous last time.

“Lord Bardulf believes my way forward an obvious one,” the Queen said in somewhat brittle tones. “He thinks it would be in my best interest to consult with you, Jane.”

“With me?” Jane answered with astonishment. She darted a look at Alisander, who was looking inscrutable as ever. “To what end?”

The Queen gave a short laugh. “Tell her,” she instructed him. “Let us see what this wife of yours makes of it.”

Alisander sat up, closing his book and setting it on a low table before him. “There is only one way that I can see for the Queen to achieve her aims.” He shrugged. “And that is for her to ensure the King falls in love with her.”

Queen Armenal paused in the act of surveying herself in her looking glass. She turned from her elegant reflection to regard Jane keenly. “There! What do you think of that, Jane?” she flung at her, and for a moment, Jane thought the Queen was angry, seeing the slight flush on her cheek.

Then she noted how the Queen’s hands kept opening and closing; her usual effortless grace had fled. She seemed agitated. So used was Jane to seeing the Queen of Karadok, all self-assurance and in command of any situation, that it came as quite a shock. It slowly dawned on Jane that the Queen was feeling unsure of herself.

“Why should you not secure the King’s love, Your Majesty?” she asked hesitantly. “None is so worthy of it as you.” The pearl brooch slipped through the Queen’s fingers and fell to the floor. Jane darted forward to retrieve it, handing it back to her.

Recovering swiftly, Armenal pinned it to her bosom and gave a short laugh. “My dear Jane, if I failed to secure Wymer’s affections as a tender bride of twenty-two, how in the world would I set about such a thing now, more than a decade later?”

Alisander stood up. “I have already told you my thoughts,” he said briskly and turned to Jane. “I suggested the Queen consult someone well-practiced in such matters.”

His eye dwelt expectantly on Jane, who stood patiently holding the jewelry box. Finally catching his meaning, she started, her eyes growing wide.

“He suggested you might give me some pointers,” the Queen said, and Jane was so staggered, she could think of no response. What was he expecting her to do? This was ridiculous! She knew nothing about … about inducing men to fall in love!

“I will leave you to your tutelage, my lady,” he said, bowing first to her and then to the Queen before exiting the room.

Of course, he would exit on such a line, after that bow, during which he had held her gaze the whole time. Bowing to her first was a blatant breach of etiquette. As was sauntering from the room after casually implying that he was in love with her. Moreover, that she had somehow made him fall in love with her.

Jane’s mind was a whirl. It was absurd, she told herself. It was not true; they both knew it. He had said it, purely to elevate her position once more with the Queen. Still, her hands trembled the whole time she tidied away Armenal’s jewels.

Oh, gods. She needed to focus on the situation at hand. Alisander had landed her in a terrible position, regardless of his intention. Doubtless, he thought it a perfect opportunity for her to capitalize upon, but Jane was not the consummate schemer he was, the scheming beast.

She welcomed the indignation into her bosom, for it distracted her from the other disquieting notion he had planted. That he actually cared for her. Nonsense. He was merely being provoking, as was his habit, she told herself firmly. Do not get caught up in some ridiculous idea that he could have spoken in earnest.

And now she was really up to her ears in trouble. Clearly, the Queen expected her to pass along a whole bag of tricks for ensnaring men’s hearts. Something she did not have the first idea about! She could strangle him!

“Leave that now, Jane,” Queen Armenal said, drifting toward the fireplace. “Come, join me here. I would consult with you.” Taking a deep breath, Jane made her way to join the Queen before the fire. “Be seated,” she said graciously, and Jane sank into the seat opposite her. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The Queen gazed at her keenly. “Well,” she said with a gesture of resignation. “I am all ears. What is it you would have me do?”

Jane cleared her throat and considered the matter. She swallowed down her own bitterness toward King Wymer. “I think, Your Majesty, that the best thing for you to do is show some tender solicitude over the King’s bereavement,” she said quietly. “Grief can be a terribly overwhelming emotion and you often feel alone, even when surrounded by others. When someone seems to understand how your loss …” She turned away, feeling her eyes well up.

Queen’s eyes widened at this advice. “But I have already shown the King great sympathy,” she objected. “I even told him of my own fondness for the nurses of my girlhood.”

Jane shook her head, remembering the Queen’s off-hand reminiscences of a few days before. “That was not what I meant,” she disagreed quickly. “I am sure your own nurses were good women, but the King—he wants to hear that his own feelings of terrible loss are justified and—and that you understand how his whole life has forever changed because this person is no longer a part of it—” She broke off, feeling choked.

The Queen frowned. “I did not feel that way when I heard that one of my old nurses had died,” she objected.

“He knows that,” Jane answered without thinking. “That is why he feels nothing when you compare your own experience to his.” The Queen blinked at this but did not speak. “What you should do, Your Highness,” Jane continued, “is acknowledge this fact and stress how special his bond was with Bathilde. How superior a woman she was and how—how fortunate they both were to have spent so many years in each other’s company. That he must now console himself with the fact he eased her passing. That her last breath was spent in the company of her beloved charge, holding his hand, with assurances of his enduring love and affection.”

Jane could feel her own eyes grow wet. She could not help but think of how she had eased her own sister’s passing and how much that consoled her now.

Queen Armenal looked skeptical. “You do not think such sentiments a little much?” she ventured incredulously.

Jane felt the words like a slap to the face. “No, I do not,” she retorted.