Page 58 of North Queen
Alexander couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him at the forwardness he knew so well. He should have known she wouldn’t let the conversation go that easily. But he had no secrets. “If your grandmother has her way.”
“She’s arranged you?” she asked, wide-eyed. “Are you to be wed?”
Another lord stepped forward with well-wishes for them both, and Alexander took the moment to collect his calm. While he’d answer anything Norah asked, it wasn’t a comfortable topic.
The visiting lord bowed and departed, and they came together again.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “That was rude of me, and intrusive.”
“You’re no intrusion,” he said quickly. “And”—he brought his eyes to meet hers again—“I have no intention of marrying. It doesn’t mean your grandmother won’t try.”
She gave a smile. “No, I suppose it doesn’t.”
At the mention of her grandmother, he glanced around the room and found Catherine looking back at him. He wondered how long she’d been watching, and how much she’d seen. His shoulders tightened.
Music picked up through the air. If he stayed, he’d ask her to dance. If he asked her to dance, he’d hold her hand in his, and if her skin touched his, he’d lose himself. So he couldn’t stay.
“I’ll say good night, though,” he told her, “and not monopolize your time, as there are many who’d like to talk to you.” Although there was no one who could want to talk to her more than he did.
A ripple of objection flashed in her eyes, but she didn’t voice it. It was better that way. He gave a small bow. “Good evening, Regal High.”
And she smiled a smile that he’d think about the rest of the night.
Chapter seventeen
“You’reupsetwithme,”Norah said.
Catherine sat in the side chair, petting a gray, long-haired cat in her lap as she watched Rebecca hold up dresses against Norah for approval.
“Disappointed,” she replied. She flicked her hand, and Rebecca dropped the purple dress she was holding on to the bed and picked up a yellow one.
Norah bit the inside of her cheek. Catherine hadn’t said but a few words to her since the coronation the day before, when Norah had named Alexander as her lord justice. “I know you didn’t want me to choose him—”
“No, I didn’t,” she said sharply. “But it’s not about that, Norah. We agreed we would meet with the council and decide.”
Norah huffed a short breath, her frustration rising. “I didn’t agree. I was told. ButIam the one to choose my lord justice, andIchose Alexander. He was good enough when you chose him. He’s clearly done a fine job, and he’s the only one with James’s support.”
“The selection for lord justice doesn’t require James’s support.”
“You say that now only because he didn’t agree with you about Lord Branton.”
Catherine’s mouth fell open, but she didn’t come back with another retort.
They sat in silence.
Finally, Catherine said, “I wish you would have told me that was your decision, instead of catching me by surprise.”
Norah sighed, the fire inside her snuffed with guilt. “I do too,” she admitted, her voice coming softer now. “I was just… afraid that you’d talk me out of it, and I didn’t want to be talked out of it. I’d made up my mind. I know Alexander. I trust him. James trusts him.”
“James doesn’t know the implications.”
“And what are the implications?” Norah asked, the heat returning. All this cryptic talk, she couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Oh, Norah. Are you really so naive?”
And she certainly couldn’t stand people continuing to talk to her like she was foolish. Even her grandmother. Her skin burned.
A knock on the door interrupted them, but Catherine’s eyes didn’t move from Norah. “Finish dressing. It’s time to meet the council.”
