Total pages in book: 208
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
“She will,” Bram confirmed. “But more, she will give him peace.”
That was what she needed to hear.
Therefore, she nodded smartly.
It was time to move on.
“Let us go,” she decreed.
It was Bram who nodded at that, stepped aside and allowed her to precede him.
This she did, even though he murmured, “He’s in the royal study, not his personal one,” as she passed him.
Of course he was.
Making a statement now.
He was king.
And would remain king.
Wilmer was correct about that.
He was king and would remain king.
But things were going to change.
Today.
When she arrived at the door to her husband’s study, she looked up at her son’s lieutenant, saw him dip his chin, step away and position himself at the side of the door.
He had his hand on the hilt of his sword at his belt.
He would not need it.
She had no idea what her husband’s reaction would be, but it would not be violence.
Though, she knew her son had ordered his lieutenant to protect his queen, even against their king.
It just was not going to get to that.
Mercy knocked.
“Come!” Wilmer called.
She turned the handle and moved in.
He was sitting behind his desk, staring at it as if he didn’t know what it was, when she walked in.
His head came up, his slightly jowly but still handsome face registered surprise, then it softened.
She memorized that look even if she steeled herself against his display of clear affection.
“My wife,” he whispered as she stopped in front of his desk.
“My king,” she replied.
“Mercy,” he said, standing. “I am so very pleased you sought me out.”
“I am glad to hear it.”
“This estrangement, my love…” He moved around the desk, approached her, took both her hands when he arrived and held them tight in his. “I do not like it,” he finished gently.
She was glad to hear that too.
However, she had the feeling he would like less that she did not seek him to put their rift behind them.
Indeed, what she was about to do could very well drive them further apart.
Or break them altogether.
It was a shame.
She would grieve this.
But it was unavoidable.
“You will see, in time, as will True, who will also find times where he must make maneuvers to protect his reign, that this is a valuable lesson Carrington and I have taught you,” he declared.
A valuable lesson was about to be learned.
It was just not that one.
“I have heard word that True and his party are an hour out. Will you be greeting them at the castle gates with me?” she inquired.
“Of course,” he mumbled.
“I must inform the staff he arrives. They are prepared, but I wish them to be presented to the new princess upon their arrival,” she said.
“As you know, I leave these matters to you. Simply have someone inform me when he nears or come yourself. We will walk down together.”
“I’ll see to that. In the meantime, we must arrange to have Carrington arrested on charges of embezzlement, fraud and treason.”
His hands spasmed in hers before he dropped them like they were afire and took a step back, his face a mask of shock.
“What is this you say?” he hissed.
“Carrington has been stealing from the royal treasury for the last ten years. Small amounts at first, though they became larger as his activities went forward without question or investigation. Thus far, we’ve been able to ascertain that he’s stolen twelve million, seven hundred and twenty-two thousand, four hundred and nine pieces of gold. Twice that in silver. And equal amounts in pewter and copper. We have not been able to trace where these funds have gone, but we believe it is to Go’Doan, or this Rising that was behind the attack at Catrame Palace in Firenze. Further investigation is needed and has been ordered.”
“Is this a joke?” he spat.
“It is absolutely not,” Mercy replied, low and firm.
His eyes rounded as he saw her gravity.
Then his face set in stubbornness.
“I cannot believe this,” he declared and began to turn away from her.
“You can, and you will. The evidence will be presented to you and unfortunately, it will include your very signature on every single voucher for withdrawal.”
Wilmer went completely still.
“You sign whatever he puts in front of you,” she reminded him. “I warned you about that. You did not heed my warning. And thus, you…personally…signed away the royal treasury.” She paused before she finished, “And you did this repeatedly.”
He remained still, but now his face was ashen.
“Now,” she said, turning and moving around the desk, “we are in the position where we must control the damage.”
She stopped beside his chair.
She studied it.
She then drew in breath before she situated herself in front of it.
And she sat.
Looking up at him from the king’s chair, the only time she had ever sat there, and likely the only time she ever would, she continued speaking.
“Fortunately, this comes at a time when our people have something to celebrate and thus, they have something to occupy their minds. And they will have more. We will also, with gratitude to Carrington,” she said with some irony, “have a full treasury. Therefore, on the morrow, we can announce much joyous news which I believe will drown out the din that the king’s chief counsellor has been arrested for theft and treason and any further rumblings of discontent at this new levy that has been waged.”