“So we don’t know who was behind all of this?” the queen said breathlessly.
“Not yet. But I will find them.”
“Who would want to incapacitate her?” He didn’t know why, but that option caught his attention. The prince consort had kept the queen plied with laudanum and wine, and while she kept herself severely restrained now, he couldn’t help thinking of the listless way she’d once signed court documents.
“I don’t know.” Malloryn met his gaze. “Yet. If the queen’s health declined, the council would be in control of the empire until a regent could be appointed. But the council would be the one to appoint a regent, and so I cannot see this as a power grab.”
Alexandra turned toward the fireplace, holding her hands out to the fire as if she felt a sudden chill. “It could be a ploy to force my hand,” she whispered. “If I were struck ill, then Britain would be at a disadvantage. And you were right. I have no heir. Someone might be pushing me to forge a marriage as swiftly as possible. Failing that, it might be an attempt to force me to name an heir.”
A thought occurred. “Maybe you weren’t meant to drink the cordial? Unless they were completely inept, the culprit must know you’re surrounded by blue bloods who might be able to smell the cyanide. It’s a noticeable scent. Perhaps it was a scare attempt?”
Malloryn’s brows notched together. “I didn’t think of that. I’ll add those motives to the list.”
The queen nodded, but she looked a little more fragile in the early dawn light streaming through the windows.
It was one thing to know someone had put poison in your cordial; quite another to be coolly discussing why.
He wanted to reach out to her and clap a hand upon her shoulder. To set her mind at ease, somehow, and remind her that she was not alone.
But he did not have that right.
“I’m going to set a rotation of my female Rogues at your side at all times,” Malloryn told her. “Gemma and Lark are both blue bloods, and Ingrid is verwulfen. If someone makes another attempt, they should be able to prevent it.”
“And in the meantime?” Alexandra asked.
“Continue as you were. Let’s not let them think us cowed by this attempt. We want to draw them out and encourage them to make another attempt.” Malloryn smiled. “Only this time, we’ll be aware that it’s coming.”
Chapter 5
The Royal Exhibition began the next day.
Alexandra pasted a smile on her face and went about her daily business as though there was nothing out of the ordinary. She breakfasted on the terrace, finished her correspondence, and then met the Duchess of Casavian by the carriage at 11am.
Mina greeted her with a smile and clasped both of her hands. In private they may once have shared a hug, but she still hadn’t quite forgiven her friend.
“Ready to open the exhibition?”
“The question remains: Are you?” Alexandra arched a brow. “You’re rarely out of bed by this time of the day.”
“Unfortunately, Madeleine doesn’t quite seem to understand her parents’ nocturnal habits,” Mina sighed. “Her craving virus levels are so low the sun doesn’t yet bother her, which means her parents must face the day at a rather appalling time.”
It stole a laugh from her. “She’s with her father?”
“He’s taking her to the zoo.” Mina snorted. “I can’t wait to hear what adventures they have. The last time he took her out for the day, I came home to find him snoring in the library with a book over his face.”
“I’m sure he’ll have more fun than we shall,” Alexandra grumbled. “My goddaughter is eminently more interesting than an exhibition on the Advances of the Steam Age.”
“Now, now,” Mina chided. “Who does not wish to see the latest design in dreadnoughts?”
Alexandra sent her friend a stern look.
“Besides,” Mina cooed, “I do believe you’re going to be the center of attention, my dear. There are at least three of your potential suitors in attendance.”
“I shall carry my smelling salts in case the excitement of their company overwhelms me.”
Alexandra gathered her skirts to climb into the carriage, then paused when she saw Malloryn appear like a blighted raven. She paused, insisting Mina go ahead of her.
“Ah, my Master of Shadows.”
“My queen.”
“Anything I should be aware of?” she asked as Malloryn handed her into the carriage.
“The papers are filled with talk of Lady Rachinger’s latest findings about the craving virus,” he replied, as he handed her a newspaper. “She presented her scientific paper yesterday at the Royal Academy, and a journalist caught wind of it.”
“The life expectancies treatise that she presented to the council three months ago?”
“Yes. I’ve had more invitations to dine with our foreign emissaries than you have. They all want to know what it means.”
Mina leaned forward from the carriage. “Of course, they do, Malloryn. Most blue bloods in England leapt at the chance to use Lady Rachinger’s “cure” to stave off the ill effects of the Fade. Several other countries took note. Now, they’re concerned that it’s going to decrease their mortality.”
Alexandra shook out the paper. She rather liked Sir Henry’s serious, intelligent wife. Lady Honoria spent her days studying the effects of her findings on the craving cure, and her latest discovery was creating quite the stir.
Several years ago, she’d been experimenting with her husband’s increasing CV levels when she’d realized that by drinking her vaccinated blood, his CV levels decreased to a manageable state. It had been quite the coup, until she’d recently revealed that along with the decrease in the virus’s bloodthirsty hold, it also decreased a blue blood’s strength, speed, and longevity.
Lady Rachinger had concluded that her husband might only live as long as she would.
“One cannot live forever,” Alexandra murmured, then caught Malloryn’s eye. “And no doubt it’s a great relief to know you may not outlive your pretty young wife, after all.”
The duke sighed. “My CV levels were never absurdly high to begin with, so I’ve not yet begun a regime of drinking the blood from the vaccinated.”
“But you will?” She wasn’t entirely certain of his answer. To see the Duke of Malloryn succumb to his feelings for his wife had been highly amusing—and unexpected. But his downfall was so recent. What would win? Love? Or power and the ability to live well beyond human years?
“I will,” he replied with little aplomb. “I’ve spent far too many years without Adele in my life. And now I’ve had a taste of what it can be like, I would not wish to live without her. What is immortality but the chance to live a long, lonely life as you watch your wife, children, and grandchildren pass before your eyes? I would prefer to live one life in full.”
The queen hid a smile. “How romantic, Malloryn. I would never have expected it of you.”
“If it’s any consolation, a year ago I would have agreed with you.” He closed the carriage door. “A marriage for the sake of duty is all well and good, but when one finds affection, loyalty, and a true meeting of the minds, one can be free to be their best self.”