"I've been so eager for you both to meet Thao for such a long time, and I regret that this is such a short visit," Wendell began.
I wanted to compliment the Popes on their son or their home or their hospitality. Wanted to speak on all the warm stories Wendell had told me as we'd fallen in love in Mennary. My tongue was glued to the roof of my mouth as his parents stared back at us, a little furrow of confusion between Miriam's eyes and a cool understanding in Douglas's.
"There's always been more I've wanted to tell you about my friendship with Thao, but it didn't feel right to put it in a letter," Wendell said. I glanced at him and found him every bit as bright and hopeful as he had been arriving here at his former home.
"It is so good that you both were Chosen by Her Highness," Miriam said brightly.
Wendell's grin was sheepish. Bryony had chosen us more out of mercy than desire at the time, and solely for the reason we were sitting across from Wendell's parents now.
"We were very lucky," Wendell murmured.
It struck me then that I was giving him this burden of confession. He didn't seem to mind. He was certainly more excited than I was. But Wendell deserved more than my silence at his side, and his parents ought to know how much I valued their son.
"Your son has taught me a great deal since we met. Of friendship and respect, how to support someone in deed rather than only words. He has shown me the best and worst of my pride, and I have taken great pleasure in learning every wonderfully generous, intelligent, and kind facet of him," I said slowly, gazing at Wendell, speaking every word of truth and knowing that whatever came next, it was worth the happy flush in his cheeks. "I love Wendell, far more deeply than I knew was possible before meeting him."
Miriam Pope sniffled, a handkerchief conjured from her sleeve to dab at her eyes, a wavering smile on her lips. Douglas Pope, however, remained frowning. He didn't appear angry, but he certainly wasn't as touched by the sentiments as his wife.
"And I love you," Wendell said, bowing his head to me, stopping just shy of a kiss.
"And the princess?" Douglas asked.
Wendell frowned and turned back to his father, blinking. "Bryony?"
"What will you tell her of all of this?" Douglas's question sparked obvious concern in Miriam's expression, and all four of us sat up straighter.
"Bryony was aware from the very start, and we are every bit her Chosen," Wendell said, shrugging. "But it doesn't change the fact that Thao and I… How important it was to me that you know what Thao means to me."
"Wendell and I love the princess, but for myself, I don't know that I would've been capable of such a depth of feeling without Wen first teaching it to me," I said.
Miriam sighed, her smiling returning. "Oh, that's lovely. Isn't that lovely, Douglas?" she added, a little more sharply.
"And you fulfill your duty to the young woman?" Douglas asked, eyes narrowing.
"Douglas!"
"We do," Wendell said, but the happy flush narrowed into darker twin spots of embarrassment.
Douglas Pope eased back in his chair, returning his attention to his pipe in his hand. "Ah well, that's all right then, isn't it? Long as there's no offense to the crown, you might do as you like."
Wendell stiffened, and Miriam stood up from her chair.
"Prince Thao, I wonder if you wouldn't help me pick out a bottle of wine for our dinner?" she said.
Wendell was simmering at my side, and I hesitated briefly, wondering if I shouldn't stay with him to hear whatever came out next. But I had faced my father alone in Mennary when he discovered my relationship with Wendell. At the time, I'd felt the shame firsthand and carried it on my own shoulders. If I had to sit through the same conversation today, I would've been more ashamed of my father than myself. I glanced at Wendell who nodded firmly and then I stood, offering Miriam my arm, although it was she who led me out of the room, a low murmur of voices rising at our back.
"I am happy, you know," she said as we stepped into the hall. "I always was. It was exciting for Wen to receive the ambassadorship so young, but Mennary is such a long ways away. When his letters began to arrive, they were lonely at first. A mother can tell. And then you appeared in them. And then they were full of you."
"I felt the same. Wen erased a great deal of the isolation I'd been raised with," I said.
Miriam beamed up at me, washing away some of the awkwardness of the study. "I am so glad you all decided to visit. I've wanted to meet you for so long."
She paused outside of a narrow service door, squeezing my arm and turning to face me.
"Thank you for taking care of my son, Your Highness."
"Thao, please," I said, bowing a little and making the older woman giggle. "The care was mutual."
"Now, I think we ought to pick one of Wen's favorites for dinner. I suppose as Chosen, I won't have many more opportunities to see him."
I hummed as she opened the narrow door and lit the lamp for the stairs down to their cellar. "I wouldn't discount it yet. Bryony is very conscious of our comfort and feelings. She would never deny Wendell time with his family."
Miriam brightened further at that. "I shall have to learn to say her name then, I suppose."
I worried briefly over how Wen was handling the remnants of conversation with his father, and then realized we'd already been given their blessing. Douglas Pope might not be as fond of his son's romance with me as he was of knowing Wendell was in good favor with the Kimmerian crown, but he hadn't tossed me out on my ass.
"I think we'd better choose a red for the roast," Miriam said, and I hurried to follow her down the stairs.
3
Bryony
“More wine, Your Highness?"
"Oh, no thank you," I said, shaking my head at the servant who had jumped forward to answer Miriam's offer. "The dinner was absolutely wonderful."
Miriam settled happily, and Wendell's hand found mine under the table, squeezing gently. Miriam had managed to stutter out a 'Bryony' earlier in the evening, but she quickly shifted back to my title. My Chosen and I were squeezed around the table with the Popes and two other older noble couples with nearby estates, including Sir Weston and his wife, Hermania.
There were more servants and deference to the evening than I'd dealt with since the castle had hosted an event in the capital, and I hadn't realized how used to our simpler life in the north I was until suddenly thrust back into the pomp of gentry.
"You would've enjoyed the show, Douglas," Sir Weston said, leaning back in his seat as he retold the story of my barging into the council meeting, his elbows brushing against Aric's, who looked positively constipated after the length of the evening. "Her Highness was every bit the queen as we haven't—Well, you reminded me a little of the dowager queen, Your Highness."
A year ago, I might've been appalled at the comparison, but now I only smiled and dipped my head. I would need my grandmother's ferocious command to make it to the throne.
"I'm afraid it will take more than a good speech at an interrupted council meeting to make the kind of change Kimmery needs to see," I said.