“We must be cautious, but not at the expense of basic kindness and decency to someone in need.”
I sat up again. “Yes, you have spoken my sentiments exactly. I shall never overlook the needs of others in order to save myself. I would be true and noble no matter the cost.”
Chester sheathed his knife and pushed away from the door frame, his expression stormy. As he stalked toward the table, I braced myself for the argument that had been brewing since the moment our visitors knocked upon the door.
He stopped and towered over me. “Those are not my sentiments, and they never will be. My only sentiment is that of keeping you alive and secure no matter the cost.”
I understood what he wasn’t saying—that as queen of Mercia, my safety was paramount. I respected his position, but I also disagreed. What kind of leader would I be if I put my well-being above my people’s and was never willing to sacrifice for them?
Chester lowered himself to the bench beside me. “The real question is, how did you meet these two?” With a glance to the half-open door of the bedchamber, he lowered his voice. “And the next is—why didn’t you tell me?”
Aunt Idony crossed over and stood near us, clearly wanting to know the answer to his questions as well.
“I think you know why I refrained from telling you,” I whispered.
“No, I don’t.”
“To avoid a confrontation like this.”
“If you’re so concerned about being true and noble, then you would refrain from deceit.”
He was right. I hadn’t been true or noble. While I hadn’t exactly lied, I also hadn’t been forthright. Deceit was deceit no matter how one portrayed it.
“I met Kresten at the clearing closest to the ravine. The first day was an accident, but the times after that we planned to meet.” Embarrassment rushed in. “I did not speak of the matter because I did not want anyone to stop me from seeing him.”
Chester’s brow furrowed. “You know you can’t harbor fondness for him, do you not?”
“We already had this conversation while you were gone.” Aunt Idony gave me a pointed look. Now she knew why I’d asked her about men. “And Rory is well aware of her obligations.”
The obligation to wed an important man, form an advantageous alliance, and become a worthy queen like my mother. Though Queen Leandra hadn’t ruled Mercia for many years, her marriage to my father, Prince Stephan from Norland, had secured Mercia’s northern border and solidified trade agreements. Within just a few years of her reign, she’d turned Mercia into a strong and independent nation, and she’d proven herself a capable and focused leader.
As a young and inexperienced ruler, I’d have much to prove too. I needed to follow in my mother’s footsteps. At least, I prayed I would be able to live up to her reputation and be just as strong and purposeful. I couldn’t jeopardize being like her, especially not before I’d even had the chance to begin.
“Yes, I am aware of my duty. That is precisely why I told Kresten we could not see each other ever again.”
“And look how well that worked,” Chester retorted.
“He is a man of his word. He chose not to seek me out. And he would have kept his promise if not for his injury.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
I glanced toward the door and lowered my voice even further. “I did not reveal myself.”
“He’ll discover erelong you are no peasant girl. And that is why he must leave on the morrow.”
Aunt Idony protested at the same moment I did. “With the medicines I administered to dull the pain of his wound, he’ll slumber for many hours. And when he awakens, he’ll be weak and immobile, likely for many days yet.”
A tiny thrill wound through me just thinking about him staying for a while.
As if reading my reaction, Chester scowled. “No good can come of this man staying here. He must leave on the morrow.”
Aunt Idony rested her blood-coated hands on her hips. Though I’d never met a real physician, I doubted anyone could compare to her skill. And with the extent of Kresten’s injury, she wouldn’t cast him out so soon, would she?
Thankfully, she gave a curt shake of her head. “The leg needs time to heal before he puts pressure on it. Besides, I must clean and medicate the wound to keep it from putrefying.”
Chester pressed his lips together.
I spoke before he could utter additional protests. “We shall care for Kresten as best we are able until Aunt Idony deems he is well enough to travel.”
Chester’s shoulders slumped slightly, enough for me to know he was discouraged more than angry.
I reached out a hand toward him, my palm up. “Please try to understand . . .”
He didn’t place his hand in mine but pulled away and stood. “What I understand is that you like him and are looking for any excuse to spend more time with him.”
I let my hand drop, a strange sadness filtering through me. Chester was my closest friend and companion. He always had been. And though we didn’t see eye to eye on everything, we never remained angry with each other. Was this, then, to be a rift we could not repair?
He glanced between Aunt Idony and me. “If you plan to disregard my concerns, then I insist Rory stay away from him for the duration of his stay.”
I stood quickly, nearly tipping my bench. “You cannot ask that. No harm can come of keeping company with him—”
“Already the harm may be immeasurable.”
“You are overreacting.”
“And you are naïve.”
“Chester.” Aunt Idony’s tone rang with censure.
He snapped his mouth closed against something more he wanted to say.
I pulled myself up, hoping I appeared more confident than I felt. I would soon need to make decisions every day—decisions that would be unpopular, that might even anger people. I may as well practice on Chester. “I give you my word. I shall be careful.”
“But you have never spent time with a man and have no idea the wiles—”
“She will be chaperoned.” Aunt Idony cut in. “At all times.”
I hadn’t been chaperoned with him in the woods, and we’d gotten along splendidly. But I wouldn’t bring that up now.
“I pray I am wrong,” Chester said, “but I fear we are making a mistake and that this will only lead to misfortune.”
“Kresten is a good man and will bring us no ill will. You will see.” Once Chester got to know the woodcutter as I did, he’d realize his fears were unfounded.
Chester glowered at the bedchamber. Then without another word, he crossed and exited the cottage, slamming the door behind him.
Chapter
9
Kresten
My thigh burned as though someone had stuck a glowing brand into my flesh and left it there. Every time I moved, the burning speared the rest of my leg, forcing me to resign myself to lying on my stomach and staying as motionless as possible.
For the first day of my confinement, such a position was bearable. I slept most of the time, the herbal remedies making me drowsy so I was hardly aware of anyone or my surroundings.
However, by the second morning, the pain was still excruciating, but I was more alert. I wanted to roll over and take in my lodgings as well as get a better look at the people coming and going from my chamber. Mostly, I wanted to see Rory and was disappointed when she didn’t come in all day.