Motor City Witch by Cindy Spencer Pape Page B

actual court, or throne room, if you prefer. We’re lucky she’s not in there. When she’s holding court, things get really ceremonial. In her small receiving room, at least we’ll be able to have a conversation, rather than an audience.”
    “Huh. If that was informal, I’m even more underdressed than I thought.” They passed through the smaller doors into another hallway before they finally entered a chamber roughly the size of a high-school gymnasium. “This is the small room?”
    “Oh, yes. Instead of several hundred nosy sycophants, there’s only a dozen or so.”
    True enough. A harpist played softly in one corner of the room and small groups were gathered here and there conversing in quiet tones. Ric and Meagan, also in modern, casual dress, thank goodness, smiled from the far side of the room. Elise barely had eyes for any of them, though. The focal point of the room was a low dais that filled the center third of the back wall. The only object on it was a blue and silver brocade chaise longue, holding the most arrestingly beautiful woman Elise had ever seen. Hair so blond it was almost true platinum was piled high in elaborate coils studded with pale blue diamonds and pearls, matching the tiara that was worked into the arrangement and the necklace that circled her impossibly slender throat. Her gown was an Empire-waist Regency style made of a watered silk that perfectly matched the diamonds. The bodice dipped low, and the Regency theme was carried out with short puffed sleeves. Eyes of that same pale blue fixed on Aidan and Elise the moment they entered the room, making Elise feel like an insect under a magnifying glass. She suppressed a shiver and dipped into a curtsey as they approached the queen.
    “Lord Green Oak. Do rise and introduce me to your guest.” The queen’s voice was as icy as her gaze.
    Aidan took Elise’s hand as she rose. “Your Majesty, allow me to present Miss Elise Sutton, art gallery proprietor and retired Wyndewin witch.”
    “And, as I understand it, the mother of your heir.” Now the ice was even sharper, the words like daggers.
    Elise opened her mouth to correct the mistake, but Aidan squeezed her hand sharply. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
    That’s right. Dina might lose her value if the kidnappers knew she wasn’t Aidan’s, and spies could be anywhere. Elise lifted her chin and nodded her corroboration. Her embarrassment was nothing compared to Dina’s safety.
    “And why wasn’t I informed of this development before?” The queen’s eyes narrowed.
    Aidan shrugged. “Interpersonal relationships are complicated at best. Add in the interspecies aspect and it becomes a long story—one with which I do not wish to bore Your Majesty.”
    The queen paused a minute, then clapped her hands loudly. Instantly, the music and all conversation in the room stopped. “Everyone out, except for the Roses and my guard. Now.”
    Once the room was cleared, she spoke more softly. “Very well. The bard tells me the child has been taken?”
    Ric and Meagan had moved closer to the dais, taking up positions on either side of Aidan and Elise. Meagan wrapped a supportive arm around Elise’s waist. In the last few months, Elise had almost grown used to Meagan’s fondness for touching her friends. Usually it made Elise slightly uncomfortable. Today it felt good.
    “Yes,” Aidan answered. “They’ve set the ransom meeting at Bald Tor, not too far from the Wild Hunt lodge.”
    “I see. So you wish to borrow some of the Wild Hunt horses?”
    “Yes, Your Majesty.” Aidan bowed his head slightly again. “As well as your personal portal between this palace and the lodge.” He’d mentioned to Elise that there was a secret entrance to the lodge, through the queen’s apartments.
    “Acceptable. I understand you have reason to believe this is connected with Lord Willow’s missing grandson and Lady Northwood’s errant husband?”
    “We do. Our theory is that Lord Le Faire’s purity movement is