Queen Of My Heart by Jordan Silver Page B

had bowed to me in this. After she’d been sent away there had been much head shaking and I dare say some crowing in some corners. I will not give them any more fodder that may be used to undermine us. When everything came to light and they understood that the fault had been mine maybe then they’d relax their stance but we were going to have to be careful until then. Not that they could change my mind but it was better to have peace in my kingdom.
    She sat on her pallet and waited for me to continue. I looked down at the piece of paper in my hands, it had once brought such despair and near destruction, now will it help to mend the breech or will it work only to widen the gaping hole that existed between us?
     

 
    Taking a fortifying breath, I passed her the piece of paper. I own that I felt more apprehensive in that moment than I had hours earlier while facing the enemy. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she took it before she opened it and read. “I don’t understand where did you get this?” She looked up at me questioningly.
    “It was given to me by another.” Her face reddened as she jumped to her feet.
    “Someone went through my personal belongings? This was well hidden in my chest, there was no way for them to have found it as it hadn’t been left laying around I’m sure of it.”
    Yet something else I had overlooked in my blindness. Will this haunt me for the rest of my days? She wasn’t through and didn’t seem to be expecting an answer of which I had none. “I still don’t understand, what could a letter written to my brother have to do with you throwing me away?”
    “Rhiannon, nowhere in that missive does it identify him as your brother, it looks like…it looks like a letter between lovers.” I held my breath waiting for the explosion. I think I would’ve preferred that to the wounded look she gave before her body seemed to deflate. “You thought…” She looked from the paper to me, and back, and instead of the anger I had expected, had been braced for she just looked…gutted.
    “Rhian…” I reached for her but once again she evaded my arms. I will not accept this; will not let what little ground I’d gained be forfeited. We’d already lost much to this, no more. Ignoring her resistance I pulled her into my arms. “I’m sorry love, I don’t know what more I can say except that I didn’t stop to think.” Still she said nothing, just stood stiffly in my arms. Her obstinance infuriated me anew, warranted or not I could not let her destroy us over this. I had promised myself after learning the truth that nothing would stand in the way of us getting back on that even footing we’d once shared. Not even she. I will make reparations to her bruised feelings and battered heart but I will not let it stand in our way.
    “Don’t do this Rhiannon, it’s done, we’ve moved on and there’s no going back. I promise you that I will deal with this but what’s between us will not be made to suffer farther I won’t allow it.” I think she took umbrage at my tone because she stiffened in a new way now. If the look she threw over her shoulder was any inclination I’d better sleep with one eye open tonight.
    “You won’t allow? Unhand me you beast; not only did you malign me with your thoughts but you took the word of another over mine. You did not even give me the chance to defend myself, but instead made a fool of me before your people. And for what, for something that could’ve easily been discredited? You’re an ass your majesty. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m for bed…alone.”
    She pulled away from my hold and huffed over to the pallets while I stood there at a loss for words. I’m not well versed in the ways of wooing women, but I accept that it was needed now. I have to find some way to make it up to her. Maybe mother would know of such things, a pretty bauble maybe, or a wee kitten.
    With that thought set firmly in my head, I followed her to bed. It mattered not that she was