The Delegation Read online

  Back at The Green Room, they let me wear the blanket for the dash inside, and I cooperated when Olivia demanded I give it up. I found myself on a sofa, cuddling with Dee.

  The seven of us talked for a while, not long. It was Claary who said, “It’s been a long but wonderful evening.”

  “Come to bed, my wife,” Dee said.

  “Please unlock me,” I replied.

  “I don’t want to,” she said. “Please don’t make me, Allium.” She turned her eyes on me again. I looked away, fairly sure I couldn’t resist her eyes. She pressed against me and waited to see what I’d say.

  No one spoke, but I could feel their eyes. Finally, I turned to Olivia. “You’re manipulating me, but I haven’t figured out why. I’m nobody.”

  “You’re not nobody,” she replied. “You are our friend.”

  “I don’t think that’s your entire motivation.”

  “It’s not,” she said. “I haven’t lied to you, Allium. Ressaline wants a good relationship with our neighbors, most especially Flarvor.”

  “That still doesn’t explain all this attention on me.”

  “I wouldn’t have gone looking for you, specifically,” she said. “But you landed in my lap, and I don’t turn away from something like that. And I’m glad for it.” She smiled. “Everyone sees you avoiding looking at your wife.”

  “She’s not my wife.”

  “I’m not?” Dee asked. She started to pull away, but I turned to her and pulled her back.

  “You’re my wife tonight,” I said. “If you still want to be.”

  “I do,” she whispered.

  Holding Dee, I looked over at Olivia. “There aren’t very many people I trust with Bee and Dee,” she said. “Are you going to ask me to unlock you?”

  “I’ll answer that if Yearly answers my question,” I said.

  “Don’t drag me into this.”

  “I’m fairly certain you’re the one who put me in this thing,” I told her. “You dragged yourself. Are you accepting the invitation to Charth?”

  “Yes. Final curtain is Sunday evening. I’ll be able to leave with them.”

  “Will you still be there when I arrive two weeks behind you?”

  “If she is,” Olivia said, “She’ll be going through our custom. You’ll see her, but not right away. She’ll be busy.”

  I turned to Dee. “I have duties in the morning, but I’d love to remain your wife until I have to go. Please unlock me in the morning.”

  Bee clapped happily. Dee pulled me into a kiss. Fifteen minutes later, I found myself in a crowded bed, Dee spooning me from behind.

  It felt really nice, and I slept very well.

  Chapter Eight

  We had one more dance. The evening was every bit as magical as the first time. It was different in that I wasn’t at such a confused loss, and it was better in that I was dancing with people who had become friends.

  During the final dance, it was Claary who caught me. Afterwards, she treated me very tenderly. She stole a few kisses, and her touches were sweet. But mostly we talked, and it was really our first time to talk alone at any length.

  “So, you own several establishments?” I asked at one point.

  “I do,” she said. “When you visit, I’ll show them to you. But let me tell you about The Baby Blanket Inn.” And then I listened, rather enrapt, as she told me about the business her family had run for several generations.

  “And now it’s yours? What about your mother and sister?”

  “Mother is retired from the inn,” she said.

  “She must have been young to retire.”

  “She received an offer that she dearly wanted,” Claary explained. “Lisbon now helps to run the bakery that provides many of our best baked goods. I hated watching her leave, but she’s deeply in love with the bakery owner.”

  “Ah,” I said. “Entirely understandable. And at least you still get to see her, if she’s helping to run a bakery.”

  “Not as often as I’d like,” she said. “But yes. Still, I miss her terribly, and Mother, too.” She looked away for a minute, and she looked so sad, but then she turned back and smiled. “I was just a barmaid when they arrived. That’s still a big part of who I am, but my best friend is the duchess. The most respected judge in all of Charthan is also a very good friend. And there is so much more, but I want to show you, not tell you.”

  “I understand.”

  We talked for a while longer. Eventually I asked, “This custom.”

  “I can’t talk about it. Olivia wants to handle that in Charth.”

  “I’m going to need a guide. How am I supposed to decide?”

  “That’s a very good question. And frankly, I don’t know. I would adore if you chose me, but I can’t even guess whether I am as good a choice as Olivia would be. If you can’t decide and ask Olivia to decide for you, she will, and without hesitation, but I don’t know whether she’ll pick herself or me. She may not know until you ask. She’ll probably judge after watching you when she explains the custom.”

  “I suppose,” I said.

  We talked until late. She didn’t offer a slumber party, and I didn’t ask, but we became closer than we had been, and I found myself drawn to her.

  We hugged tightly before I left.

  * * * *

  Their final night arrived, an evening at the palace. Yearly and Tess didn’t come, and so I found myself on Olivia’s arm for the evening. “You can’t take me as your date to the queen’s event,” I told her.

  “Because we’re two women, and this isn’t Ressaline?” she asked.

  “While that’s a good point, no. Because I’m nobody.”

  “We’ve had that discussion.”

  “Olivia, to all those people, I’m nobody.”

  “Trust me, Allium.”

  I stared into her eyes, torn, but then I nodded, and it was the last I had to say about it.

  And so, I wore my only gown for the second time. I tried not to be self-conscious about it, and absolutely no one made negative comments. Indeed, Olivia told me I was lovely and expressed pleasure to have me on her arm.

  She, of course, was entirely stunning, and this time, she wore her own gown, the first time I saw her in anything other than leather.

  I met the queen. King Leander introduced me to her. She took my hands and smiled while thanking me for coming. Then she did something unexpected. She pulled me forward to kiss my cheek. While the kissing of cheeks wasn’t necessarily notable, it wasn’t something the queen was known for doing, especially not with a complete commoner like me. But she kissed my cheek then whispered, “My husband has told me you’re a better diplomat than his professional diplomats. If you’re not careful, you could end up with a new job title.”

  I smiled as we separated but was otherwise left speechless.

  Of course, it was a room full of people who were rarely speechless. The king spoke. One or two ministers spoke. Olivia spoke.

  There was dancing, although I remained on Olivia’s arm for the evening, and so I danced with her and once when King Leander asked her if he could have one dance with me.

  Eventually, we departed. It was late, and Olivia would have dropped me off at home, but I took her hand, looked into her eyes, and then asked, “I’m not invited to a slumber party?”

  She smiled broadly. “That depends. I already promised Bee and Dee they will share my bed tonight.”

  “Is there a euphemism involved?”

  “I think they’ll be happy to have you, no euphemism involved.” Then she laughed. “Although they’d like it the other way, too.”

  And so, she took me home with her, and this time I slept in her arms, but with Dee pressed against me, too.

  In the morning, they left, and I very nearly begged to go with them.

  Part Two: The Traveler

  I curtsied deeply, holding it. “Your Majesties.”

  “Rise, Ms. Cuprite,” said King Leander. I stood and looked straight ahead. The king smiled. “I�
�m told you look good in prison attire.”

  From beside him, Queen Ralifta backhanded his arm. “Leander! You can’t say something like that.”

  He barely appeared to notice the swat. “I’m the king. I can say anything I want.”

  “Fine. You shouldn’t say something like that.”

  “Why not? It’s the truth. Not that I was there to see for myself, but I received three separate reports, phrased in a variety of ways, concerning Ms. Cuprite’s appearance two weeks ago.”

  “Would you have said that to one of our daughters?”

  “Neither of our daughters would have been brave enough to find herself in a similar situation,” replied the king. “So it wouldn’t come up.”

  “As usual, you are being impossible,” declared the queen.

  “I’m sure you’re right, my dear.” He turned his attention back to me. “I am also told you have established a warm relationship with Lady Olivia and several others close to her.”

  “I believe I have, although I’m not the only one.”

  “Perhaps not, but you’re the only one I’m currently talking to, and you’re the only one who works for my government.” I thought the first part of that statement was amusing, as there were only three of us in the room, but I inclined my head to acknowledge the latter half. “Does it remain your intention to travel to Charth?”

  “Yes, Your Majesty, unless you ask me to cancel my trip.”

  “No chance of that,” muttered the queen.

  “Ralifta,” said King Leander. “Are you intentionally giving Ms. Cuprite the impression we are divided on this issue?”

  She gave a hard look to her husband and a much gentler one to me. “No,” she said finally. “Frankly, I don’t know why you invited me to this meeting.”

  “Because after you heard the reports of her appearance two weeks ago, you thought I would need a chaperone.”

  She hit his arm again. “I said no such thing, Leander!”

  He laughed. “Fine. You’re here because you mentioned you wanted to get to know her better. I wasn’t sure how serious you were, but this is what I arranged.”

  “Oh,” she said. “Well, that part is true, and I was entirely serious. Thank you, Leander.”

  “You’re welcome.” He turned back to me. “Do we surprise you, Ms. Cuprite?”

  “I’m not sure, Your Majesty,” I said. “I’m still catching up to the fact I’m talking to the two of you.”

  “Sycophant,” muttered the queen.

  I almost let it go, but I just couldn’t. “That’s not fair, Your Majesty,” I told her. “I’m just a civil engineer. I build roads and bridges. Suddenly, because of something I discovered while simply doing my job, I’m talking to kings and queens and foreign duchesses. I have no experience in any of these things.”

  She offered a kindly look. “You’re doing quite well for someone with no experience, Ms. Cuprite. Quite well indeed. I’m sorry I used that word. I was trying to goad you into a real answer.”

  “I believe I gave you one. Your Majesty, there are many unflattering words to use about me, but not that one.”

  “No,” she said. “Not that one, and I don’t think very many others, either.” She turned to her husband. “I hate you. You know that.”

  “She doesn’t hate me,” King Leander said to me. “She knows I worship her, and she loves me for it.”

  “I love you for more than that,” agreed the queen.

  “What she means to say is that she hates I am unwilling to engage in a particular fight.”

  “You’re a cad,” the queen said.

  “And she’s rather annoyed with me about it,” added the king, “and is letting both of us know it. Last night she called me a coward.” The queen didn’t respond to that. “Ms. Cuprite, Minister Heliodor has asked me to name his successor. He wishes to retire by spring and wishes a smooth transition.”

  “Oh,” I replied.

  “I asked for his recommendations. He gave me a particularly short list. Your name was first.”

  “Your Majesty,” I said.

  “I can’t do it,” he said.

  “Coward,” muttered the queen.

  “I told you,” he said to me. “I’m not a coward. Tell her what you think, Ms. Cuprite, and be honest about it.”

  “I’m far too young,” I said. “I know absolutely nothing about the politics. But most importantly, the men wouldn’t follow me, especially the ones who might feel they should have the position.”

  “The road crews are nearly all men, and your crews are always at least as efficient as anyone else’s,” said the queen. “No, I don’t know that from spying or anything. Leander admitted it to me last night.”

  “This was before she called me a coward,” said the king.

  “Your Majesty,” I said to the queen. “He’s not being a coward. It would be an utter disaster. I am not remotely qualified to manage the infighting. I wouldn’t say all my current peers would be looking to stab me in the back, but at least half of them would. I build roads and bridges. They don’t fight back.”

  She stared at me for a moment then turned to her husband. “When I agreed to marry you, you made promises to me. And now you’re breaking one of them.”

  “Your Majesty,” I said.

  “You hush,” she said without looking at me. “Leander, you’ve never broken a promise in the past. You promised, that when there were qualified women, you would promote them. You have a chance to promote a woman to become the Minister of Transportation.”

  “No, he doesn’t,” I said.

  “I told you to hush.” But she turned to me.

  “I decline.”

  “You can’t decline,” she said. “He’s not offering it to you.”

  “I decline anyway,” I said. “If there is a promotion for me where I would be good, I’ll happily take it, but not this one. Maybe twenty years from now, when I wouldn’t be the youngest name on the list but instead am closer to the oldest, it would be different.”

  “I told you to hush!” She didn’t sound angry, but she did sound upset.

  “Ms. Cuprite,” said the king gently. “I wonder if you would review the list of recommendations and give me your impressions.”

  “I can try, Your Majesty.”

  He slipped a single sheet of paper from inside his coat, unfolded it, barely glanced at it, and handed it to me. I turned it to me. I recognized Minister Heliodor’s hand. My eyes glistened, and I brushed my fingers across the name at the top of the list. “He’s really retiring?”

  “Yes,” said the king.

  “Is anyone else under consideration?”

  “For now, only those three names.”

  I handed the list back. “They would both be good.”

  “Make a damned recommendation,” muttered the queen.

  I looked at her. She turned away, offering her husband her back and me her profile. She was still so beautiful. She must have truly been quite singular at their wedding.

  “My wife carefully cultivates her public reputation,” said King Leander.

  “Dithering idiot,” she muttered. “I’m not in his league.” She hooked her thumb to her husband.

  “Nor are you a dithering idiot,” I said.

  “No, she is not,” agreed the king.

  “Are the two names identical, as far as you are concerned?” the queen asked.

  I thought before I answered. “No,” I finally said.

  That was when she turned back. “Then give him a real recommendation. Or are you afraid of sticking your neck out?”

  “Why are you so angry at her, Ralifta?”

  “I’m mad, Leander!” she said, spinning to him. She turned back to me. “Make a proper recommendation.”

  “Your Majesty,” I said. “You’re not being fair to me.”

  She folded her arms. “I’m not, hmm? Why do you say that?”

  “Politics!” I said. “This decision is as much political as anything else. And I don’t do politics.
I build roads and bridges.”

  “So you’ve said. But you said the names aren’t identical to you. I want to know what distinguishes them.”

  “Of the two, if I had been offered the position, one of them would have been the first in line to stab me in the back, or maybe in the front. The other is the only one of my peers who wouldn’t be involved.”

  “But in your opinion, other than one of them being a sexist arrogant pig, and the other a good man with whom you share mutual respect, they’re both qualified.” The sarcasm dripped from her voice, some of it making it to the floor to bounce around a little before dispersing.

  I looked into her eyes. “Your Majesty King Leander,” I said slowly. “My personal position at the ministry would be more pleasant if you were to choose the bottom name, but I will do what I can to support your final choice.”

  “Very good,” replied the king. “There will be an announcement at the ministry this afternoon. I’d rather you kept this conversation between us.”

  “Of course, Your Majesty.”

  “You will be in attendance.”

  “Of course, Your Majesty.”

  “Very good. Let us discuss this other issue.”

  “Is there another issue?”

  “Ressaline,” he said. “You will arrive in Charth. At some point, you will be told about a particular custom. You will be presented with the choice of partaking in this custom or returning immediately to Flarvor.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  “Queen Lisdee has informed me, through the Duchess of Charthan, that there will be no exceptions to this edict. Any foreigners who intend to spend time inside her borders will experience this custom. This includes diplomats and even members of our royal family.”

  “Would that be normal, Your Majesty?”

  “Diplomats are expected to understand and respect local customs, but depending upon the nature, perhaps not necessarily participate. Demanding participation is unexpected. But it is her country and thus her rules.”

  “I understand.”

  “My wife is less upset with me for what I am about to tell you than she is regarding the conversation we have completed. Is it still your desire to do this per Lady Olivia’s desires?”