Chapter 23

Everything had been going perfectly, until Talman decided to take forever in his bedchamber.

Angeline nervously tapped her foot. How difficult could the task be?

Perhaps Becca had worn a chastity belt that had no key. A ridiculous thought, considering Angeline had not known any woman to be placed in one since her grandmother’s day.

The crowd had grown restless, and she needed to do something.

She stepped onto the dais in front of the minstrels. “Please forgive the delay!”

Everyone in the room silently faced her.

“It seems my brother is taking his time.” Laughter erupted, and she coyly bowed her head. “You should all go to your rooms for your masks, and when you return, I am certain the bedding will be produced, and we can continue our celebration.”

After abundant nods of approval, everyone but the musicians left. They were the only ones in the great hall who would not be masked. They had claimed it would inhibit their performance, so she excused them.

Angeline waited until everyone had gone, then hastened down the corridor to Talman’s bedchamber. Both the chambermaid and the priest stood in the hallway, hovering close to the chamber door.

“Nothing yet?” she asked the priest.

He shook his head, stone-faced.

Although highly improper, she rapped on the door. “Talman? May I enter?”

She would forever treasure the aghast expression from the priest.

Angeline opened the door without permission, jutted her chin, and looked directly at the priest. “Someone must intervene.” She gave a curt nod, then went in and shut the door soundly behind her.

“Angeline?” Talman sat up in the bed. “Get out!” He scowled and pointed. Fortunately, he had covered his lower body with a sheet, but she grimaced at his hair-covered torso.

Becca lay whimpering in the bed.

“I will not leave.” Angeline moved closer. “Your guests have become restless. Why have you not called for the chambermaid? Since your wife lies here crying, I assume you have done the deed?”

Becca cried harder.

“Good heavens, Talman. What did you do to the poor girl?”

“I have done nothing!” He growled. “I cannot. Not with everyone waiting.”

Angeline covered her mouth, trying her hardest not to laugh. “Are you limp?”

His eyes shot fire.

“Dear brother. At your age, I am not surprised. But we cannot wait all night.” She looked with pity at Becca. “Sweet girl, cry no more.” She perched on the edge of the bed beside Talman. “Have you your knife?”

Becca gasped.

“Worry not,” Angeline said to her, then focused again on her brother. “All the priest needs is a little blood on your sheets. Prick your finger, smear some blood on the bedding, and all will be well. Then, you can spend the rest of tonight in each other’s arms. I have no doubt, eventually, all will fall into place. So to speak.”

Becca rose up slightly, clutching the white sheet to her bare porcelain-skinned form. “Do you truly believe it will work?”

“As long as you take care in the placement of the stain. You do not want the priest to believe you were bludgeoned elsewhere.”

Talman kissed Becca’s forehead. “Let us do as she says. Once I am no longer pressured, I know I can prove my manhood.”

Becca blinked slowly and lay back on the pillows. Her long golden hair spread out atop them. Angeline assumed she ever looked quite so lovely splayed out in bed. If not for the other gifts God had bestowed on her, she would be terribly angry with Him for cheating her of beauty.

“I will leave you two to finish your task.” Angeline stood and headed for the door. “You can thank me later.”

She walked out of the room and faced the priest. “They were uncertain what to do.”

His eyes widened.

“Worry no more. You should have your proof shortly. Although, I must say, their ignorance alone should be evidence enough of their virtue.”

Angeline strode with confidence down the corridor and returned to the great hall.

Others had already started to gather once again. Their elaborate masks covered their faces, with the exception of their mouths. She had the coverings designed so their guests would be able to easily converse, as well as eat and most importantly, drink.

Her heart beat harder. The final pieces of her plan were firmly in place.

Not even five minutes passed, when the priest came in waving the blood-stained sheet.

Angeline smirked. Good boy, Talman.

She donned her own mask. Red and black feathers framed her face. When she caught sight of Tesher, she hurriedly crossed the room to join him. His mask bore the turquoise feathers of a peacock to match his eyes. She had selected it specially for him.

“Tesher?” She blinked, and her lashes fluttered against the eyeholes.

“Yes, Angeline. I paid close attention to the gown you were wearing. I did not want to approach the wrong lady, when it came time to dance.”

As if on cue, the minstrels began a tune. “A wise young man. Are you ready for some fine wine, or would you prefer to dance first?”

His father stood close by, grumbling something unrecognizable. The mask she had chosen for him was not as fine as Tesher’s. It was solid black with raven’s feathers, and if she were fortunate, it still held fleas.

“A dance first.” Tesher held out his arm. “And plenty of wine later.” He shot a look over his shoulder, then guided her to the center of the room.

“Your father does not approve of me,” she whispered. “How am I to sway him?”

“Worry not about my father.” Tesher drew her closer, grinning victoriously. “You have outdone yourself with this affair. I cannot wait until the sun sets and the candles surrounding the room radiate our only light. They will create an appropriate sensual mood.”

“Is that wise?” She breathed heavily and moistened her lips. “Why start something we cannot finish?”

“You told me I should not feel shame from my desires. We may not be able to satisfy all we crave, but I hope for a kiss by night’s end.”

She swallowed hard and stared at him. His boldness caught her off guard, yet it produced a measure of excitement. How harmful could one kiss be? “Our mouths are exposed, still, it would be difficult in these masks.”

“We can wait until everyone has gone and remove them. I will not retire to my bedchamber until I taste your lips.”

“You speak like a man, Tesher of Oros.” As much as she craved it, she feared the kiss would never come.

“I am a man.” He twirled her twice, then brought her tight against him.

She could not keep this situation progressing. Not now. “Forgive me, but I must excuse myself.” She hurried away and pushed through the masses of people. She dared not look back.

Tesher would not soon forgive her for leaving him, but other matters needed tending. If she waited too long, Marni might tire and go to her room.

Angeline had carefully chosen every gown and every mask, so she would know, without a doubt, who came and went. Of course, Marni was the only woman present who looked as if she carried an enormous melon beneath her sapphire blue gown. White swan feathers adorned her mask.

It should trouble Angeline knowing the woman’s very breath would soon be taken from her. Oddly, it did not. It excited her beyond belief.

She hastened to the kitchen to make certain everyone proficiently performed their tasks. As she had instructed, the pot of mulled cider had been kept full. Mug after mug went out on trays to their guests, taken by Shireen, who stood in the doorway waiting for another servant girl to fill more cups.

“Good girl,” Angeline said to Shireen. “Make certain Prince Frederick’s wife gets some cider. The poor dear is heavy with child and refuses to drink wine.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

When Shireen left with a full tray, Angeline followed some distance behind her.

Darius had been waiting patiently. His bushy beard pushed his mask out from his face, but even so, he was unrecognizable, except by her. Most every man in attendance bore a beard. “It is time,” she said and kept walking.

With every step, she sensed Darius’ presence behind her. He carried his own mug of cider, one specially prepared by Denali.

When they entered the crowded room, Angeline breathed deeply, then stood back to watch. One wrong move and it would all fail, but if Darius carried this out as they had planned, Angeline would see her destiny unfold before her eyes.

First, she had to fulfill her own task. She caught Frederick’s eye and waved him over. And just as she knew he would, he excused himself from Marni and moved toward her.

Shireen approached Marni and extended the tray. “Mulled cider, Highness?”

“Thank you.” She took a mug from the tray and sipped. “It is delicious.”

Shireen wandered off, taking her wares to other guests.

Angeline’s heart thumped harder.

“Yes?” Frederick positioned himself in front of her, partially blocking her view.

“That is you, Frederick,” Angeline said, “beneath that green mask. Is it not?”

“It is. You bade me over, but I know not why.”

Darius made his move. He stepped in front of Marni, bumped her arm with his, and sent her mug of cider to the floor.

Perfect!

Angeline kept herself attuned to everything going on behind Frederick, yet did all she could to give him her attention. Not an easy task. “I would like to dance with you.”

Even through his mask, she could see a spark in his eyes. “And I, you. Though perhaps we should wait until my wife retires for the evening.”

Casting her most sultry expression, Angeline took a much-needed pause. She stared at Frederick, while listening to Darius.

“My apologies,” he muttered. “Here. Take my cider. I have not yet drunk from my cup.”

Take it!

“You are too kind,” Marni sweetly said. “I cannot take what is yours.”

“I insist, Highness.” Darius placed it in her hand, then bowed low and walked away.

“Wait!” Marni called out after him. “Who are you?”

It appeared the loud chatter and music kept Marni’s simple plea unheard by everyone but Angeline. Darius kept walking and made himself scarce, just as she had instructed. Another one of her faithful servants knelt on the floor close to Marni and mopped up the spilled drink with a rag.

“Angeline?” Frederick lightly touched her arm. “Did my suggestion trouble you?”

She lightly laughed. “No. Not at all. I was merely deep in contemplation. I agree wholeheartedly that we should wait to dance. I would not wish to upset your wife.”

Marni lifted the mug from Darius to her lips and drank.

Yes! Drink it all!

Angeline’s heart beat so hard, she feared she might faint. And when Marni tipped her head back and swallowed every drop in her cup, Angeline had to stifle her instinct to shout with glee.

Denali was uncertain how long it would take for a reaction to the poison, but he had said it was powerful enough that a mere swallow would end her. She had consumed far beyond that.

“Angeline?” Frederick cleared his throat. “Are you unwell?”

“No. Merely thirsty. I have concerned myself over my guests and have failed to satisfy my own needs. Will you excuse me?”

“Of course.” He leaned close. “Until later.”

She wound her way through the crowd, searching for Tesher, and found him conversing with Carmela.

“Oh.” Angeline held a hand to her heart. “Am I interrupting?”

Tesher thrust his chin high. “Your sister has been entertaining me. You rushed away, and she kindly joined me.”

Angeline had not planned for this. The boy should have been pining for her. “Forgive me, Tesher.” She pressed her body against his side. “I am embarrassed to say, I had a stomach issue, and that is why I hurried off. I had no time to explain.”

“Are you all right?” Carmela butted in, before Tesher had the opportunity to remark. She seemed genuinely concerned, although she looked ridiculous in her duck-feathered mask. It gave Angeline another reason to chide her.

Carmela had no business interfering with her intended, but her reprimand would have to wait. “I feel much better. I would like to speak with Tesher alone. Will you leave us?”

“Very well.” Carmela wandered away.

“She was kind.” Tesher took Angeline’s hand. “But she is not you. I thought you had decided you did not care for me any longer.”

“At times, you are still a silly boy.”

His eyes narrowed.

“I am teasing, Tesher. You promised me a kiss later, and I intend to collect it.”

“Help us!” Frederick’s cry stopped the musicians from playing and hushed every conversation.

All eyes turned to the sound.

Angeline squeezed Tesher’s hand. “Something has happened. Wait here.”

“No. I will come with you.”

They pushed through the mass of people.

Frederick held Marni draped across his arms. Her body lay limp, and drool foamed from her mouth.

King Callum cast aside his mask. “Where is your healer?” he screamed.

Angeline hastened to the king’s side. “I will get him!”

Tesher hovered behind her. “What should I do?”

“Stay with them!” Angeline lifted her skirt and hurried away.

Denali had been waiting a short distance down the hallway, yet she did not want to rush their return. They stood unmoving for several moments.

“She drank it all,” Angeline whispered.

“Good.” Denali stroked his pointed beard. “There will be no possibility of reviving her.”

Angeline wanted to hug him, but kept her composure.

She calmly nodded, and they went back to the great hall, feigning haste.

“Step aside,” Denali said.

The fear and astonishment filling the room, fueled Angeline’s joy. When Olivia came to her side and took her hand, it sealed it.

Angeline appropriately trembled, and with her free hand, covered her mouth in shock.

Denali pried Marni’s eyes open, peered deeply, then shook his head. “I must get her to a room.”

Angeline frantically motioned to the corridor. “Take her to my bedchamber!”

Denali rapidly bobbed his head. He grabbed Frederick by the arm and led him quickly down the hallway.

Angeline squeezed Olivia’s hand, then faced the crowd and lifted her mask. Her tears streamed. “Please, pray for her!” She rushed off to join the others.

The entire royal house of Oros remained on Angeline’s heels. When she reached her room, she stopped them. “Wait here and allow my healer to do what he must.”

“She is my daughter!” King Callum tried to push past her, but she barred his way.

“I understand.” Angeline spoke as calmly as she could. “Frederick is with her, and I will make certain she is well tended. My healer cannot work if he is surrounded by too many people. Stay here, pray, and comfort one another.” She shifted her eyes to Tesher, who had also shed his mask. She offered him a sad smile, then went into the room.

Marni lay flat on her back, unmoving.

Denali put his ear to her chest. “Her heart barely beats.” He stood upright and faced Frederick. “Your wife is dying.”

“You lie!” Frederick grabbed fistfuls of his own hair and held onto his head as if its contents were about to explode. “Heal her, damn you!”

Angeline inched closer, eyeing the scene with pity.

Denali shook his head. “I cannot.” He dabbed at the corners of her mouth with the edge of a blanket. “I fear . . .”

“What?” Frederick spit out the word.

Denali looked directly at him. “Poison.”

Frederick breathed harder and harder. He put his hands to the sides of Marni’s face, then firmly slapped it. “Wake up!”

Angeline gasped and clutched her bosom. “Dear, sweet, Frederick. She cannot.”

Fury built in the man until his face grew as red as his hair. He pointed at Marni’s stomach. “What of my child?”

Denali’s brows drew in. “If it has not already died, it soon will. It will share whatever poison flows through her body.”

“No!” Frederick beat his fists on the bed, then his eyes opened wide. “Take the child from her!”

“What?” Denali met Angeline’s gaze, silently begging for advice.

This was not part of the plan.

Frederick rushed around the bed and grabbed Denali’s tunic at the neck. “I said, take the child.” He sneered. “Remove it from her belly, so it might live!”

“But, she is not yet dead. She will likely feel the pain.”

“Do it!”

Angeline stepped back and pressed herself against the wall. The man acted even more devious than she. The sight would surely be repulsive, but she could not deny Frederick his wishes.

She inhaled a large breath. “Go ahead, Denali. Do as he demands.” She gave her dear healer a look she prayed he would understand.

The child could not survive.

“Here.” Frederick yanked a knife from a strap on his boot. “Use this. It is plenty sharp.”

Denali stared at the thing. “It is not clean.”

“Are you a fool? It matters not! Cut her, or I shall put it to your neck!”

Such an incredibly delicious man. Far better than Angeline had hoped for.

She returned to the bedside. “I will help.” Without any kind of acknowledgment, she loosened the strings on Marni’s gown, then with Frederick’s aid, pulled it off her.

Frederick wasted no time stripping her of her undergarments to expose her large stomach.

“What are you waiting for?” he hissed at Denali.

Denali positioned the knife and plunged the tip into her skin.

Marni’s hands fisted the bedding, and though her eyes remained shut, she loudly moaned.

“She felt it,” Angeline whimpered, and Denali froze.

Frederick thumped the top of Denali’s head. “Do not even contemplate stopping,” he snarled. “Keep cutting.”

Breathing hard, Denali sliced deeper and worked the knife across her abdomen. Blood readily oozed and soaked into the bedding, staining the white sheets red.

A gurgling sound came from deep in Marni’s throat, then her body went limp.

“She feels nothing now,” Denali said coldly. “The trauma of her immense pain has caused her heart to stop beating.”

Frederick threw up his hands. “Why are you merely standing there? Free my child!” He said nothing of Marni’s passing and kept his eyes focused solely on the bloody swollen mound.

Angeline had told Darius they could accomplish this without bloodshed. She was sorely mistaken.

Denali set the knife aside and dug his hand into the large cavity. “I feel the child.”

Frederick hovered close. “Bring it out!”

More blood and watery fluid spilled onto the sheets. Denali met Angeline’s gaze, and she gave him a brief nod. He shut his eyes for a moment, then inserted his other hand and worked both hands around inside her. What he was doing, Angeline was not certain, but Denali had never failed her. With so much at stake, he certainly would not start now.

He hung his head, and with both hands withdrew the tiny form. A boy, just as Frederick had hoped for.

“My son.” For a moment, Frederick calmed, then his eyes flashed wildly about. “Why does he not cry?”

“He is dead, Highness,” Denali said. “The poison must have—”

“Dead?” Frederick yanked the blood-covered child from his hands—the long cord at its belly hung between them. “No.” His face scrunched tight. “No!”

The door burst open, and King Callum stormed in.

Angeline stood motionless and waited.

The wailing that ensued would surely be heard in the great hall. And once the word spread of Marni’s poisoning, chaos would follow.

The dead baby was fully formed and quite large. It should have been viable. Perhaps it had been killed by the poison, but Angeline believed otherwise. The way Denali had maneuvered his hands, he likely snapped the child’s neck, just to be certain it would not survive.

Angeline should be repulsed by the ordeal, sickened to no end. And yet, a feeling of victory flooded through her.

Frederick stood before her, holding his dead son to his chest, crying in utter agony.

His pain constricted her own heart—a new sensation, to say the least. True, she wanted him, yet she never expected to feel something for him.

He might not have an heir, but in time, he would acquire a new wife, and all would be well.