Odilia twisted Roland’s ring on her finger, a nervous gesture. Of all the things expected to bring her back to the City of Elua, this had not been her preferred choice.
But she was a Dahlia—upright and unbending—she would not falter now.
Accepting the hand of the footman who opened the carriage door, she stepped down into the shade cast by the royal palace of Terre D’Ange in the City of Elua. She kept her face smooth and impassive as she swept through the front doors of the palace to greet the man standing there to welcome her.
“Odilia,” Sebastian L’Envers said warmly, reaching for her hands with the clear intent to offer her the kiss of greeting.
Instead, she swept him a small, perfect curtsy. “Your Grace.”
Stung, he shifted back onto his rear foot, realizing the distance she was putting between them. On purpose.
“Odilia,” he said softly, moving beyond the hurt of her snub. “They are waiting in the gardens. May I escort you?”
She nodded but did not take his offered arm. Going into this meeting was a kind of battle and she was sure her armor was firmly in place.
The Sovereign Duc of Namarre showed her through the light and airy salons, choosing a route with fewer people—but not empty. Soon enough all of the City would know she had been summoned by the King and his Queen-to-be.
The gardens of the royal palace were expansive and, as to be expected, exquisite. Lavender and lilies and iris, hedges and bushes and gravel paths, fountains and pools and statues. It was a piece of paradise, like a hint of the True Terre D’Ange Beyond. And there at a small table with a mosaic top, set before a grand fountain, three chairs set into the seashell gravel path, was the King of Terre D’Ange and Lady Corrian de Borlean.
Odilia squared her shoulders and descended the steps to the gravel. “Your Majesty, Lady Borlean. I have come at the request of your invitation.”
Gustav looked up, hope glimmering in his Courcel blue eyes as he stood. “Odilia!”
Corrian smiled warmly at Odilia as she approached the table. Many would say that she had all the power in this new dynamic, but they would be wrong. She was the intruder in Gustav and Odilia’s love affair, and while she hoped to be the queen of this castle, she knew she could hope for no more than to be second in his heart.
“Odilia,” she said, approaching the other woman to present the kiss of greeting, which Odilia accepted only a little stiffly. “Thank you for coming.”
“I answered your invitation as was expected,” Odilia said, allowing the kiss but no more, stepping out of the other woman’s grasp. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
The table was set with a tray of canapés as well as one decanter of fruit-infused clear water and a decanter of wine. It seemed they were making efforts for this to be comfortable. Odilia accepted the seat the king pulled out for her, not wanting to look into his hopeful eyes. She had to protect herself and her heart in this.
“I asked Gustav to let me join you for this overdue conversation,” Corrian started, holding up a hand to prevent any objection. “I am sure you are feeling a great many things, and I would not presume to tell you what they are or how you should feel. And yet, I wish desperately to tell you how I feel.”
Odilia met the other woman’s eyes as she, too, took her seat. The Dahlia let the future queen pour the water and wine in the waiting glasses, keeping her own hands folded in her lap as she listened.
“I came to the capital this past season in a predicament,” Corrian continued, “I needed to find a husband for the good of my family and yet, to wed was the last thing I desired. I had hoped, greatly, to find a man with whom I could make a political match if not an amorous one, and I wish you to know that I feel I have succeeded in that endeavor. I wanted a husband who would allow me the freedom to not play pretend at love and who I could, in turn, give the freedom of his own affairs. This is the nature of the agreement Gustav and I have forged. I may soon get the title, but his heart is his own to give to whomever he chooses.”
“And I want nothing more than to give it to you again,” he said earnestly, blue eyes fixed on the unreadable courtesan across from him. “I meant every word I wrote to you, and those letters are still true now as the day the pen shaped those words.”
“Your Majesty—”
“No, I am only your Gustav here.”
“You are the King of Terre D’Ange,” Odilia said firmly. “Now and always. You cannot just set that aside because you wish to be frank at last.”
“Odilia, what Corrian says is true,” Gustav said, glancing at the Azzallese woman. “We came to an understanding, she and I. She knows what you are to me, she understands, and she will not stand in the way. She even gives us her blessing!”
Corrian felt more than saw Odilia glance at her to gauge her response to that, and she made sure to keep her face open and pleasant, giving the courtesan a small nod of confirmation.
“Odilia,” Gustav said quietly, leaning forward in his chair, “I am so sorry for all of this, for how it has happened. But, I would never tell you about my betrothal with an impersonal announcement. I would never do that to you. I do not know yet who sent the message to Cereus House on the Longest Night, but I will find out. Corrian and I had always intended for you to find out privately, between the three of us.”
“Because I do want a future with the three of us,” Corrian said gently. “I promised Gustav freedom, he promised me the same. I would not think to separate the two of you, I know the deep love you hold for each other, I would not come in between that.”
Odilia picked up her wineglass slowly, taking a slow sip to keep herself composed.
“Odilia, I fear the court will spend my entire marriage trying to make enemies out of us,” Corrian said, hoping that the courtesan would be able to sense her honesty. “I am certain that, regardless of their success in that, the historians will do the same. I am telling you now that your enmity is the last thing I would wish for. I desire friendship with you, comradery—” with a slight mischievous grin, “—perhaps more, one day. I wish to spend my time as queen with you as my Royal Companion, a one true friend who I can always turn to and trust above all else.”
Odilia’s eyes met hers for a long moment, taking the measure of her.
“And,” Gustav said quietly, seeing Odilia’s eyes flick to him again, “if you wanted it, I would also name you my official consort.”
Official consort. Not his wife, not his queen, but just as influential a position as his royal mistress. A place at court, an official and visible position where the rest of the nobles and courtiers could not be able to deny that she had not been put aside.
Odilia’s jaw flexed as she swallowed, considering this.
Unexpectedly, she felt the sting of tears in her eyes. She swallowed again, something tight in her throat as she spoke, “I have been…humiliated, Gustav. Time and time again.”
He opened his mouth to speak but she held up a hand to stop him. He subsided.
Odilia’s head turned to the second woman at the table, “Corrian, you are considerate and truly D’Angeline to offer so much freedom and consideration for the affairs of the heart. It is appreciated, if unexpected. I do remember the times you visited me in the Dahlia salon, I enjoyed your company.”
Corrian managed a smile.
“However,” Odilia said, smoothing her hands along the skirts in her lap, “as significant as this offer is, it is not the only one I have before me.”
The king’s eyes dropped to the topaz and diamond ring on her finger. He knew who had given it to her, he knew what at least one of her other options was.
“Therefore,” the Dahlia continued, “I cannot give you an answer now. I must consider what is best for me.”
“Understandable,” Corrian said immediately. “May I request an answer before the wedding? If you choose to accept our offer, I would like to make the announcement of your position properly at the ceremony.”
Odilia accepted that with a regal nod. “That is reasonable. I will give you an answer before then. At the very least, to assist with the addressing of the invitation.”
Gustav’s lips spread into a smile. If she could make a joke, perhaps all was not lost between them.
