Ever After (Unfinished Fairy Tales #3)(96)
“Nothing serious,” he assures her. I wave to a footman, signaling that he bring a chair. “There are others suffering from worse.”
“We just learned of that terrible bomb going off in Parliament. I wanted to go there as soon as possible, but your father wouldn’t let me. He said it was better to wait until you return, and let the professionals handle the injured.” Her gaze falls on me. “Kat, how did you find him?”
“She came straight into the building, looking for me,” Edward says. “She risked her life to make sure I was safe.”
The queen takes a step forward, and kisses me on both cheeks. “Bless you, my dear. I knew you’re perfect for him.”
I grin, pleased but embarrassed. “We’ve got to get the doctor for him.”
Queen Isolde calls a servant, telling him to summon the doctor right away. Servants who pass by gawk at Edward, sitting on a fancy upholstered chair while I continue to press the meat on his ankle, but I’d rather not move him upstairs to our suite. Not until the doctor performs his diagnosis.
“By the way, where is Father?” Edward asks.
“He has sent a messenger to the Commoners’ Union for the Abolition of the Privilege of Peers,” the queen says. “He wants to negotiate with them and ensure that nothing like this will ever happen again. Oh my God, Edward. When I thought of what happened in Moryn, I never expected that it would happen to us…” The queen’s affection for her son has affected her usual composure.
A palace surgeon arrives and inspects Edward’s foot.
“That looks painful, but there are no broken bones,” he says. “You must refrain from walking as much as you can. Send for ice packs from the kitchen’s underground storage. Alert me right away if the symptoms become worse.”
While the queen issues orders concerning Edward’s treatment, the doors to the main entrance open. Liam enters…or rather, is pushed ahead, by two burly palace guards. There’s a flicker of surprise when he sees us, but soon he resumes his interest in the carpet.
“Your Majesty,” the guard bows to the queen. “Your Highness. Prin…Lady Katherine. We have brought the criminal responsible for the bombing, on request of the king. Is His Majesty in his receiving chamber?”
The queen nods. “He is waiting.”
“Wait.” I stand up. “What about Charlie Quinn? He is the main culprit. Liam was with me before the bomb went off.”
The guard shakes his head. “The police didn’t find any others. This one will have to do for the time being.”
“Wait,” I say again, heading to the staircase. “I’m coming as well.”
“And I,” Edward says.
“Absolutely not.” The queen and I say at the same time. The brief shock on Edward’s face makes me want to laugh, but then the current situation requires me to stay serious. “Edward, let me go. After all, I have more experience with the Union than you. Besides, I’ll never forgive you if you make your foot worse getting up those stairs.”
“Kat makes a valid point.” The queen’s eyes twinkle, in spite of the disaster that just happened.
With two votes against one, Edward waves a hand at me, his expression resigned. “Tell Father that you are representing me.”
In the receiving chamber, the king looks furious. The same kind of cold fury that Edward possesses when he learned I was shot at. Liam, his usual confidence disappeared, stands in front of the king, his eyes on the ground.
“Katherine…” The king does a double take when he sees me. “What are you doing here? Where’s my son?”
“A painting in Parliament crashed on his left foot, and the doctor told him he shouldn’t walk. So, here I am in his stead. I’m a better candidate anyway, because I’ve been to the Anti-Aristocrat’s Union’s meetings in public. I know him as well.” I point at Liam. “Edward introduced him during our honeymoon, and he was later appointed as one of the teachers at Princess College.”
The king looks at me for a brief moment, there is disbelief in his gaze, followed by appreciation. But all he does is turn back to Liam. After all, there is more important things to be resolved.
“Liam Charingford. Is this how you repay me, after everything I’ve done for you and your grandfather?”
Liam stays silent. I wonder what is going on in his head. Is he repentant, or does he think the bombing wasn’t enough?
The king pounds a fist on the gold-and-silver arm of his chair. “Did you honestly believe that bombing the Parliament would make us give in to your demands?”
“Your Majesty,” I say, sensing that his fury is getting in the way. “I have seen the crowds gathered when the Union was holding public lectures and speeches. Instead of blaming the disaster on him, perhaps we could make better use of your time making sure that a similar event will not occur again.”
The king shoots me a look mixed with surprise and irritation. I guess he isn’t used to a younger woman telling him that he should do better when dealing with a rebel. But I have to give him credit that he doesn’t yell at me for impertinence; he actually makes an effort to calm down and regain his composure.
“Is he the only member of the Union that the police caught?”
I nod. “Charlie Quinn, the leader of the Commoners’ Union for the Abolition of the Privilege of Peers, is yet to be found.”