Goddess of Legend (Goddess Summoning #7)(48)

"Your suggestion?" Gwen nearly screeched. "'Twas my idea. Mine."

At this point Isabel was hoping for medieval doctors to come in and take Gwen off to the loony bin. No such luck.

"And you will in no way be part of the ceremony between James and Mary," Gwen said. "All was my idea. And I will have it as I see fit. Or they will not have it at all."

Isabel felt slapped in the face. At this point Mary was shaking. Isabel held on to her hand. "Should you in any way harm Mary because of my words or actions, I will most definitely take her and James back to the safety of Dumont. Mary has done nothing but be my lady in waiting, or whatever you would call her, and, I would hope, friend. I will not allow you to punish her for actually having fun doing her job. And doing it well. Now you tell me, Queen Guinevere, how you want to play this."

Again, Gwen was silent for quite some time. And then she did the funniest thing. She bent over in laughter, which shocked Isabel, and probably everyone in the room.

GWEN finally reined in her mirth, but in truth, it took some time. She had just been told to go to Hades by a woman who had walked into her castle and in less than two nights had won over the hearts of more castle staff than Gwen had been able to in the years she had been queen.

The countess had been rolling on the floor with a servant, the two so happy.

Gwen had ne'er ever been close to such a relationship. Truth be told, it had ne'er even entered her mind. And right now her mind felt not so well. She could not seem to control her emotions.

"You may stop protecting Mary, Countess. I have no plans or desires to harm her well-being. This I swear. We are going to have a lovely ceremony in the great hall for Mary and James."

Isabel, who was standing as a guard against harm, seemed to settle. "We accept that promise, Your Highness."

The countess turned to Mary. "Want a two-for-one bet on the best curtsy, Mary?"

Mary's red curls went wild as she shook her head. "No, mum, I believe we have strained the queen's patience as is."

"Truth told, you have not," Gwen said. "I apologize if I sounded impatient. I was anxious, only, to show you, Countess, what we . . . what these talented seamstresses have put their hands to."

Isabel looked around. "Most appear to be making great progress."

Gwen smiled. "Yes, for the women. They should be ready by the morning fast."

It was quite satisfying to Gwen to see the look on Isabel's face. "You are attempting to take Arthur from me."

"Are you serious?" Isabel asked. "I was attempting to bring the two of you back together."

"That is true, my queen. James heard as much," Mary said.

"Liar!"

Isabel and Mary looked at each other.

"You call her a liar, you call me a liar," Isabel told her.

Gwen ignored this. "We begin my idea of playtime for all women one hour after breaking fast on the morrow."

She glanced around the room, and the workers who had stopped in midstitch for some reason immediately returned to their work in earnest.

"Oh, Gwen, thank you!" Isabel said, lunging forward and hugging her. "And I am so sorry for being snippy with you."

Gwen was taken aback, as she had ne'er seen such joy from another woman so blatantly displayed. But truth be told, she felt so very happy inside.

"So what will our first playtime involve?"

"Wow, you have caught me off guard, Gwen. I never thought you'd pull this off so fast." Isabel peered across the room, then clapped. "My apologies for disrupting you ladies, but I'd like to have a vote."

"A vote, mum?" Mary asked behind Isabel's back, as a certainty still afraid to come forward and face her queen. 'Twas a sad thought that Gwen had not treated the servants better. They had alas been tools to forward her desires and needs. She could not even begin to name many of them. Not even the young lady who fled from the room. 'Twas sad and humiliating. She was a failure as a queen. In many more ways than one.

"How many of you want to participate tomorrow morning?" Isabel asked. "Please don't raise your hand if you don't mean it. Please only raise your hand if you are truly interested. And there is no punishment should you decline, yes, Queen Guinevere? It is not demanded of them."

"They are free to choose, Isabel."

"The queen has said so. You may choose yes or not, with no repercussions whatever you decide. Should you choose not to play, then that hour will be yours, free to do whatever. As long as you do it making yourself happy. Hell, you can get naked for your men."

Many giggled.

"What play will this be?" a lady, who did not even look up from her stitching, asked.

Gwen looked at Isabel, as she had no idea. "Countess Isabel, I am certain, must needs answer this one."

Isabel glanced around and finally said, "It all depends on the weather tomorrow."

At that very moment, the clouds opened up and a rumble of thunder shook overhead.

"Should it be inside the castle, then so be it. Have any of you heard of Duck, Duck, Goose?"

"As in the menu?" one asked.

"As in the game."

ISABEL and Gwen strolled down the stairs. "Duck, Duck, Goose?" Gwen asked, with a smile.

"You have to start small with women who have never known real play."