Arranged: An Array Series (Book #1)(46)

“Father,” I said. “Hara is travelling back home today. She should be here by early afternoon. I will need a few of your guards to intercept them, to make sure she arrived safely.”

“You will do no such thing!” Cecilia roared, standing from her chair. Father placed a hand on her shoulder and pushed her down to take her seat again.

“Take what you need,” he reassured me. “I want a guard at her room as well. When does your mother come home?” Cecilia seethed in her chair.

“I believe in the next few days. She said she would send me a messenger, so I know when to prepare.”

“No one cares if that whore lives or dies,” Cecilia growled. “You are putting the king and my son at risk by taking vital men away from their personal care!”

“Enough!” Father roared. Cecilia jumped in her seat in surprise. “If you don’t shut your mouth, woman, you’ll be personally removed from the room.”

“Mother, will you please write to...her family?” George asked. “Tell them what happened, and that she can be buried here or sent home.”

Cecilia reached her hand out to touch George’s. “Of course, my dear. Anything you need me to do. I’ll also respond to some letters I’ve received on the marriage matter.”

“What marriage matter?” George asked, pausing to take a drink of his brandy.

Cecilia straightened her gold gown and stood up regally. “I know it’s a sensitive subject right now. We can discuss it at another time.”

“What marriage matter, Mother?” George asked, more sternly. I stepped behind his chair to show moral support. I rarely saw him snap at his mother. She had something up her sleeve. Big surprise. Cecilia looked shocked at her son’s outburst before she quickly recovered, which turned into a look of annoyance now that I was in her line of sight, but she focused her attention on her only son.

“Now that you are without a prospect of a wife, we’ll need to look for another one.”

George looked at her as if she had gone completely insane. “Another one?” George repeated in a dangerous tone. “Like she was just something I bought or traded for? She was a good human being!”

“She wasn’t ever going to be your wife!” Cecilia exclaimed. “That woman couldn’t handle a card game, let alone a kingdom. Your father told me that you would be rid of her.”

George looked back at me. “I hadn’t gotten a chance to tell her yet. When Ava and I—”

Cecilia smiled and clapped her hands together. “What a marvelous idea! Ava. We can make Ava your wife.”

“No!” George and I both said in unison. Father looked at both of us, baffled.

“We’ve already been through that.” George quickly said. “We aren’t doing that to her again.”

“She will do as she is told!” Cecilia bellowed. “You are the future king.” She looked at her husband. “Tell him. Tell him that it is what we want. You wanted it; we went through all the trouble of locking her away to keep her safe.”

“No,” George said flatly again.

“She was raised to be your Queen since she was a child. She already has the training and the—”

“I said no,” George snarled, glaring at her. Cecilia stood from her chair, her face red with frustration.

“I said yes. And as Queen, I demand it!” She took a step toward George and said, more softly, “You are upset. Madelyn was a lovely girl. But we have a kingdom to think of; a future. Ava would be perfect. She would birth you many sons, and—”

“No,” I warned, trying to keep myself from throttling her.

“I don’t remember you being invited into this room, bastard. This is royal business; you may see yourself out,” Cecilia seethed through her teeth.

“He will stay because his bastard ass keeps you alive, Cecilia. So, sit down,” Father replied, stepping beside her, daring her to challenge him.

“I want him out of my sight. It’s bad enough I had to have this unwanted child in my presence. Years upon years, I’ve watched him grow up with my son, challenging his position, challenging my son’s right to—”

“Leave!” my father exclaimed, pointing his finger to the door. Cecilia turned to face him.

“How dare you!” she yelled. “You fool! You think that he is trying to help us, but I think he is behind this whole radical plan of attacks.”

“If you don’t leave this room, Cecilia, I will have a guard drag you out by your hair.”

She went to open her mouth again, then shut it. Looking at me one more time with fury, she left the room. I had never been seen or heard my father protect me as he did now.

He took a seat in Cecilia’s chair and motioned for George to pour him a drink. George did what was asked of him and lit a cigar for him as well.

“Now,” Father began, “I want to know what the two of you have been talking about.”

“Talking about?” George asked. I sat on the arm of George’s seat.

“Yes,” he said slowly. “The two of you have been discussing Ava, and I want to know what for. You both declined Cecilia’s offer of making her George’s wife. I want to know why.” He looked at George. “You and I spoke about this, only days ago. If you hadn’t found a new wife, Ava will fall to the task.” George took a deep breath and I shifted uncomfortably. “Did you find someone else?”