My Lady Jane(29)
Her husband’s father turned pale.
“You know, I’ve been meaning to acquire a horse of my own. I thought I might get outside more and enjoy some exercise. Imagine the benefits of riding a horse that truly can understand your every command, and spot potential danger not just on an instinctual level, but a human level as well. No more shying at wheelbarrows or cows or other harmless things.”
The duke’s frown was turning into a glower. “Gifford is my son, not an animal.”
“Given his E?ian existence and his rather promiscuous nocturnal activities, I would think you’d have realized long ago that being your son does not preclude him from also being an animal. The two states are not mutually exclusive.”
Alarmingly, Lord Dudley gave her an oily smile when he should have shriveled further. “Promiscuous perhaps, my lady, but you appear to have thoroughly enjoyed the benefits of his experience.”
Jane immediately turned red.
“Can we expect happy news soon? I have been looking forward to the idea of more grandchildren.”
Her face felt like it was on fire, but as the duke turned away, a superior set in his expression, she called out, “I’m surprised you don’t have a hundred already!”
Then she realized that was not quite the stinging quip she had intended, and actually dug her deeper into the losing side of their verbal battle. As the duke vanished around a corner, she crossed her arms and shifted her course to a small powder room where she could begin to make herself presentable—not that Edward ever cared how she appeared, but she didn’t want everyone in the palace to assume she’d had a rambunctious night with her new husband.
She spent several minutes adjusting The Gown as best she could, and then she went to work on her hair, first carefully removing the headdress. Untangling the mess took a bit more work, followed by some finger combing, and then she pulled her hair into a low bun and pinned it into place.
After she inspected herself in the framed silver mirror, she proceeded to the turret room where Edward spent all his time lately.
A pair of guards stood watch at the base of the stairs.
“I’m here to see the king,” she announced.
The two men glanced at each other, and the one with a big, bushy unibrow said, “His Majesty is asleep. If you’d like to wait in the library, someone will be along to tell you when he’s ready to receive you.”
Jane frowned. Edward had never been a late sleeper before. Then again, he’d never had “the Affliction” before. He’d looked so pale and worn last night that it was a wonder he’d even been sitting straight by the end of the feast.
Well, there were worse places to wait than the library.
“Inform me as soon as the king awakens. I want to know the instant he’s available.”
“Of course, my lady.” The guard stood at attention once more and resumed looking through her.
Jane headed for the library, a familiar place filled with memories of time spent with Edward. Often, they would choose a topic and whoever produced the most facts about it by the end of an hour would win. (Jane had won a lot, a fact she loved to remind Edward about. Those few times she’d lost still haunted her nightmares.) It was here she’d first learned about E?ians, how they’d been persecuted for centuries, and that the gift typically ran in families, though neither she nor Edward had been blessed with an animal form. Edward, and everyone else, might have been frightened of his father’s second form, but Jane had always been jealous of her mother’s (very secret) magic.
Did Lady Frances know about Gifford? She was outspoken in her dislike of E?ians (in spite of being one herself), so maybe no one had told her, assuming she wouldn’t approve the match otherwise. (Few people realized just how desperate Lady Frances was to marry off her daughter. She’d have married Jane to a tree stump if it had been allowed.)
Jane sighed and wandered toward the selection of books on horses: feeding, caring for, history, anatomy, potential illnesses, and how to braid a tail.
She spent a few hours lost in old texts describing the process of driving the nail through the shoe and hoof, the importance of equine companionship, and the necessity of grooming not just the fur, mane, and tail, but picking rocks out of the hooves as well. Furthermore, what to do if the hoof was split.
Fortunately Billingsly was probably responsible for all that, and maybe Gifford didn’t need shoes, as he likely didn’t want iron nailed into his bare feet when he transformed every evening. She’d have to ask.
By noon, Edward had not emerged from his chambers and Jane was getting hungry. She put away the books and returned to the stairwell. The same two guards were on duty. “Has the king awakened?” she asked.
“I’m afraid His Majesty is not taking visitors today.” Unibrow Guard didn’t break his stance.
Jane scowled. “He will see me. Tell him that Lady Jane—” She stopped. Her name was Lady Jane Dudley now. Jane Dudley. Terrible. She swallowed hard. “Tell him that his cousin Jane wishes to speak with him.”
“The orders are that he sees no one today.”
“Go up and ask if he will see me. Because he will.” Jane crossed her arms and leaned her weight on one hip. “I’ll wait right here.”
“No one is allowed to see the king today, my lady. If he wants to see you, he’ll send for you.”
Jane bristled. “This is ridiculous. You must allow me to see him immediately. There won’t be any problem, you’ll see.”