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"The Queen doesn’t want to be disturbed, sir"

"Well, we don’t always get everything ant in life If the Queen hasn’t learned that by now, I’m happy to instruct her"

I stalk around the maid, out the door and across the courtyard to the family chapel on the northern-uarding the door, so I don’t pause before tearing it open and letting it slide closed behind me The small rear vestibule is cloaked in darkness, except for the dilow of the late-afternoon sun through the high stained-glass s

Houses of worship each have a distinct scent, depending on the faith and country Sometimes spice or incense, sometimes clay or earth Here, I’m enveloped in the scent ofcandles and the heavy flora of lily of the valley I close my eyes and breathe it in, and the memories that co open when I hear a muffled sound I move to the double doors that lead into the chapel and open one slightly And the sound is louder Clearer

It’s pain Heartbreak Devastation Raw and inconsolable

Lenora is prone before the altar, on her knees, her spine curved, her face in her hands, crying so hard she tre, wrenching sobs over and over again I can feel her anguish, even from across the room--her sadness and sorrow and terrible loss

It’s the sah ently so she won’t hear And I lean h she’ll never know, I stay there with her And the Queen cries her heart out, for both of us

One month later

Palace of Wessco

"NOW TELL US, Your Majesty, what do you and the Duke do in your leisure tiot about this part The fakery and arse-kissery, the etiquette and protocol I forgot about the boredoeantry and useless tradition

"We discuss literature, art, politics," the Queen says pleasantly "We go to thehorseback rides on the estates"

This is exactly how I i ca wankers who call the stupid questions

"And picnics?"

"Of course I love picnics"

Hell is a thick, itchy suit and a necktie so tight it le me

"Now, on to the topic viewers really want to know: the wedding dress"

And at this point, I hope it fucking does

"I’m afraid that’s top secret" Lenora smiles like a professional charht frustrated soddamn-idiot smile, the patient persuasive smile All of the theht up her eyes

Wellexcept for maybe her pretty, vicious, victorious s a mouse That’s one of my favorites When it slides onto her lips, I can’t help but iasps

Ora honeyive us as to the location?"

"There’s tooa brief honey," the Queen replies "Somewhere tropical"

"Ah, an island holiday," the tool croons "How ro our fingers together, even though I know it may irk her Have to do my part, after all

"Ros her nails into my hand, where the cah Because this is the dance we’ve fallen into, two fencers circling each other--lunge, parry, lunge, parry Prodding and poking and feeling each other out