Fic: The Politics of Marriage (2/4)

[melyanna]

Meta and Part I


In the evening, after returning from their ride to discover that the Caldorans had arrived, John received a summons. Laura came to his door and reminded him that the queen expected him to join her for dinner. He had never refused her such a request before, and he would not start their betrothal by doing so.

When he had closed the door behind himself, Laura watched him for a moment before grinning. "Elizabeth told us," she said in a conspiratorial tone. "Congratulations."

"Thank you, my lady," he replied, unable to help a smile of his own. "I know there is a good deal of work ahead of us, but I am glad to have this question finally resolved between us, if nothing else."

They began to walk toward the queen's dining room. Along the way, John offered his arm to Laura and she took it with a grateful look. "How are you feeling?" he asked her quietly as they passed through the grand foyer. "You did not dance much the other night."

"The child wears me out already," Laura said, sounding exasperated. "It amazes me that something so small can disrupt everything so thoroughly."

John simply smiled and kept his head down.

They arrived in the dining room, where Elizabeth was waiting, but between her and John were most of her advisors and friends. "This is an auspicious gathering," he said warily.

Elizabeth grinned. "It is all right, John."

When the door was shut, Elizabeth met his eyes from across the room, and he knew what this was about. "My friends," she said, "I have called you all here to share with you some news. I have accepted Lord John's proposal of marriage."

Most of the people in the room seemed stunned for a moment, aside from Kate and Laura. John immediately found himself besieged by embraces from them. Laura, in fact, hugged him so tightly that he thought she would squeeze the breath from him. Teyla was more sedate than them, but her congratulations were no less pleased. Jack clapped his shoulder, and then he was faced with Daniel.

John knew that Daniel was not fond of him, nor did the duke wholly approve of his relationship with Elizabeth. As such, it was a great surprise to him when Daniel extended his hand. He must have read John's reaction, for he said with a hint of warning in his voice, "I know you will make her happy, cousin."

John shook the man's hand. "I will do everything in my power."

Then at last he was at Elizabeth's side, and he lifted her hand to his lips. It was something he had done a hundred times before, but seeing her breath catch at the gesture was as satisfying now as it had been the first time, perhaps even more so.

Supper was laid out for them on the table, and thankfully Elizabeth asked them all to sit. John was seated at her right hand, where he hoped he would always be now.

He was hardly aware, though, of the taste of the food or wine as the meal progressed. It was clear that Elizabeth had not called them all together to celebrate the betrothal. She had called them to discuss how best to deal with the subject of her marriage politically, now that she had made her choice.

"The summit begins in a matter of days," Daniel said. "I believe you and I both know, cousin, that we will have our hands full with the foreign dignitaries and with our own nobility trying to figure out how to gain from it."

"Perhaps news of the betrothal would distract them sufficiently to allow the scientists to work in peace," Kate suggested wryly.

"I have my doubts," Elizabeth replied in kind. "Certainly, there would be some who would be more interested in my marrying than in the gunpowder, but I doubt it would be enough."

"Surely you would not want to deal with both at once," John said, trying to stifle a hint of panic. "I realize you will not be the only one involved in talking the college into accepting our union, but I would rather not be without you in securing their support."

As Elizabeth smiled at him, Jack spoke up from across the table. "Perhaps we should first establish what level of support is enough, Majesty," he said. "I am certain you have known for some time that the college does not need to support your choice of husband explicitly."

She nodded, then looked at John. "What was it you told Kate?"

"The queen's marriage should not be decided by -" John stopped suddenly, realizing the implication. "Did you question her on what conversations I had had with her?"

She leaned over to kiss his cheek, mollifying him. "I told her that she has been keeping entirely too many secrets from me," she teased.

"If it is any consolation, my lord, I told her I thought you were more than adequately prepared for the challenge ahead," Kate put in.

"So what does the prospective prince think the queen's marriage should not be decided by?" Laura asked.

"A thin majority," John answered, almost automatically. Then he realized what Laura had called him, and he started to feel very humbled by it all.

"I think there is an obvious course of action here," Daniel said, guiding the discussion back on topic. "Lord John is right. The college's consent may not be necessary, but seeking broad support anyway may help us in the long run. And I would also agree with the marquis that we will be better off when we can all turn our full attention to the matter."

John frowned, not just because Daniel was agreeing with him so fully, but also because of a sudden uncertainty. "How long do we expect the summit to last?" he asked of Elizabeth. "Surely we would not keep our betrothal a secret for months."

She shook her head. "In two or three weeks, the novelty will wear off and we will be able to turn our attention fully to this matter."

With that it was settled. They continued talking of various members of the college, influential men whose sanction would carry great weight and help them win others over. John paid as close attention as he could, knowing that he would have to sit with many nobles himself, convincing them one by one of his worth. He would hate every moment of it, but it was necessary.

The meal lasted long past the sunset, until Elizabeth rose from the table. While the others took their leave, she stayed John with a hand on his arm. "What is it?" he asked lowly.

She said nothing until all but Kate and Laura had left. "Whether our betrothal is public or not, there are things we must begin to consider now for the wedding," she said. "A royal wedding does not plan itself."

He thought back to Laura's wedding, and then Jack and Sarah's yesterday. "There are aspects of this I will regret, aren't there?"

Elizabeth gave him a sweet smile. "It is possible that we could forego the flowers." When his eyebrows went up, she added, "It would require actual crowns."

He groaned. "I am not sure which is worse."

"I mentioned this because I want to know something of weddings in Caldora," she continued. "There are certain customs that I imagine I could not alter, but if there is something I could do...?"

"A Caldoran bride is married in her home," John said, then thought of Princess Carolyn's gift to Cassie. "And in a white gown if she can possibly afford it."

"Indeed?" Elizabeth replied, smiling again. "I could not be married outside my home even if I wished it. But since I shall wear a Caldoran ring upon my hand, a gown of white I shall have."

He grasped her hand lightly, running his thumb across her knuckles and brushing against the ring. "You know I must take it off until we announce our betrothal," she added, sounding a little nervous.

"I know." He leaned in to kiss her softly. "I will be happier when you are free to wear it once more, but I understand."

With that, he bade her a good night, knowing that he would sleep well tonight, after all the activity of the last two days and knowing that Elizabeth would be his wife before too many months had passed. He had some doubts that his betrothed would get the same rest, but talking late into the night with her friends about plans for the future would do her no harm.

The next two weeks were rather more sedate than John might have imagined. As someone who had been witness to the firing of the Asgard weapon in Caldora, he was invited to sit with the summit in the first few days, when the scientists were trying to gather as much information as they could. The memories were not pleasant. It had been fired before Nicholas came to him with the news that Cameron was missing, but the search that followed had been filled with the horror of the weapon's power.

Elizabeth noticed his distress when he talked of it in the group, and that evening she managed a moment alone with him to ask him why it had affected him so. Reluctantly, he told her the story, and she did her best to comfort him with soft kisses and a reminder that his cousin was alive and well.

As she had predicted, Elizabeth found her role in the summit diminishing after several days as discussion of the gun powder shifted towards the more scientific aspects of production and use. Daniel noted the waning interest of the Atalanian lords as well, and they quietly called the college to assemble in a few days' time. Although it was no surprise, John began to feel quite nervous.

But on the morning they were intending to make their betrothal known to the college, he received a letter from Caldora which both surprised and alarmed him, though in different degrees. He sought out Elizabeth, whom he found on the stairs near her chambers, a letter clutched in her hand and her guards trailing behind her.

"I have had a letter from King Henry this morning," she said. "I assume you must have received word from your cousin."

"Yes, though perhaps this is something we should not discuss without some privacy," John replied.

Elizabeth turned back, gathering her skirts with her free hand, and John followed her up the stairs. Once inside her study, she handed over the letter from the king. It declared in the formal language of the court that Princess Carolyn would be married to Cameron. "Had you any notion of this?" Elizabeth asked as John gave it back.

"I knew there was a mutual attraction," he said, thinking back to Cameron's odd behavior during John's last trip home. "I was not sure anything would come of it."

"Well, it must be a great relief to the king to have the matter of succession settled," Elizabeth said. She of course knew of Caldora's laws in that regard, although she had once or twice protested the unfairness of it. "It seems the wedding will be quite soon."

John looked down at his own letter. "Yes. He asks me to come and stand up with him."

"Of course," Elizabeth replied. She leaned against the table, the king's letter held loosely in both hands. "What will this mean for you? Your intention was to turn over the administration and authority of the province to Lord Mitchell."

"That does present a problem," he admitted. "I will not be able to tell until I am there, but I suspect a large number of people will be alarmed at the prospect of Cameron being both prince and steward of the province."

She shook her head. "He would have to appoint someone else. There is simply no way that he could do both well."

John thought to himself that Lady Gairwyn already managed the province when they were both away, and could probably be prevailed upon to take the role permanently, but he and Cameron would both have to speak with her on this. But Elizabeth spoke again, interrupting that thought. "Does Lord Mitchell know about us?" she asked.

"Yes. I told him a few months ago that I intended to marry you."

Elizabeth looked pensive but said nothing. John stood watching, trying not to fidget, until finally he broke, asking her what she wanted to do about it.

"Is there anything to do?" she asked. "We should go ahead as planned. No doubt Stephen Caldwell has heard of this betrothal by now, and when ours is made public, he will dash off a letter to King Henry, whose response will arrive in three weeks. If we have not formulated a plan by that time, it is no one's fault but our own."

The last part was said with a hint of a smile, and at that John stepped forward and touched her face. "You are a very patient woman, my lady," he said.

"I am," she agreed, looking highly amused. "Though perhaps it is just very early in the morning."

He laughed at that and ducked his head to kiss her. He'd meant to keep it light, but Elizabeth was in a different mood. Only a few moments passed before John desperately wanted to pull out the pins that held up her hair and let it fall around his fingers, to taste her soft skin, and to feel her body pressed eagerly against his while he tugged at the laces of her gown.

But now was not the time. Today was the day for announcing their intentions to the college, an important step toward the day when he could freely coax her into bed with him before breakfast.

"Have you eaten yet?" she asked, after pushing him away slightly. "I'm hungry."

Unable to help himself, he leaned in and nipped her earlobe. "So am I."

She gasped, blushed, and swatted his arm.

They both replied to their letters that morning, Elizabeth to congratulate Henry on his daughter's betrothal, and John to assure his cousin that he would come back in a few weeks to sort out a number of matters. Then, that afternoon, John met Elizabeth at her door. "I am glad to see this," he said, taking her hand, where she wore his ring for the first time in weeks. "Though it will give away your announcement."

They started down the corridor, Kate and Laura behind them. "I'm sure there is enough gossip about what news the Caldoran messenger brought this morning to distract them from my hands for the time being."

Daniel, Jack, and Peter Grodin were already waiting in the small antechamber through which Elizabeth usually entered the assembly hall. All of them had a place in the hall, but John abruptly realized that he had no idea where he was supposed to go. "Should I go up to the gallery?" he asked.

Elizabeth looked at Daniel. "No," the duke said. "Jack and I will stand with you."

"We will?" Jack said, which earned him an amused look from Elizabeth.

Peter walked up to the door into the hall and slid away the wooden shade covering a tiny slit that allowed him to see inside. "They have congregated, my lady," he said.

"Let us not keep them long in suspense," Elizabeth replied, and Peter opened the door.

The chattering inside fell to a more dignified hush. Lorne led Elizabeth out, and she and Kate and Laura ascended the dais. John followed Daniel and Jack. Lady Sarah was already there, and in the rows of nobles, he saw Teyla and Kate's father standing before their seats. Up the gallery, he caught sight of Stephen Caldwell, who was watching him.

The man almost certainly knew what was about to happen, and John could imagine the letter to Landry which he was composing in his mind already.

Benjamin Hurst called them to order, and there was a general shuffling as the nobles took their seats again. When all was silent and attention was fixed upon her, Elizabeth said, "My lords, we come this afternoon to inform you that the matter of our marriage is settled. We have accepted the offer of Lord John of Sheppard."

For a few moments, no one spoke. John stole a glance at Elizabeth, who seemed almost amused at the silence. But then Samuels stood to speak, which was never a good sign.

"You intend to marry the Caldoran?" he asked. "And you expect us to accept this?" There was an immediate explosion of noise, both of protest and agreement, before Samuels could continue.

The scene proceeded much as Elizabeth and others of her inner circle had predicted. Once Samuels spoke, it seemed that everyone found his tongue. The session went on for more than an hour, and was one of the most unruly sights John had ever seen. A significant number of the lords were appalled. Another group, probably larger than the first, were thrilled. The rest either did not think that the queen's marriage was important to them or were simply unconvinced of John's worthiness.

Afterward, the group gathered again in the queen's antechamber, this time joined by Teyla, Lady Sarah, and Lord David. "That went well," Jack drawled as Peter shut the door behind them.

"I thought you and Lord Burnham would come to blows, Jack, for all that he is two decades your senior," Elizabeth said.

"So did I," said Sarah. The lady had stayed Jack with a hand at his elbow and a stern look.

"He had no right," Jack replied, ignoring the amused tone of both women. "The law gives the college no voice in this matter. They have no right to voice their objections in this manner."

"We knew that would happen," John pointed out quietly. It had rattled him more than he expected, hearing objections made to his family and his birthplace so bluntly.

"We did," Elizabeth agreed, "but it is not as though the college could not have seen this coming." She looked around the room, and when no one spoke, she continued, "It is time to execute our plan. I want to thank each of you for taking this on, for I know it is most distasteful."

As she was referring to the task of meeting with their peers, most of the room's occupants laughed.

While they walked toward her chambers, Elizabeth remarked lowly to John, "You know that yours will be the least pleasant role of all."

He nodded. "It is a price I am willing to pay, Elizabeth."

The smile she gave him in response was soft and vulnerable and altogether lovely. He hoped the memory of that expression would carry him through the trials of the coming weeks.

Over the next three weeks, John came to envy the scientists, even Rodney McKay. They were the only people in Atlantis who had any peace. Ironically, McKay was one of the few people who offered John his unqualified congratulations on hearing of the engagement. Apparently the judgment of the queen was enough for her master shipwright.

On the first morning, John was met at his door by Peter Grodin. John had had very little interaction with the young man before he'd left for Caldora in the spring, but it swiftly became apparent to John that Grodin was extremely capable. John had no idea how he was going to manage once the man went back to his usual duties.

Elizabeth, though, was in no hurry to have him back. "I am staying out of this as much as I can," she told John when he spoke to her about it that evening. "It would be for the best if this is worked out amongst the college."

"And me," John added.

"That cannot be avoided," Elizabeth replied. "Kate and Laura and I are keeping up with everything else well enough. Even with the added pressure of planning the wedding."

"How is that coming?" he asked.

"Are you sure you want to know?" she teased. "We have drafted a guest list. At some point we should discuss any additions you would like to make."

After an hour of discussing guests, John decided not bring up the subject of their wedding again.

He was having a hard enough time with the noblemen. He had gotten to know a few of the men outside of Elizabeth's inner circle, but not very well. Given how marrying her had been his intent for some time, he was frustrated with himself for not giving more attention to the other members of the nobility whose support he would need. John had no idea how much good he was doing, and most of the time hoped that he was not doing too much harm. He did not want to damage Elizabeth's relationships within the court, especially not now.

But his meeting with Benjamin Hurst surprised John greatly. Hurst was generally on the queen's side in most issues, and seemed genuinely fond of her, even though their interaction had not been extensive. Thus John expected the meeting to be routine, merely a formality during which Hurst would indicate his support of Elizabeth's choice.

He could not have been more wrong. Hurst had a number of questions to ask, ranging from his general knowledge of the country to his views on various issues which had arisen in the court in the last few years. John did his best to answer as honestly as he could, all the while tamping down the desire to shoot panicked looks at Lord Daniel. Daniel, who had been present for most of these meetings, looked as surprised as John.

Once that part of the interview had been completed, Hurst moved on to questions directed more personally. He asked questions about the recent war in Caldora, about the circumstances surrounding his exile, and about his involvement in the Ori war. John answered each question with rising wariness. It was as though Hurst was looking for something in particular.

Finally, Hurst asked, "What of your family? I thought I had understood that you were your father's only son."

John frowned. "I was the youngest of six sons, my lord. I was the only one to survive the Ori war."

Hurst nodded, writing something down. "And all your brothers survived childhood?"

"Yes," John said, not liking where this was going.

"Good. The queen's mother had a great deal of difficulty producing an heir," Hurst said matter-of-factly. "It would be unfortunate if she married someone whose lineage suffered similar problems."

Even Daniel stiffened noticeably at that. John, on the other hand, was beyond niceties. "Is it your intention, sir, to give offense?" he blurted out. "You speak as though the queen's marriage was no more complex than raising farm animals, as though I will have no more use than siring an heir!"

John stopped himself a moment before getting up and storming out of the room, realizing what he had just done. Hurst, for his part, looked at him with narrowed eyes. "It is one of many concerns I might have, Lord John," he said evenly. "I wonder if you and the queen would be compatible in marriage, if you would be able to produce children, and if your temperament is suited to the crown."

John was not so angered that he did not recognize the rebuke. He sat back in his chair and endured Hurst's remaining questions, but when all was done he hastened away, not wanting to speak to Lord Daniel about this incident. Although he wanted to find some private place to get his temper under control, he went straight for the queen's chambers, knowing that she needed to be told.

She and her ladies were in her sitting room sewing when he entered, but upon seeing the look on John's face, Elizabeth immediately left them, drawing him toward the window. "What happened?" she asked.

Feeling sheepish about it now that he was out of that room, he looked out to the sea. "I lost my temper with Hurst," he said. "I do not know if he was opposed to our marriage before, but he may be now."

Elizabeth laid her hand on his arm. "What did you say?"

John bristled just slightly at the insinuation that the fault was his, but he put such petty feelings aside. "He was questioning me on many details of my life. When I told him that none of my brothers had died in infancy, he commented that that was a good thing in terms of our ability to have children."

He hazarded a glance at her; she looked irritated, though he could not tell whether it was directed at him or Hurst. "I shall speak with him," she said quietly. "I suspect this matter may be smoothed over without much fuss." Then her expression shifted to one of curiosity. "I understand how it would upset you to be spoken of so, but is that all that upset you?"

John frowned. "What do you mean?"

Elizabeth shrugged slightly, and she turned to sit on the low window sill. John followed suit. "It occurs to me that it might be painful to speak of your brothers."

He shook his head. Though sometimes the memories of the family he had lost would make him ache, a new thought had arisen, most likely brought on by Hurst's frank statements about him and Elizabeth having children. "Not exactly, but in all of this, it has finally occurred to me that I am the last of my house," he said. At her perplexed look, he clarified, "Our children may bear my name, but they will not be of the House of Sheppard. My sons will not know the land where my brothers and I were boys."

That Elizabeth seemed to understand. "But they will know this island, where you and I met and fell in love. They will know the woods of Athos, where Lady Teyla will no doubt teach them to fight." At that he grinned, his anger finally melting away, but she was not finished. "And they will know the sea."

He thought about her words for a moment, knowing that there was something deeper than that which he needed to see to. His children would probably never see Sheppard. No son of his would ever be marquis. After regaining his homeland only to lose his father, that was difficult to accept, even though he had made his home here in Atlantis, and wanted to make it with Elizabeth. He knew what he had to do, even if he was reluctant to do it.

"I suppose this is a good time to show you something," Elizabeth said when he did not reply. She produced a letter. "This was for you. It was delivered to me by mistake. The King of Caldora, having heard of your prospective marriage, requests your presence in Redwater as soon as possible."

"Do you think he invites me to offer his congratulations?" John asked drolly.

She rolled her eyes. "You must go, of course," she replied. "Things seem to be going well here, and if you go now to resolve the issue of your province, it will be a sign to those here that you are indeed serious about the matter."

A few in Atalan had raised the question of John's foreign title as a concern, though not as many as he had anticipated. Now was the time to deal with it, however. He folded the letter away and thought of the way Hurst had spoken of him. Perhaps it would be for the best if he stepped away from the politics of this marriage for a time, to deal with the politics of another.

There was a knock on the door, and a page arrived with another letter. This one was given to John in the first place, and he recognized his cousin's hand. While John read, Elizabeth returned to her sewing. "Cameron gives me more information," he said. "The happy news seems to have brought general distress to the court. There is a fear that I shall take my ancestral lands with me as a gift for my bride."

Elizabeth and her companions all looked like they were trying to suppress laughter. "I want no gift so grand, my lord," she told him.

"Good, for I have no intention of making such a gesture," he said, smiling at her in return. "When I go, I shall not return before my cousin's wedding."

She nodded and turned her attention back to her work. It was only then that John noticed what the three ladies were doing. They were sewing, but not for themselves. Each was working on a tiny garment for an infant.

John crouched down beside Laura to examine her work. "The child may be born before I return," he said, fingering the fine white linen.

Laura paused, her hand going to the swell of her stomach. "Perhaps. I have another two months," she said.

"Which is why we are taking every opportunity we have to work on these," Kate added. "With all that is going on, we have less time than we'd like to have everything ready."

John grinned. "I shall be sorry to deprive you of a hand to help with the politics, then, but I suspect I will not be too sorely missed in that regard."

After that day, Grodin stopped making new appointments for John. He stayed another week, continuing with what he already had planned. Once, he even found himself teaching the basics of archery to one of the eastern lords with whom he was supposed to be conferring about the marriage. That, he reflected, was not nearly as enjoyable as it had been with Elizabeth.

He departed very early in the morning, not wanting to be waylaid by any other noblemen wishing for a moment of his time. He was not looking forward to the journey. The politics waiting for him on the other side of the mountains held no appeal, and even though the court of Atlantis had grown wearying in recent weeks, John had no desire to leave Elizabeth.

Worst of all, Caldwell would be accompanying him.

Elizabeth was waiting for him in the stable. Caldwell and the rest of the Caldoran party were coming soon, and Elizabeth had not come by herself. As such, he refrained from making any remarks about the setting of their first kiss. "My lady?"

She nodded to one of the black-clad guards standing nearby. "This is Aiden Ford," she said. "He will accompany you."

Taken aback, John could but stare at her for a moment. "My lady-"

"I know," she said, holding up her hand to forestall his objection. "This will be the third time you have made this journey in the last year. But you are my betrothed now. Do not make me explain to you how your life is now endangered. I have it in my power to provide you some protection, and you will not prevent me."

John blinked several times. He had heard that quiet authority from her before, but rarely directed at him. He attempted to come up with a legitimate reason to refuse. "I would not deprive you of your protection either," he said.

Elizabeth glanced at Captain Lorne, who was standing near the entrance. John looked over his shoulder at the other man. "I have already begun recruiting new members of the royal guard," he explained. "By the time you and the queen have married, you will have your own detail of guards, without diminishing the strength of the queen's."

That idea was hardly comforting, but the expression on Elizabeth's face told John he would not win this argument this morning. "Well, Ford," he said, "may I have a moment to take my leave of the queen?"

The young man looked to his captain first before stepping out of the stable. "Are you hoping for something specific, my lord?" Elizabeth asked coyly.

"A kiss, my queen," he replied. "For it will be many weeks before I see you again."

She gave him a kiss then to match the occasion, deep but unhurried. Before long, John was seriously beginning to wonder if political turmoil and his cousin's wedding were worth leaving. But Elizabeth pushed at his shoulders before he could resolve to stay, and the sight of her cheeks flushed and lips reddened distracted him for a moment. "Go, my lord," she said, looking over his shoulder. He followed her gaze to see that Stephen Caldwell had finally arrived, with the others in tow. "I would not detain you any longer."

He shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "If you insist."

A few minutes later, he, Ford, Caldwell and the rest were mounted and riding out of the stable. When they reached the bend that would take the stable out of sight, he slowed Silvanus and turned. Elizabeth was there in the doorway, watching him go. He raised his hand in salute, and he thought he could see her smile.

After making this journey a number of times alone, John found it strange to have companions between Atalan and Caldora. Ford was not the most loquacious man John had ever met, but he was knowledgeable about many parts of the country and curious about Caldora. As a fellow traveler, he was well suited.

Caldwell, on the other hand, spent most of his time observing the countryside with keen eyes. Until they reached the Caldoran border, he said little of consequence. But that night, as Ford went down to the river to draw water, Caldwell drew nearer to John. He stoked the fire and said, "I cannot say I am sad to miss the rest of winter in Atlantis."

John shrugged. "It's not so bad. The best course of action is a good pair of gloves."

"And warm boots," Caldwell added. He gestured to John's hands. "I suppose any gloves issued to Atalan's army would be up to the task."

"These were not issued by the army," John replied, looking at the royal seal embossed on the brown leather. "The queen gave these to me a year ago, for Solstice."

"Her affection for you must be genuine, then."

John shot Caldwell a look before realizing that the older man was teasing him. "I also saw her manner of bidding you farewell," the duke added, thankfully keeping his voice low enough not to be overheard. "You have nothing to fear on that score."

At that John smiled. "For once, my lord, we are in complete agreement."

Caldwell looked curious. "What did you give her in exchange for the gloves?"

"Her dog. Queens are not in need of much, and at the time I was not in a position where I could give her a more intimate gift."

"And this Solstice you gave her your mother's ring."

John was a little surprised that Caldwell would know it, though perhaps he merely assumed. "I did. It was not the only gift I gave her, but it was the one of greatest importance."

Ford returned before either of them could say more, but after that night, even the silence between the two lords seemed easier. John suspected he would never truly like Caldwell, but he could live with understanding and respect.

When they arrived Redwater a few days later, they was greeted by a rather testy Cameron. "You took your time in coming," Cameron said, almost the moment John dismounted. He sounded nervous, even through his annoyance.

"You are not the only one with difficulties concerning your marriage," John replied while a stable boy took Silvanus' reins. Caldwell dismounted as well, but was soon drawn away from the others as he and Malcolm Barrett were already deep in discussion with Paul Davis.

"Yes, but I am not the cause of yours," Cameron said to John.

"I would argue that I am not the cause of yours either," he pointed out. "Is not the assembly more at fault than I?"

At that Cameron cracked a smile. "If you can straighten out this mess, I would be much obliged, cousin," he replied. Then he glanced at Ford. "Who is your companion?"

"Master Aiden Ford, of the royal guard," John said. "He accompanied me on the queen's orders."

Cameron made a face, and John finally noticed that a member of the king's guard was hovering nearby. "We can commiserate on that, then," Cameron said. "Come. I will take you to the king."

That was hardly how John wanted to begin this visit, but he followed his cousin without protest. The king was in his study, Princess Carolyn with him. John was not surprised by her presence. "Lord John," Landry said, "I trust your journey was not difficult?"

"Only long," John replied. "Queen Elizabeth sends her greetings."

The king nodded. "When you return, I hope to send her congratulations on her betrothal. That is, if her nobility have accepted her choice."

John narrowed his eyes. "The queen's marriage does not require the consent of her nobles. She consults the college of lords as a courtesy. I imagine the assembly does not have the final say in Princess Carolyn's marriage either," he said, with a swift look in her direction.

"No," Landry replied. "Princess Carolyn has the final say." He cast a glance at Cameron. "You understand, of course." Normally neither bride nor groom in Caldora was empowered to sign a marriage contract, but Cameron had no living parent to sign it for him. Carolyn might have some legal recourse to withdraw from the betrothal, but Cameron did not.

"I have no intention of backing out," Cameron told the king, "so it is rather beside the point."

If John was not mistaken, Carolyn's cheeks flushed.

"Well," King Henry said, "you have had a long journey, Lord John. Perhaps we should let you retire for the night. A good night's sleep will be to your advantage."

"No questions on the marriage politics on the other side of the mountains?" John asked, against his better judgment.

"You should not give him opportunity, my lord," Carolyn said, coming to his rescue. "He will have you up half the night talking of politics and your queen."

"Talking of the latter for half the night would be no hardship," he replied. "But I will take my leave before any questions about the former can be asked."