How saintly your forgiveness, master reader, to forget my many failures and still rank my powers so high. I will try my best to dissuade the king—or rather I already did my best, since I am writing now of events three months in my past—though I do not believe I deserve any real credit for steering His Majesty off this upright but disastrous course. Madame was not about to miss her chance to be a queen.

* * *

The king’s hands twitched around hers. «Why have you been talking to my Prime Minister? I told you to stay at Las Huelgas.»

«Erlea came to me. Besides,»—she planted a quick kiss upon the royal cheek—«you know I already love and honor Your Majesty, but until the wedding I’ve no obligation to obey you. Now, see sense. You can’t abdicate.»

«We are not going to talk about this now.»

She hung on his shoulder. «I know it’s improper for the king to take a spouse of ill repute, but the Spanish nation-strat needs your stabilizing hand right now as much as Europe does, and they don’t mind. They know you’re marrying me because you’re a responsible father who wants to do right by his Child, whatever the mother’s circumstances. They’ll understand, and love you the more for it if you stay king.»

«We are not talking about this now. You need to go back.»

«But—»

«Joyce, you’re still a Blacklaw! Far more people hate you right now than hate Epicuro, and some of them could kill you without any repercussions. I can’t protect you if you won’t stay in my protection. Please go back!»

He wrestled her, grappling her lace-trimmed elbows while her taut bust strained against him. In her excess of energy she seemed almost like a little dog, heedless of the dangers of the crowded street, which cannot understand that its master’s restraining discipline is for its own safety; I say almost, for such a dog’s eyes sparkle with confusion, not with teasing cunning.

«Madame, if you want to remain your own free, independent person then you can run around and scheme and stage melodrama to your heart’s content, but if you intend to marry me you must act as my family, bash’, and state require us to act. You can’t do this.»

She wiped lint from his collar. «Your Majesty likes it when I do this.»

He steeled himself. «You still can’t. Mycroft, help Their Grace out of the car, and then escort Madame back to Las Huelgas and make sure they stay there.»

«Yes, Your Majesty.»