If only Demelza had not been at Princess Aldreda’s other side, leaving Meilyr exposed.
‘I trust you are having a most excellent night.’
‘We are, thank you, Lord Leighton.’ Princess Aldreda’s greeting did not quite reach her eyes. ‘I trust you are as well.’
‘I certainly am, Majesty.’ His eyes strayed to Meilyr.
Surely this had passed the point of inappropriateness, even for a Marcher Lord.
‘How are you finding Eascild, Lord Leighton?’ Prince Wystan asked. He was angled to the side, a young courtier on one arm, another feeding him grapes.
‘I am rather impressed. The Principality certainly benefits from its access to the bridge and being built around an already-established Denelands town, if it could be called that. Sanford is not nearly so awe-inspiring, though we do well enough. Actually, Majesty’ – he looked at Prince Osian – ‘I did wish to speak more about the requests you made of my Justice of the Council.’
‘No court business tonight,’ Princess Aldreda said. ‘Only drinking.’
‘What requests?’ Prince Wystan asked.
‘I assume this is what we discussed at dinner last night?’ Kenelm Radnor, being fed grapes by the same courtier, had an easy and disarming sort of smile. The kind that probably made most people focus more on his mouth than what came out of it. ‘I was about to mention it to Wystan, actually – forgive me,His Majesty.’
Prince Wystan looked caught between embarrassment and disapproval. Apparently, he had been doing some thinking about Kenelm Radnor’s mouth as well.
‘The very same,’ Lord Leighton said.
‘Don’t make me repeat myself,’ Princess Aldreda enunciated.
‘Lord Leighton.’ Prince Osian set down his cup. ‘My sister speaks the right of it, but allow me to put the matter to rest again. The Crown will not interfere with the Marches unless given reason to do so. The documentation and access requested of you is for our peace of mind, nothing more.’
‘Majesty.’ Lord Leighton’s mouth twisted in frustration. ‘You must understand our concerns. The Marches have held the Denelands in the Crown’s name for generations. We alone have forced back the Green Wastes, and King Uhtric himself saw fit for us to govern as we willed, so govern we have. Such supervision has never been required of us before.’
‘Times change, Lord Leighton. But you have always held the Marches under royal writ, so surely there is no problem.’
A twitch, not yet a sneer. ‘Times do change, Majesty, but you have only just arrived. Pray, allow things to work as they always have, and allow these lands to be governed by more seasoned men.’
‘What is this about, Osian?’ Prince Wystan asked.
‘You are all giving me a headache,’ Aldreda warned. But she had subtly sobered, intent and interested.
‘It is about concerns that the Marches will be forced to bend to impractical laws,’ Kenelm Radnor told Prince Wystan. ‘Royal writ does not work in the Marches, you see. Lord Leighton, as Earl of Sanford March, has gained fascinating experience stationed here, and I personally think a great deal could be gained from listening to him.’
‘You are too kind, My Lord. But it is true, we govern as needed. I commend His Majesty greatly for his youthful exuberance, and desire to rise to his title, but…’Godsdamn him, he looked at Meilyr again. ‘Some things are better left to those more experienced. The Marches are well tended, in fact—’
‘Lord Leighton,’ Prince Osian said. ‘Allow me to speak plainly. We have no desire to interfere with Sanford, or any other March, unless we have reason to. Grant access to your documentation and your towns, and if all is well, that will be the end of it. You only have reason for concern if there is reason the Crown should be concerned.’
Lord Leighton scoffed, arrogant. ‘What do you fear you will find, Majesty? Our populace lives comfortably, our exports aid the Crown.’
‘The entirety of your populace?’
‘Those that follow our laws, of course. As is the same in the Principality, and in Khaim. Naturally, there are those who refute progress, but Sanford certainly has the means to defend against unrest.’
‘And is self-defence the reason for Sanford’s growing crownsworn numbers, Lord Leighton?’ Prince Osian asked.
The air left the royal table. Lord Leighton’s expression hardened. ‘Sanford stands in defence of the Crown, Majesty, as it always has.’
‘Yes, but it also stands in defence of its people.Allof its people,ourpeople.’
Prince Osian meant it, with a banked fire unlike any Meilyr had felt in him.
Lord Leighton spat an incredulous laugh. ‘Majesty, they are not our people. Some have their uses, yes – you yourself have seen the right to claim one as your own, but beyond that—’