Allegra's Dream (Avador Book 4, a Books We Love Fantasy Romance) (13 page)

“My lady, I’m so happy for you. Here you are, back where you belong.”

Allegra knew that Elsa spoke sincerely, yet she realized that the maid, like herself, had no family left in Fomoria, except in her case, this distant cousin who was now king. Might it be that other distant relatives remained? She hoped to find out.

Despite her pure joy at her return, a deep sadness colored her thoughts. Her mother and father would not be here to greet her. Oh, how she missed them. Happy memories came flooding back, all the good times spent with her parents and friends. Determined to throw off her despondency, she switched her thoughts to the newly-crowned king, the man who had requested her hand in marriage. What was he like? What if he didn’t like her? She gave a mental shrug. Time enough to make his acquaintance. And marriage? There was only one man she wanted to marry, and he was gone from her life forever. It was obvious that his love hadn’t lasted beyond their time in the Otherworld. Best she forget him and get on with her life here. Soon she would be Queen Allegra, joint ruler with King Arnou. And if that fact held no fascination for her, she dismissed her misgivings, vowing to take her royal duties seriously and help govern the country well.

Any minute now, they would arrive at the castle. She had sent a note ahead, notifying the prince of their expected arrival time. Her heart beat faster, faster.

The carriage creaked to the top of the hill. “There it is!” Allegra’s gaze took in the castle, her home from long ago. She looked up at the crenellated towers, the royal flag whipping in a stiff breeze. In spite of her sleeplessness from the previous night, she felt energized, as if just embarking on her trip. Her pulse quickened as the carriage stopped in the courtyard, and a uniformed servant came forward to open the carriage door and let down the steps.

She stepped down, drawing her cloak closely about her, her slippered feet touching the frozen ground. Shivering in the frosty air, she held herself erect as she followed the servant past the outer ward and into the great hall. She choked back tears as memories returned of her childhood, of times spent with her parents in this very place. Why, yes, she remembered the fire blazing in the hearth, as it was now, the long trestle table flanked by several chairs. Sunlight shone through a narrow window at the end of the hall, but much of the room remained in semi-darkness, rushlights giving but dim illumination.

“Ah, madam.” A man clad in velvet and a fur-lined cape came forward to greet her. The king, surely? Young, with blond hair and blue eyes, he was quite the handsome gentleman. In his purple tunic and gray trousers, a gold belt studded with sapphires, he looked the very picture of elegance.

“I am Arnou, madam, at your service, and welcome to my–our–castle. I trust you had a pleasant journey?”

“Indeed.” Pleasant! Days of traveling over rocky hills, nights of sleeping in strange inns. “And thank you for your welcome, sir.”

“But I’m sure you’d like to rest and freshen up a bit. We have rooms set aside for you and your maid.” Arnou snapped his fingers at one of the servants who stood nearby. “Show the princess to her room.” As she turned to leave, he spoke to her again. “Take all the time you need to get settled, then later we must talk. Perhaps you will join me for the evening meal?”

“Sir, it will take me only a few moments to refresh myself. I can return shortly, if that meets with your satisfaction.” Doubts stirred in her mind. Did she meet with his approval? Did he consider her a country bumpkin, dressed as she was in a plain cotton dress? Well, too bad if he didn’t approve. She was Allegra Dorsay, future queen of Fomoria. He’d have to accept her as she was.

He nodded. “I look forward to seeing you again, and soon.”

With Elsa behind her and a servant carrying her one case, she walked up the wide stone steps and down a long hall. Several rooms led off from the hall, bedchambers, she remembered. The king’s offices were on the first floor. After turning a corner, they walked down another long hall and finally stopped at a door near the end of the hall.

The servant opened the door and led them into a spacious but plainly-furnished room. A fire burned in the fireplace, imbuing the room with a comfortable warmth. A sofa and matching chairs comprised her sitting room, and beyond that lay her bedroom. There, a canopied bed dominated the room, with a tall pine dresser beside it and a plain table. Elsa’s room led off from hers, a much smaller room with a single bed and a three-drawer chest, also made of pine.

After the servant left, Allegra exchanged a contented glance with Elsa. “What do you think, Elsa?” She waved her arms, her gaze encompassing the room. “Are you happy we returned?”

“My lady, I’m happy if you’re happy.”

She hugged the maid. “Ah, Elsa, you have ever been my friend, through all that has happened to me, since first being taken hostage all those years ago. Let us hope that this is the end of our journey, that we will stay here for the rest of our days.” Even if I can’t have the man I love.

Elsa gave her a close look. “And are you happy, my lady? Please excuse my plain talk, but I’ve wondered. . .” She bit her lip and turned away.

“Yes, wondered what?”

The maid looked her full in the eyes. “Wondered if you might have wanted to stay in Avador.” She looked down at the floor, her face flushed.

Allegra shook her head. “That’s all in the past, over and done with. My life is now, in my own country.” She smiled with false brightness. “Soon, I will marry Prince Arnou, if he’ll still have me, which I assume he will.” She took a deep breath. “So best we both adjust to our life here. Now,” she said briskly, “I’d like you to sort through my clothes and find something more suitable for me to wear when I go to meet the king again. I’ll wash up and change,” she said, thankful for the basin and pitcher of water on top of the table, along with a cake of sweet-smelling soap.

Shortly after, the travel dust washed away and wearing a lavender linen dress, a gray woolen shawl wrapped around her shoulders, she left her room and headed back downstairs.

The king rose from a high-backed chair to greet her again. “Are your rooms to your liking, madam? Is there anything you need?”

She smiled. “Everything is fine, and I’d much prefer if you’d call me Allegra.”

He returned her smile. “Allegra, a pretty name. And you must call me Arnou. Come sit,” he said, leading her to the long table. She caught the yeasty aroma of beer from a mug at his place. He snapped his fingers at one of the servants, who rushed over. “Tea and sandwiches.”

“Yes, sir.” As the servant hurried away, another servant came forward to pull out a chair for her.

The king joined her at the table. For the first time, she noticed his hands, soft and almost baby like, as if he did nothing more than push a pen across paper. But of course; he was the king. Why should it be otherwise? He surely had enough servants.

“Now,” he said, “we have much to discuss. Or would you rather save our talk for another time?”

“Now is as good a time as any.” She tried to get comfortable in the high-backed chair with its intricate carvings digging into her shoulders. 

The servant returned with the tea and sandwiches. First ascertaining her preference, Arnou poured a steamy cup of tea and offered her the plate of sandwiches. Until now, she hadn’t realized how famished she was after the long tiresome carriage ride, having stopped at an inn hours ago and eating a meager lunch.

Arnou’s voice cut through her reflections. “I think it best if we marry as soon as possible, say within the next month or so. How do you feel about this?”

“I agree that would be best.” Was this really happening? Was she planning to marry a man she’d just met?” Ah, Rowan, if only it could be you.

He frowned. “Is anything amiss? Did I say something that upset you?”

She pasted a bright smile on her face. “No, of course not. I fear I haven’t fully recovered from my long trip.”

“Then would you rather leave our talk for another time?”

“Oh, no.” She sipped her tea, delighting in its warmth, its cinnamon flavor. “As I said, I’d just as soon discuss these matters now. If we plan on marrying within this month,--” (and they would say ‘moonphase’ in Avador, she reminded herself)–“then we must make the necessary arrangements soon.” Not a very astute statement, she realized. She was more tired than she’d thought. She reached for a sandwich of indeterminate content and bit into it, finding it too spicy for her liking and too heavy with mustard. Setting the sandwich on her plate, she turned her attention back to him.

“You must not concern yourself with any of the wedding details. My secretary will tend to all the arrangements.” He paused. “Do you have any family members you’d like to invite?”

“No family. My parents–“ She choked and turned away.

He patted her hand. “Yes, I’m aware of what happened to your parents.” A scowl crossed his face. “We have dealt with the traitors.”

“So I understand. Let us hope that treachery no longer imperils the kingdom. We must have peace.”

‘That is my wish, also.” He tipped his mug back and drained it, then set it on the table with a satisfied sigh. “And that is why I consider it necessary that we wed as soon as possible. We must present a united front to the people.”

She watched his face as she listened to him talk, wanting to develop warm feelings for him. This man would soon be her husband, would take her to bed. . . .

Arnou talked on, his words passing by her. She leaned forward on the table, her eyelids drooping.

“Ah, Allegra, I fear I have taxed you too much.” He was all solicitude now, as he helped her rise from the table. “Please, best that you go back to your room, rest a while before the evening meal.”

She forced a smile. “I must apologize. It would have been better had I rested before coming downstairs. Perhaps we should save further discussion for dinner.”

“Yes, I agree. Now, go upstairs and rest. A servant will come to announce the evening meal.”

“Thank you.” She left him, pondering all that had happened since her arrival at the castle. Pleasingly surprised at her favorable opinion of Arnou, she thought back to her earlier concerns, before her return to Fomoria. She had feared that the king would be a much older man, brusque and uncaring. Young and considerate, Arnou impressed her with his attention toward her, his kindly solicitude. Even if no love developed between them, still a warm regard for each other would be a good start. If she couldn’t love him, she wanted to at least like him, and she would have to settle for that.

But her heart and soul cried for Rowan.

* * *

Hours later, she tossed and turned in bed, a dream tormenting her. “Come with me, Allegra. You’re in danger, danger, danger.”  She jerked awake, pressing her hand to her pounding heart. Perspiration dampened her nightgown. It had been ages since she’d had that dream. Why did she have it now?

Chapter Seventeen

“It’s good to know I’m leaving the Ministry of State in capable hands.” Donat Fand stood next to Rowan’s desk and heaved a deep sigh. “This retirement hasn’t come too soon. So it’s back to Uisnech, more time with my family, farming. . .”

Rowan looked up at him. “We’re going to miss you, and I mean that sincerely.” He managed a self-deprecating smile. “Not sure if I can fill your shoes.”

Donat punched him lightly on the shoulder. “You know you can. You’ll do well; I feel sure of it.” Ready to leave, he turned back. “Oh, one thing I forgot to tell you, a decision Queen Keriam and her council made while you were away. They have rescinded the rule that Ministry of State employees can marry only women from Avador. So you can marry whomever you want.” He grinned. “But that old rule never concerned you, did it? Everyone knows you’ve been courting Neala Dechtine. Lovely woman,” he said, nodding in approval. “She’ll make you a fine wife.”

But I don’t love her, Rowan mused as Donat left the room. There was only one woman he loved, and she was out of his life. Despite the demands of his new position as Minister of State, he leaned back in his chair, his mind wandering. A panorama of memories haunted him, of the first time he’d met Allegra and all the other times, up to their return from the Otherworld. He thought of their trip to that faraway place, a journey he would treasure for the rest of his life. He sat forward at this desk, his head in his hands, as all the precious images came flooding back, of holding her in his arms, kissing her, caressing her. Hard to believe it had all happened; often it seemed more like a dream. Allegra, I miss you so very much.

Shaking his head, he brought his mind back to the present. He had much to do today, talk to Duncan Munro, who would assume his former position . So many other obligations required his attention. Best he see to these tasks, do as much as possible today. This new office was a vast improvement over his previous one, which wasn’t much more than a cubbyhole. More spacious, this office had high, wide windows and a roomy oaken desk with drawers down both sides.

The hours passed while he accomplished his chores and cleared many papers from his desk. Now and then, ministry employees came to his office to ask advice or hand in reports, interruptions he recognized as part of his position.

His thoughts drifted back to Allegra. He had to see her again, assure himself that she was doing well in her native country. Had she married the prince already? A sharp pang of jealousy shot through him, to think of her with another man, one who could take her to his bed. He would see her again. Avador hadn’t yet established diplomatic relations with the new king, so he would write to Arnou himself and have the letter delivered by Sloan Drummond, one of his assistants.  Quickly, he drew a sheet of paper from a drawer and dipped his pen into the ink well. He addressed the letter to King Arnou, telling him of his planned visit to Fomoria, apprising him of the date of his arrival. That way, he hoped to be able to judge the new king and determine how Fomoria fared under his rule. And most of all, see Allegra again. See her again. He wouldn’t leave for several days, and he had a good deputy in Kelvin Elidor, who would tend to state business during his absence.