She moved toward them with a smile that was only slightly forced. They had all been looking at fabrics for an upcoming ball and now Ophelia held up a swath of blue silk that almost perfectly matched the Athawickian flag. A purposeful choice and one that made Giabella smile.
“It’s lovely and it will make your eyes pop,” she said.
Priscilla laughed and nudged Ophelia. “Which is exactly the effect she wishes to have on the people. And her husband.”
Giabella laughed along with them as she watched the two women. She had been very lucky in the matches all her children had made. Ilaria and Sasha had married Englishmen and were in London living what sounded like wonderful lives, according to their letters. They would soon return to the island and then…well, then everything would change.
“The election is so close now, and the dissolution of the Crown as soon as the results are tabulated,” Giabella said softly. “How is Grantham doing?”
Some of the glee went out of Ophelia’s eyes. “He is somber but hopeful, I think. He has come to terms with the fact that he will give up his royal title, that he will no longer be king. And he seems excited about the idea that he will likely win the election and have the opportunity to marshal his people into a new era.”
Giabella nodded. She was so proud of her son, who cared so deeply for his country that he would give up his power over it. And most shared in that pride and happiness. The few who didn’t?
Well, they were troublesome, but Giabella hoped not dangerous. All she could do was stand behind Grantham, support him in every way he needed. Which was frankly not much now that he had Ophelia to lean upon.
She tried not to ponder that overly much as there was a light knock on the door behind them. She turned, and she and Ophelia spoke at the same time. “Come in.”
They met each other’s gaze and laughed softly. Two queens in a palace often led to many an awkward exchange. The door to the parlor opened and Giabella’s laughter faded as Dashiell Talbot entered.
Her heart skipped a beat even though she didn’t wish it to. But then again, it had been skipping a beat for every moment she’d spent with him over the last fifteen years. He was such a handsome man, with brown hair that was touched with gray. He was tall and broad shouldered, with dark blue eyes that had always reminded her of sapphires. At present he had a neatly trimmed beard that only served to accentuate a very nice set of lips.
She shivered as she dropped her gaze away from said lips and forced a smile to her own. “Dashiell,” she said. “Am I needed?”
There was a brief moment where his pupils dilated ever so slightly but then the reaction was gone, erased as he always erased anything improper.
“Your Majesty. The king would like to see you,” he said, obviously addressing Giabella rather than Ophelia. “Us, actually.”
She wrinkled her brow and glanced at her daughters-in-law, then back to Dash. “Of course. Ladies, all the fabrics you’ve chosen are divine. There is not a wrong option in the bunch.”
Ophelia and Priscilla smiled at her before they returned to their sorting of the materials. Giabella drew a breath before she stepped toward Dash. He always smelled good, an intoxicating blend of woods and mint and him. She reined in the urge to take a long breath of him as he held out a hand to allow her to exit the room first, as was proper.
She slowed her steps so he could catch up with her and they walked together up the hallway. Behind them there was a peal of giggles from Priscilla and Ophelia, and Giabella smiled up at him. “My sons have made excellent matches. And my daughters, as well.”
“Indeed, that is true. The last few months have been a whirlwind and I’m sure the next will be little better…but it is good to remember that there is still a great amount of joy to be found amidst the chaos.”
She nodded but didn’t reply. She couldn’t think of anything appropriate to say, in truth. Joy in chaos. She’d never had much of that personally. Only pain with glimpses of light that almost always came from her current companion.
She glanced down at their hands, so close as they walked. She could almost slide her fingers into his. She could almost touch him. But she didn’t, of course. She never did.
They reached the study and Dash took the lead, cracking the door and inclining his head. “Your Majesty? I’ve found the queen.”
“Please enter,” Grantham’s voice rumbled behind the door.
Dash stepped out of the way again and she moved into the room first. Her eldest was on his feet already, making his way around the huge desk so he could press a kiss to her cheek. “Good morning, Mama. I’m sorry I missed you at breakfast.”
“You have a great deal to do,” she said. “I’m happy to see you whenever you have a moment.” She glanced at the piles of papers and reports spread across Grantham’s desk. “Everything is well?”
“It is…getting there,” Grantham said with a sigh. He motioned to the chairs across from his desk. “Please sit, both of you.”
Dash hesitated but did join her. This wasn’t entirely unheard of. The children had always embraced Dash as part of the family, and that had only increased since the death of the previous king. “What can I help with, Your Majesty?” Dash asked.
Giabella glanced toward him with a grateful smile. Although he had been her secretary for years, he had recently been assisting Grantham after the underhanded plotting of some of his highest-ranking courtiers had been revealed. That meant she saw Dash a little less, unfortunately, but it was all for a good cause. At least that was what she told herself when she turned and didn’t find him there as she had always found him there for so long.
“As you are both well aware, the election will be in just a month,” Grantham said. “And while every sign says I will win as prime minister and that the transition of power will be reasonably peaceful, there are still a few hesitations here and there.”
“Are things dangerous?” Giabella asked softly.
Grantham tilted his head. “I think no more than usual, Mama. But I did have an idea and I wanted to ask for your assistance.”
Giabella leaned forward. Since Grantham’s marriage, Ophelia had taken over a great many duties as queen. She was always open to Giabella’s opinion and presence, of course, but life had certainly shifted these past few months. The opportunity to actually do something was very exciting.
“Anything,” she said.
“Would you be willing to do a small tour of the island, specifically the Southern Realm? Jonah has been in London and hasn’t been able to make his presence as count known, so it is the most restless part of the country at present. But you are so very loved by our people—I think seeing you would shore things up a bit.”
Giabella nodded. “Whatever you need, my love. I haven’t been able to travel the island since before your father’s death. I would look forward to seeing some of the country and people, especially if it would help you.”
“And I know that I have occupied Dash’s time of late, but obviously he would accompany you,” Grantham continued.
Giabella glanced at Dash from the corner of her eye and was surprised to see him flinch ever so slightly at the suggestion. She forced her gaze back to Grantham and used decades of practice to keep the hurt at that reaction from her face. “When would you like for me to go?” she asked.