Chapter Forty-Two

Sigurd was surprised and not a little concerned that Daphne had not actually abdicated at all. He had wondered why only she and her advisers were closeted, even to the exclusion of Miriam, who had pleaded illness. Maybe it was all to the good as he now understand it would be extremely difficult, not to say impossible, to revoke.

“Why?” he dared to ask as they strolled together along the battlements.

She touched the sparkling earrings he could not fail to notice, pursing her lips. If it was a lie which left them he vowed to have nothing to do with her, despite his recent and urgent inclinations.

“As sick as I was, I knew God would not want me to place my burden on Miriam,” she said.

He nodded to the sentry who stood smartly to attention, his heart constricting. However misguided sometimes and certainly devious, this woman had been badly misjudged.

“Will you take a consort?”

Daphne was in the process of stepping aside to avoid a loose stone. She froze in place, her gown slightly raised