Chapter Sixty-Five

Beyla was unsure why his father had kept her away from her betrothed, only that he had. Was there a problem regarding their impending matrimony? She really hoped not. Philip was someone she found easy to talk to and, like her, he was only a pawn in the politics of others.

Wedding him would be no hardship. She began to wonder if King Hubert believed she was no longer pure. Submitting to a physical examination would be humiliating, especially since there was really no need.

An unexpected ally came in the form of her mother. Miriam could be fierce when something was important to her.

“Can Beyla not swear on the Holy Bible, Your Majesty?”

“Is she a baptised Christian?”

“No, but the opportunity never arose.”

In the end, Mistress Ford was agreed upon. The years had been kind to the older woman she remembered only vaguely from her time at the palace. Beyla forbore to protest, and Miriam realised she had come round to the idea of this marriage.

King Hubert cleared his throat while they waited