Canes of Divergence (4 page)

Stephen followed his younger children
through the door at the same moment Linnea appeared there.

“I wondered
when you were going to show up,” Quinn teased.

“Sorry,” Linnea said, smiling and walking toward the bed. “Nobody told me you were up for company yet – I just heard the stomping through the hallway,” she glanced back at the departing twins.

“I think it’s time for us to get out of here for a while,” Charlotte said, reaching to take Alice from William. She then bent down and kissed Quinn on the head. “Let us know if you need anything. We love you – all three of you.”

“We will, Mother,” William said, following her back to the door. “We love you, too.”

“So do I get to hold the little prince?” Linnea asked, climbing up to sit near Quinn’s feet.

William helped transfer the baby from Quinn’s arms to Linnea
’s.

“Yup. Pretty much perfect,” Linnea said. “Wow, Quinn.”

“I know. I’m still having a hard time believing we made him – that this was what was kicking around inside me. He felt so much bigger in there than he looks out here.”

While Linnea was holding the baby, William handed Quinn one of the glasses of juice and set a small bowl of fruit in her lap.

“Where’s Ben?” Quinn asked, dutifully taking a bite.

“Working. I think he and Marcus are making a perimeter run of the castle
.”

Quinn frowned.
“He does know that I don’t expect him to work every day of his honeymoon, doesn’t he? I know I’ve told him that. This castle isn’t even his job anymore.”

“He knows. You know him, though – he can’t go that long without feeling like he’s contributing. Besides, I think he was afraid I was going to ask him to come in here with me.”

“Why wouldn’t you? He doesn’t want to come and meet his nephew?”

“Of course he does,” Linnea said, nuzzling her cheek next to the baby’s. “It’s just
… he’s still a guard. Even though you’re family now, I think the idea of walking into his queen’s bedchamber the morning after she’s had a baby might be a little too much for him.”

“I don’t think about it that way,” Quinn said.

William rubbed her back. “You may not, but Ben’s pretty traditional. Which is kind of the polar opposite of you, Linnea. You two still surprise me with that.”

She
shrugged. “I don’t understand it either, but he’s great.” The warm glow that lit Linnea’s cheeks right then told Quinn that her sister-in-law’s happiness was very real.

“Do I intimidate everyone now?” Quinn asked. She looked over at Thomas. “Is that why Mia isn’t here, either?”

“Relax, Your Majesty,” Thomas said, grinning and walking back over to her. “Yes, you intimidate some people. You’re the
queen
of Philotheum. You’re supposed to, you know. The guards and servants, yes, are a little more comfortable if they know how to respond to you. You’ll get used to it.”

“Maybe.”
She wasn’t so sure.

“Anyway, you did just have a baby. Maybe you’re all happy and awake about it right now – but give it a few hours, and you might appreciate the privacy a little more.”

At that moment, the baby stirred, grunted, and then let out a wail that was shockingly loud. His whole face turned red as he batted at his mouth with his little curled-up fist.

“All right then.
” Linnea stretched him instantly back toward Quinn. William whisked the dishes from her hands so she could take him. “This one doesn’t give much of a warning. I think he’s hungry.”

Quinn nodded, cradling the little bundle toward her chest. He calmed a little when she held him tightly, but he immediately turned his head, searching for food.

“See what I mean?” Thomas asked. “This, I think, is our cue to leave for a little while.”

After William had closed the door behind Thomas and Linnea, he came to sit back down beside Quinn and the baby, who was now happily nursing.

“Since I’m the queen now, do you suppose I can just
order
people to treat me like I’m normal?”

He
chuckled. “Warn me in advance before you try it, because I really want to watch.”

She picked up a pillow and lobbed it toward his head. He ducked, catching it and grinning. Little Samuel l
et out another wail, announcing his displeasure at the sudden movement.

Laughing again, William handed the pillow back to her and helped her get him settled.
“I have a feeling we’re going to find out really quickly which one of us in this room is actually in charge.”

*          *          *

“So, Nay … when am I going to get a niece or nephew from you?” Thomas teased, once he and Linnea were halfway down the hallway after leaving Quinn and William.

She turned and stuck her tongue out at him. “You could be a little more patient, you know. Ben and I have only been married for two weeks.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure Quinn was pregnant by then. You’re slacking.” He opened a door to another section of the hallway and held it for her.

“
I
don’t need to worry about producing an heir. I’m also not sure I’d mind getting moved and settled in Philotheum before I’m throwing up everywhere. I think Quinn would take that back if she could.”

Thomas
paused in front of another door and tilted his head. “I don’t think she’d take anything about that baby back now – he’s just about perfect.”

“Not that you’re biased.”

“What? It’s not my fault the Maker decided to give all of the best nephews in the kingdom to me. I would kind of like a niece now, though.” He opened the door, which led into one of the circular stairwells.

She
couldn’t help smiling as she followed him down the steps. “Ben said he wants a little girl first.”

“See? I knew what I was doing when I chose a brother-in-law.”

“Yeah, that was all you, T. I had nothing to do with it at all.”

He
chuckled, opening the door at the bottom of the stairs. Linnea stepped out, right onto the corner of the main patio. There were still small patches of white in the shady spots, and everything was wet from the snow that had already melted, but the early afternoon was warm, and the sunshine felt good on her face.

“Well, whoever’s responsible – it was a good choice.”

“I think so.”

“You two are awfully happy, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know about your sister, but
I
am.” Ben’s voice in Linnea’s ear startled her, and she spun around to face him; he caught her under her arms and kissed her on the nose.

“Hey you,” she said, putting her hand on his cheek.
“How do you always manage to sneak up on me like that?”

“It’s my job.” He shrugged. “Besides, I took my armor off already.”

“You’re done working?”

“I told you it would be an hour or two.
It’s been an hour.”

“You mean your father sent you
away.”

“No, Linnea. I mean that
everything looks secure out here for now, and I wanted to get back to spending time with you.” He pulled her tighter against his chest with one arm, and with his other hand he ran his fingers down the side of her face, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Okay?”

She nodded. “I’ll take you however I can get you, Ben. It’s okay with me if you
want to work, too.”

“
I know that, sweetheart. But what I want right now is to be with you. I haven’t gotten to hear the answer to Thomas’ question yet.”

“What’s that?”

“Whether you’re happy.”

She looked up into his eyes. “Yes, I am. Very happy.”

“Good.” He kissed her on the lips this time.

When she turned back to Thomas, he was grinning, but there was also
a sort of faraway, speculative look in his eyes. Whatever it was had been weighing on his mind for a couple of days now, but she hadn’t managed to get him to spill it yet. She had an idea of one thing that was bothering him, but there was more to this look than just that. “Let’s walk down to the stables,” she said. “All of us. I haven’t seen Snow in a couple of days.”

Ben had probably just been
at
the stables, had probably checked every corner of Snow’s stall, and fed her a treat, but he just nodded and took Linnea’s hand. Though he had removed most of his body armor, he still carried a dagger at his belt.

They were about halfway to the stables when Thomas cleared his throat. “So, Ben … what is going on that has you all worried but you’re not telling Quinn?”

“Pardon?” Ben’s expression didn’t change, and his voice was steady, but the hand that was entwined with Linnea’s grew slightly damp.

“All of the extra patrols, the meetings, the birds flying back and forth from Philotheum constantly…”

“Well, with two monarchs under one roof…”

“No. That
explains some of it, but not all – and it definitely doesn’t explain why it got so much more intense about a week ago. What’s going on?”

Ben sighed and looked all around them. Linnea felt her own palms beginning to get sweaty.

“I don’t know exactly, Thomas. We’ve heard some rumors, had some odd things… It’s just making us nervous.”

Linnea stopped cold in the middle of the path
, taking a step back from him. “What kind of rumors and odd things?”

“Nothing definitive right now. We’ve been dealing with hostilities in some of the villages in Philotheum really since the coronation. You know there are those
who were loyal to Hector and Tolliver.”

“Right – that’s nothing new.”

“Well, there’s just been a little more activity with that lately. It feels like something’s changed.”

“In the last week?”

He nodded.

“What else?”
she asked. It was obvious that Ben was holding back more.

“There have just been a couple of messages from Philotheum… Last week, my father sent a message to Charles about some
business that needs to be attended to at the castle. Charles, of course, has been sending messages here regularly – and none of his messages has acknowledged the one my father sent.”

“So what, like he’s ignoring the message?”

“Or like he didn’t get it.” Thomas said.

Ben looked at him.
“That … I shouldn’t even be talking to you about this, you know. This is treason.”

“Quinn’s not going to accuse you of treason, Ben.
She would tell us.”

“It doesn’
t matter what Her Majesty will or won’t accuse me of,
Prince
Thomas – and it doesn’t matter what you believe she would tell you. That’s her prerogative. I’ve made an oath, and I will keep my word.” His eyes flicked to Linnea. “Even when it comes to my wife and her brother. I’m sorry.”

Linnea stepped close to him again and pulled his hand back into hers, squeezing it as pride filled her – this man, her husband, was a good man.

“No, Ben, I’m sorry,” Thomas said. “I know I shouldn’t be asking you that. It’s just … you do
plan
on telling Quinn what’s going on don’t you?”

Ben almost cracked a grin
. “So that you could run to her and ask her to give you the details?”

Thomas shrugged, chuckling.

“Yes, if we had the slightest inclination of real danger, or any better evidence of wrongdoing, then yes, of course we would tell Her Majesty. Right now, we don’t believe there’s enough to warrant interrupting her and King William in their personal time. I think the two of them deserve to have a few days to rest and get to know the new little prince, don’t you?” His posture had relaxed again, and Linnea knew he was talking to Thomas as his brother-in-law again, not as the queen’s guard.

Thomas smiled. “I’m still not used to Quinn and William having other people to protect them and look out for their interests. I’m glad they have you, Ben.”

They’d reached the stables now, and Linnea could tell that Ben – who was always uncomfortable being praised for his work – was glad to have an excuse to walk away from them to go “check on something,” and Thomas and Linnea headed for their horses, Storm and Snow.

“So, what is going on
with you and Mia?” Linnea asked, once she was sure they were alone.

The grooming brush that Thomas had just picked up fell to the ground. “What do you mean?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t try that with me, Thomas. I may have been a little preoccupied with the wedding and honeymoon, but I haven’t disappeared – or gone blind.”

Thomas sighed, reaching dow
n to retrieve the dropped brush, taking longer than necessary. “I don’t know, Nay. Everything was going so well for so long. And then after Quinn got here – and especially after your wedding. She’s just been different – distant. Always busy when I want to talk to her, working late hours, even when she doesn’t need to be.”