Bride of the Castle

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The bedroom door opened. Linda Barclay stood in the doorframe, looking down the hallway outside.

"Okay, see you later!"

"You sure you're feeling better?" came Melanie's voice.

"Don't worry about me. And don't worry about Gene, either. You know how he is. He can take care of himself."

"I won't worry if you won't. I'm more concerned about you, Linda."

"Don't be. Did they get a room for Rance?"

"Yeah, he's okay for tonight. What do you think of him, by the way?"

"Clean him up a little and he'd be a hunk."

"Yeah, he's cute. Rough around the edges, but-"

"Okay. Good-night."

"Night!"

Linda waved her hand. Around the room, candles mysteriously lit themselves, throwing a warm glow against stone walls. She came in, shut the big oak door, and threw the dead bolt.

She crossed the room to the armoire and began to undress.

"Excuse me…"

She yelped, jumping two feet straight up.

"Oh, dear," said the king. "Terribly sorry. Didn't mean to startle you."

"My God! Lord Incarnadine!" Linda collapsed on the bed.

Incarnadine had been sitting on the chair next to the bed but was now on his feet with a look of alarm. "Really, I'm awfully sorry. I should have said something when you came in, but I was sure you saw me. I was sitting right here."

Linda took a moment to catch her breath. "I must have looked right through you. I mean, you just don't expect someone to be sitting in your room- But wasn't it dark?"

"It was, I admit. I lit a candle but it must have guttered out, and I'm afraid I dozed off."

"Ohhh-" Still pressing a hand to her heart, Linda sat up. "Don't ever do that to me again."

"This is very embarrassing. I don't know what to say."

"Oh… forget it."

"No, I shouldn't have presumed to enter your bedroom."

"It's okay. Think nothing of it, Your Majesty."

"Call me Inky."

Linda looked at him strangely. "You've never asked me to call you that before."

"It's about time, don't you think? After all- Well, we are friends, aren't we?"

"Sure."

Incarnadine smiled. He sat back down. "I'm glad."

Linda asked, "Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?"

The king appeared uncomfortable. He looked off. "Yes, there is. Actually… it's rather difficult to say, now, what with this little contretemps. Perhaps I should come another time." Incarnadine began to rise.

"No, please stay. Tell me what it was."

"Well… all right, but this is going to sound funny coming from a man who just surprised a woman in her bedroom."

"Say it."

"Uh… very well." He looked at her. "I'm in love with you.

Linda was silent for a long moment. "You're… in love with me."

"Yes, have been for quite a while. And… don't ask me how I know, but I do. You are in love with me." Linda regarded him in silence. Presently she got up and went to the window. She looked out into the night. Stars were out, a glittering array of them.

"Boy, you know how to get right to the point."

Incarnadine chuckled. "It's best that way. Another sticky point is that you're a few days away from being married. I admit this is a rather awkward time to bring it up."

"Rather."

Linda turned and leaned against the wall. "Why are you bringing it up?"

"'Speak now or forever hold your peace.' Something like that."

"I see." Linda shifted sideways and gazed out the window again. She brought up a hand to touch the lead tracery.

He said, "Well?"

Linda laughed. "Well!"

The king frowned. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I see I was mistaken. My apologies. I'll go now."

"No. Wait, please."

Linda came around the bed to him. "Another sticky thing. You're a married man."

"Oh, yes."

"You're asking me to be your mistress."

Incarnadine exhaled. "Are you aware that it's a semiofficial position in the castle? Traditionally speaking."

"No, I wasn't. The Royal Mistress?"

He gave a mirthless chuckle. "It's not a title."

"How many royal mistresses are there?"

Now his smile was sly. "State secret."

"I see."

"Really, I haven't exercised the privilege in- Well, let's not say how long. But it's been a very tong time, Linda."

"I'm flattered."

"Are you, really?"

"Yes. I'm… well, I'm kind of flabbergasted at this. A little."

"I didn't mean to gast your flabber, even a little."

She laughed at this. "You're a strange man."

"One of the strangest, depending on what connotation of the word you mean to imply."

"I know you're one of the most powerful men in the universe… the universes."

"I can't deny the truth. You haven't contradicted me, by the way."

"Contradicted you?"

"When I said that I know my love is requited."

She shrugged. "I can't deny the truth."

"So you do. You do love me."

They stood looking at each other for a protracted moment. Then they embraced, and their kiss was long and involved.

Starlight threw the shadow of the window's tracery across the big bed.