Chapter 340: He Is Right
Richard turned away from the Archbishop. His gaze found Livia once more. He gave her a slight bow.
Then he walked away. The crowd parted for him quickly. No one wished to become the next institution he took personally.
Livia watched him disappear beyond the Abbey court, her thoughts tangled in too many directions at once.
Richard had defended her. He had defended her right to marry Henry. That was perhaps the strangest part of all.
Livia turned back towards the Archbishop. Her eyes held some apology. "I am sure the king would have been worse," she offered.
To her surprise, the Archbishop gave a small smile. It was reluctant and quickly suppressed, but she saw it. Apparently even archbishops could appreciate the frightening possibility of Henry arriving instead of Richard. Richard had threatened scandal, and the public humiliation of the Church. Henry would probably have begun by asking which ancient law permitted him to replace an archbishop.
Livia bowed slightly and turned away. Lionel fell into step beside her as they crossed the Abbey precinct, keeping close without crowding her. The small gathering on the steps was already beginning to scatter, though Livia had little doubt that Richard’s performance would be repeated across London before supper.
"Do you know what has come over Richard?" Livia asked.
Lionel glanced at her. "He is right, though. His family has sacrificed too much for England to have its word dismissed over something this trivial. Lord Langford has placed his name and honour behind you. Questioning you after accepting his sponsorship questions him as well."
Livia sighed. "I understand that. I simply did not expect Richard to care quite so passionately."
"I am afraid if something does not give soon," he said, "this will blow up into something much larger. The Church is nervous. The people are talking. Now the Duke of Kingsmere has decided to declare war."
Livia could not argue with that.
Lionel’s expression sobered. "We should have used the letter."
"We are using it the right way."
"To deal with Her Grace, perhaps. It does not help you here."
Livia stopped and faced him. "If Henry brings Theodora’s crimes to light himself, it changes everything. She loses credibility. Her household loses credibility. The rumours lose their source. More importantly, Henry gets to tell the truth before someone else twists it into whatever version best destroys him."
They resumed walking towards the private lodgings assigned to her.
"The king will not be able to bear being kept away from you for very long," Lionel said. "My lady, you are to be queen. Your first responsibility will always be to the Crown and to your king. You protect him just as he would give his life to protect you."
The words settled more heavily than she wanted them to.
Queen.
It seemed everyone had begun saying it as though the crown were already sitting on her head. No one seemed particularly interested in whether Livia occasionally wanted to sit somewhere quiet and read a book.
"Maybe I will simply remain his mistress," she said. "It seems considerably easier."
Lionel shook his head. "You are meant to be queen, and between the king, His Grace, and the Lord Chancellor, I am certain this matter will be resolved."
"That is comforting. Three stubborn men fighting the Church on my behalf. Nothing could possibly go wrong."
"You only need to remember that your duty is to secure the succession and protect your king."
A beautifully dignified phrase for have Henry’s children as quickly as possible.
"No pressure, Lionel," she said. "No pressure at all." She walked back into the residential lodgings of the Abbey before he could add another duty to the growing list.
*****
When Seraphina heard that the Duke of Kingsmere had come to see her, she was quite surprised. During her visit to Kingsmere, the duke had been conveniently absent, and his estate manager had given her the tour.
Seraphina had begun to think there was no hope for him. She had never expected Richard to ride beneath her window, declare himself reformed, and compose sonnets about her eyes. She had enough sense to know what kind of man she was meant to marry.
But after Kingsmere, she had started to wonder whether he intended to participate in this marriage at all.
So when her maid came in and announced that the Duke of Kingsmere had arrived asking for her, Seraphina looked up sharply.
"He requested to see me upon arrival?"
"Yes, my lady."
She narrowed her eyes. "Did he ask for my father first?"
"No. His Grace came in and said he wished to speak with you."
That was new.
By the time she reached the withdrawing chamber, Richard was already there, standing near the hearth.
He turned when she entered. Seraphina stopped just inside the room.
"I have half a mind to keep you waiting forever, Your Grace."
Richard looked at her. "You would be justified. I thought you might actually do it," he added.
Seraphina walked farther into the room, studying him carefully. Something had scraped the arrogance off him, though not completely. That would probably require divine intervention. "Why are you here?"
"I need to speak with you."
"That sounds ominous." Seraphina folded her hands before her. "Go on."
Richard exhaled. "I have a dilemma, and aside from my father, you are the only person I know who will not hold back on her words."
She lifted a brow. "I am glad to see you have found a use for your intended, Your Grace. I was beginning to think that you..."
"If the next words are an insult," Richard interrupted, "I suggest you save them. I have insulted myself quite enough on the ride here."
"Ah. Saves us time, then, does it not?"
Richard gave her a warning look.
"Does that self-insult include idiot?"
"Lady Seraphina." His tone lowered, carrying just enough warning.
Seraphina held his gaze, refusing to be the first to look away. Richard’s attention settled fully on her, and for once she did not feel like the poor replacement chosen because she resembled another woman.