Seventeen

 

"I should change my gown before I see the king," Molina said, hanging back even as Lubos seized her hand to lead her into the throne room.

Lubos shook his head. "It's best not to delay when reporting to the king. He is very insistent about being the first to know any news. And he will not notice your gown, I promise you. Why, I can't tell if it's the same gown you wore yesterday, or if it is a new one. The only thing he would notice about your gown is if you weren't wearing one, because no man is immune to your beauty."

Molina blushed. "You should not say such things. I'm sure if I had any beauty to boast of, someone in my village would have noticed and told me of it. And he will notice this gown, I am sure of it, for I left half of the skirt in a bramble hedge beside the road when that hateful horse decided to scratch her flank against it. Why, it is nothing but ribbons all down one side!"

When she held it out, Lubos realised the gown was quite ruined, but the layer of cloth beneath seemed unharmed, as were her stockings. Her modesty would be preserved.

"I didn't notice until you told me. I'm sure he won't, either. Here, I shall walk on that side of you as we enter the throne room, and it will be quite invisible." Before she could object again, Lubos linked his arm through hers and marched into the throne room.

Courtiers passed to let them through, bowing as they recognised him. Lubos wanted to point out to Molina that nobody noticed a little dust from the road, that they saw him for who he was, and it would be the same for her, but he kept his observations for later. The sooner this audience was over, the better.

He stopped at the foot of the dais and bowed low. "Father, you will not believe what I found in Lord Bachmeier's barony."

"The skinniest, ugliest whore in the kingdom?"

Lubos heard Molina's gasp as her hand slipped from his grasp.

Father didn't seem to have noticed. "Bachmeier said he had the most beautiful daughters in the country. Plump, fair and fertile – just what any man would want in a wife. If that beanpole is one of his, then what else has he lied about?"

Lubos rose. "Father, this is Lady Molina, and she is most certainly not one of Bachmeier's daughters, though the man wanted to marry her himself. She works miracles. The things she can do with waterwheels and a wheel for spinning thread...why, if we equipped every mill in the country with one of her wheels, the treasury would be full of gold within the year. Never have I seen anything like it. Machines that can do the work of three men, using the water from the river! If you let me show you..."

The king waved his hand languidly. "I have no desire to see what some slovenly stable girl can do. I'm sure she has spread her legs and her lies far enough, for you to have been ensnared by her. Has she fucked away your wits, too, so that I will need to name your brother Xylander the crown prince instead of you?"

Lubos didn't dare look at Molina. All he knew was he had to get her out of there.

"Your Majesty will choose his successor wisely, I am certain," Lubos said evenly. "Just as you have chosen your loyal barons and lords wisely, for they have striven mightily to provide you with a tithe even in these times of hardship and floods, which took most of their harvests. As you will have already seen in the reports I sent back while I was travelling. And as you were kind enough to bring up the subject of marriage, I would very much like to discuss my marriage with you, though perhaps in the privacy of your apartments..." He glanced pointedly at the packed court behind him.

"There is nothing to discuss. As long as she is female and fertile and of a rank befitting your station, and she comes with a sizeable dowry in gold, you may bed whatever bitch you please. When the sow is pregnant, then you may go back to tumbling stable girls." Father made a shooing motion with his hands. "Get this slut out of my sight."

Lubos muttered something he hoped sounded obedient and suitably contrite, before hustling Molina out. He almost had to carry her, for her feet didn't seem to want to work until the throne room door had closed behind them.

"I must apologise for my father. His mind is not as sharp as it was," Lubos began, but Molina didn't seem to hear him.

He'd been such a fool. Gently, he took her hand and guided her to his chambers, where he could apologise to her properly without half the court hearing.