A Stroke Of Midnight   ::   Гамильтон Лорел

“He was one ofthe federal agents who investigated Prince Essus’s murder,” Doyle said.

“I don’t know why I’m surprised that you remember that, but I am,” I said.

Doyle looked at me, and his face was unreadable, dark and closed to me. “Gillett was the most persistent of all the human investigators.”

I nodded. “Yes, he was.”

“You’ve been in touch with him?” Doyle asked.

“More like he kept in touch with me, Doyle. I was seventeen, and he seemed to be the only one who wanted to solve my father’s murder more than he wanted to obey the queen or his superiors.”

Doyle took in a lot of air, and let it out slow. “And Galen knew of this?”

“Yes,” Galen said.

“And it never occurred to you to tell your captain that the princess was keeping in touch with a federal officer?”

“It made Merry feel better, and just after Essus died, I’d have done anything to help her feel better.”

“And after that?” Doyle asked.

“They exchanged cards twice a year, that was all.”

Doyle turned his dark gaze to me. I shrugged, then wished I hadn’t because it hurt. “He sent me a card every year around the anniversary of my father’s death. I sent him a Yule card.”

“How did no one notice this?” Doyle asked.

“The queen didn’t care enough about me to pay attention, and you paid attention where the queen told you to. You all did.”

He rubbed his eyes with thumb and forefinger. “How badly does your arm hurt?”

“It aches.”

He took in air again, then let it out slow. “You need to rest, Princess.”

“You’re not mad at me or Galen,” I said. “You’re angry with yourself for not knowing this.”

“Yes,” he said with the tiniest edge of anger.

“When my father died, what other guard could I have trusted but Galen?”

“Did you not trust me?” Barinthus said.

I looked at him, my father’s closest friend. “You were almost as distraught over his death as I was, Barinthus. I needed someone who was touched by grief but not consumed by it. Galen was that person for me.” I reached out to Galen, and he took my hand, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“If you could marry where your heart lies,” Doyle said, “I fear what it would do to the court.”

I looked at him, trying to see behind his careful face. I squeezed Galen’s hand and drew him in against me. Once, Doyle would have been correct.