Page 88 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 2

He reaches out and takes my hand, giving it a squeeze. "I think my status in the royal family has other uses."

I let out a sigh of relief, hating the idea of him risking getting hurt.

A servant approaches with a tray of drinks and Linc immediately tenses. I check around us to make sure no one has caught it and give his hand a gentle squeeze.

He reaches out and picks up a goblet with some kind of juice in it, but I don't miss the way his gaze tracks the one with the wine in it. I know he doesn't want to drink, but that does nothing to stop the urge.

My heart aches and I wish I could make it easier for him, but I know that this is just one of the things he has to do for himself.

All I can do is support him and hope that it will be enough.

SEVEN

I enter the breakfast room, slightly surprised to find Bella already there. I forgot that she would be now that she's moved into the royal apartments, which was surprisingly easy. It seems that all I have to do is ask the servants to make up a room when I want something like this. I'm sure there's a limit, but I doubt I'm about to find it.

Pip races over to my cousin and pushes her head into Bella's hands.

"It's like things haven't changed, right, Pip?" There's a sadness in her voice that I haven't heard before and it breaks my heart. I know she's devastated by Thomas' death, and just like with Linc's wine dependency problem, I know there's nothing I can do about it other than be there for her.

And maybe continuing to make sure that she doesn't end up in the same room as Bastian for the foreseeable future.

I take a seat and smile at her. "Morning."

"Morning," she responds. "Where's your husband?"

"I'm not sure actually," I say. "I think he had a meeting of some kind."

"Before breakfast?"

"Apparently so." The servants enter, serving my food to me first, and then coming back to see to Pip. Her tail thumps against the ground in excitement.

Even so, she manages to behave until she's told she can eat. I'm proud of her, she's gotten much better at commands in the past couple of months.

"Thank you for finding me lodgings here," Bella says.

"What's the point of being royalty if I can't help out family?" I respond. "And you are my chief lady-in-waiting, I'm glad you're here." As surprising as it is, I never thought I would value Bella's opinion as much as I do. When I first arrived, it was her sister Eliza who was more interested in helping me adjust. But her marriage seems to have taken her away from House Rothorne in a way that mine hasn't.

Though I should make an effort to speak with her so that I can make sure that our bond gets stronger, and the alliance with her House alongside it.

"Is there anything you need me to do for you on that front?" she asks as she picks at the fruit on her plate.

"Actually, I was thinking of inviting Lady Violetta Vermatchi to become one of my ladies."

Bella raises an eyebrow. "Lord Luca's sister?"

I nod. "Is that a problem? Have you heard anything about her?"

"No. I was just wondering where your interest with the Vermatchis has come from."

"I enjoy Lord Luca's company." It's not even a lie. He's a good dancer and a charming conversationalist.

"Already two days into being a princess and you're considering an affair," she muses. "Is Prince Lincoln a disappointment?"

"What? No, of course not. Things with Linc are...no, we're not talking about this." I can feel my cheeks flushing in response. "I just think that House Vermatchi could make good future allies."

Bella gives me a shrewd look. "There's something you're not telling me."

I clear my throat and look down at Pip to check how she's getting on, while finding the words I need. "I do think that House Vermatchi could make good allies," I say firmly. "But I do also have another reason that I can't share."