She smiles warmly. “That’s an excellent idea. Truly. You’ll need to make sure you have a good range of growing conditions, and I have some thoughts about which herbs you might like to grow to make the most of it.”
“Well, I thought that maybe you could help? I know you’re busy, so we’ll get other servants to assist, but if you could at least help with directing things, it would make all the difference.” I grasp her hands in mine, turning to her and giving her my most hopeful look. It’s the same one I use on Bors when I need him to do what I want.
Angelica nods enthusiastically. “Of course, I’d love to! I have so many ideas. As soon as I’m sure Gwen is back to her normal self, I’ll come take a look at the courtyard and we’ll start planning things out. Oh, perhaps we could also have a bench there so that courtiers can use the garden as a quiet place to go and sit?”
“Yes!” I nod, grinning. “I knew you were the right person to ask.”
Together we return to the room, and Gwen gives me a glare as she’s being told no, she can’t have sausages or bacon, if she wants something to eat it has to be something plain. I’m not sure why I’m the one being blamed for the situation, but I also don’t care. I’m just happy that we’re all safe again.
When her mother isn’t looking, I meet Gwen’s eyes, and stick out my tongue, pulling a funny face, and see her frown turn to a giggle.
One thing’s for certain, she won’t be allowed to slip away from her guards again, not if Angie has anything to do with it.
Probably until she’s at least as old as I am.
Bors
I take a deep breath as I sit back from the table, my plate cleared, and look around at the faces of my friends and family. Little Gwen has just eaten her first substantial meal since the poisoning, and she looks satisfied at least. There’s still a feast of leftovers remaining, but that’s always the way. What we don’t eat, the servants will enjoy, and that’s how things should be. I have little use for titles and ceremony, and even less for decadent privilege.
What we eat, they eat.
In the week since she first discussed it, Sara has made an excellent start on the new castle herb garden. The sheltered courtyard she picked has all the right conditions to allow her to grow virtually anything we might need all year round.
Of course, it will take a few months before we start to see any real results, but then I expect to have healers from all over the kingdom, and even beyond, coming here to replenish their stocks of the rare plants that would otherwise be hard to find.
My sons, both kings of their own kingdoms now, are even here tonight. They returned as soon as they heard of Gwen’s illness, but by the time they were here she was out of the woods. I suspect that Petra, daughter of our eldest son and his wife, has been slipping her cousin more exotic foods when nobody has been around, but as it hasn’t made her sick again I’ve turned a blind eye.
I reach under the table and run a hand along Sara’s thigh, hearing her sharp intake of breath as I do. “I need my wife,” I mutter under my breath.
“Bors, please,” she murmurs.
Shaking my head, I push her dress down between her legs and grip her pussy with my fingers. “Who am I?”
“My king,” she whispers in reply. “But—”
“No buts. Excuse us or I will.”
“No!” She replies, just a little too loudly. Everyone’s conversations stop at once as they turn our way. I see her cheeks turn red, but she won’t allow me to make our excuses. Tact isn’t one of my strong points. “Um… Bors and I are very tired,” she starts. “It’s so lovely to have all my children here at one table… and my grandchildren, of course. And my friends.” She glances over at Seamus and Angelica, who is grinning knowingly. “Please, eat what you like, spend the rest of the night however you like. We’ll see you all in the morning. Oh, god…” She sits bolt upright as my finger slides along her wet pussy lips. “...God, please grant us many more evenings, just like this one. Good night!”
Angie is snickering as we turn and leave the table. She’s seen this sort of display more often than anyone, having stayed here at the castle with us. I don’t care. My children need to know that their parents love each other, and no two people have ever loved or wanted each other more.
I can’t wait until I get her back to our bedroom. As soon as we’re outside the hall, beyond the eyes of our friends and family, I push her up against the wall and my hand is at her crotch. I lean in, stealing a kiss from her lips and leaving her gasping for air.