They Gave the Doomed Duke the Wrong Bride novel · Chapter 28 of 32

Chapter 28: Bread

I didn't have to think about it.

"Open the Penhallow granary," I said. "To the city. Tomorrow, in the market square. And let me open it myself."

A lord near the front laughed.

Somebody hushed him.

The King looked at me for a long moment.

"You could ask for your father's lands," he said. "His house. His name, made lawful."

"I've had his name all my life. It never fed anybody." I looked at the eleven ledgers on the floor. "His grain can."

The old man's mouth moved, very slightly, in the furs.

"Done," he whispered.

Then his eyes went past me to my husband.

"Draycott."

Everard stepped forward.

"The decree against you is torn up. Your house, your lands, your title. Your marriage stands, whatever any writ said." The King breathed for a while. "My son was meant to stand on those steps tomorrow. The army loved you. The city followed you to my door. Stand there instead."

The whole court fell silent.

I did too.

Everard looked up at the throne. Then he looked down at me.

"No, Majesty," he said.

Somebody gasped.

"I've got a mill to fix," he said. "And three hundred widows in the March who've been promised a harvest. Give the crown to someone who never sold a sack of grain or starved a soldier. I'll hold your border for him."

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