Chapter 7: The Rose Garden

"Because I changed my mind," I said.

The words came out before I could stop them.

The Emperor went very still.

"About what?"

I had no answer that wouldn't put my head on the block.

He watched me try to find one.

"About killing her," he said softly.

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

Somebody banged on the lodge door.

"Majesty! The groom who saddled Lady Delmar's pony is gone. His bed's empty, and his things are gone with him."

The Emperor didn't look away from me.

"I'm coming," he called.

He stood up.

He took my good hand and turned it over and looked at my palm.

"The rose garden," he said. "Tonight, after the bells. You'll finish your answer."

"And if I don't come?"

"Then I'll come to your rooms," he said. "And everyone at court will say I spent another night with you."

He let go of my hand and walked out.

The palace bells rang midnight while Edie was pinning up my hair.

"You don't have to go," she said.

"If I don't, he'll come here."

"My lady, he lied in front of forty people for you. Most women would be dancing."

"Most women haven't read how it ends."

Edie's hands stopped in my hair.

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing," I said. "It's a thing people say where I'm from."

"You're from here, my lady."

I didn't answer.

She put the last pin in without another word.

The rose garden lay behind the east wing, inside a high wall of yew hedges.

There was a fountain in the middle, a stone woman pouring water from a jar.

The moon was so bright the roses looked grey.

He was already there.

He stood by the fountain in a plain dark coat with no gold on it, and the moon made his hair look silver.