Antipositional Play Excerpt

Chess Series: Interlude after Queen/Book 2.5

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Chapter 1

The explosions from the fireworks intensified the pounding in my head, and I groaned, then pressed the pillow tighter over my ears.

Why did we have to have such a big Year’s End Celebration anyway? It’s not like my father was even in attendance, or that he ever allowed anyone but the servants to participate. Yeah, okay, my brothers came home and it was nice to see them, but still…

There was a knock on the door and I groaned again, but called out, “Come in.”

The door opened to admit one of the servants. I didn’t know her name, and why should I? She came and handed me a letter. “Lady Bethany, a letter from His Grace.”

Great, my father was writing. What did he want? I nodded and she retreated. Another firework exploded and I winched. I had a feeling the letter wasn’t going to make my headache any better. I skimmed the first few lines — platitudes about how he hoped I was doing well. Did he really? I’m sure he wanted me to help him out with some new plot.

Then, he said he was in the process of arranging a marriage for me — to Lucian, the King of Jador. The letter dropped from my hand as my mouth dropped open — I didn’t know if it was the headache or just complete surprise. My father was actually arranging a decent marriage for me? Maybe this wasn’t part of some plot, but a father truly caring about his daughter. I picked up the letter and had to shake my head at the signature. Arrogant as ever, he’d signed it George, Duke of Petidar. Not Your father, but his first name and title — like I didn’t know them.

He wanted me to be at the palace by the end of the first week of the year. I sighed. I guess I’d have my things packed and order a carriage. Would I have to stay at an inn on the way, or could we make it there in one day? Uh, an inn. What low, dirty places.

Finally, the fireworks seemed to have stopped. Good, maybe the painkiller I’d taken could actually get a chance to work. I tossed the letter on a chair and laid back on the bed. I’d deal with George’s missive the next day.

∼∗∼∗∼∗∼

Five days later I arrived at the palace. It had taken a few days to pack everything and then we’d left late. We’d stayed at an inn near the Sacred Mountains the previous night. Not an experience I wanted to repeat. I was looking forward to sleeping in a real bed. I wondered how nice the queen’s bedchamber was? Although I was sure it was premature to be wondering that, if I was to be married to the king, they’d be mine soon, right?

My things were taken to my father’s rooms in the palace. From what I understood, while he didn’t officially live at the palace, whenever he was there, he stayed in one particular suite. And that suite was reserved for him, so even if he wasn’t there, no one else used it. I presumed I would be staying there and took a quick look around once I arrived. It was obvious which bedroom Father had chosen — his things were scattered all over the desk in the room. The rest was neat, but only because someone else made it so. I’d seen his room at home before the servants started in the morning — disaster. I never could figure out how he managed to make such a mess in one evening, just to have it cleaned up the next day.

There was a second bedroom, much smaller, and less ornate, but cozy. I suppose the fireplace could have been a bit bigger, and the artwork more the latest style, but it was acceptable. Father arrived about thirty minutes after I did and greeted me with a hug. Which wasn’t unusual, but the look on his face I recognized — he didn’t have good news.

“Bethany, I’m glad you’ve arrived.”

I sighed to myself. And the use of my full name didn’t bode well either. “Good afternoon, Sir.”

“Come, sit down, I need to discuss some things with you.” I nodded and followed him to the sitting area in the front room of the suite. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. I wanted to just yell at him to spit it out, but that would only delay what he had to say as he admonished me for not having patience. So, I sat quietly, waiting for him to tell me the bad news.

He sat back in the overstuffed chair he’d chosen, steepled his fingers, and sighed. “I know I wrote to you that I was working on arranging for you to marry the king. I’m still working on that, but he’s turning out to be more stubborn than I expected.”

Okay, so I wouldn’t be getting married soon. A week ago I hadn’t even known it was being discussed, so that was fine. Then, he said, “So in the meantime, I’ve arranged for you to have a servant’s position in the palace.”

What? I frowned, “I’m sorry, did you say a servant’s position?”

He nodded. “Yes, it’s important that you hide who you truly are and the best way to do that would be to have you pose as a servant.”

Hide who I was? “Father, I know you have your reasons, but I don’t understand. Why not simply have me return to the estate?”

He shifted, then cleared his throat. “I need you to be close by, but not let it be known that you’re my daughter. Anything more than that you don’t need to know.”

My chest tightened and I blinked back tears as my stomach dropped. I was part of some scheme after all, it appeared. That part didn’t really surprise me. But he didn’t even want to acknowledge I was his daughter? Had I done something to anger him? I nodded then said quietly, “Yes, Father.”

He gave me another smile, this one more insincere than the last. “It’s only for a short while. I’ve arranged for you to stay in quarters with Mary, one of the supervisors of the household staff. She knows who you are and will be able to help you get adjusted.”

Once more I nodded. Then, he motioned to a servant standing by the door who nodded and left. A moment later, a pretty woman in servants’ clothes came into the room. She was average height with ash blond hair pulled back into a French braid. She smiled at me — a genuine smile at least — and the laugh lines around her hazel eyes told me she smiled frequently. She, “You must be Bethany. I’m Mary. Please come with me, I’ll show you to your room.”

My father simply nodded at me and I clenched my jaw and swallowed hard. I followed Mary as we wound our way through what felt like half the palace before she arrived at the servants’ wing. Her quarters were the first room on the hall and were nice, I supposed. I’d expected them to be stark and plain, but she had fancied them up a bit with a rug on the floor and some art on the walls.

The plain bed was clearly mine. She said, “It’s the standard sheets at the moment, but we can certainly get you something more to your liking later. Not as fancy as the ones for the suites of course, but nicer than the standard anyway. And if at some point you want to add some artwork or other things, that’s fine too.”

I nodded, then sank down to sit on the bed. I tried to blink back tears, but one escaped and I angrily brushed it off my cheek. Mary looked at me then came over and sat next to me. “What’s wrong, dear?”

“I’m…I’m the daughter of a duke and he wants me to pose as a servant? I — I’m the one with servants.”

She gave me a penetrating look. “You’ll have to get over that attitude right quick, Missy. However, that’s not the real problem is it?”

I shook my head then whispered, “He doesn’t even want anyone to know I’m his daughter. Is — is he ashamed of me?” The tears wouldn’t stay back any more and started running down my face. I choked out, “I know he’s always got some reason for what he does, but he’s my father. I thought — thought that maybe he finally cared about me.”

Mary put her arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. She said gently, “I’m sorry he’s doing this to you. When I met him last week, I thought it was an odd request, but of course it’s not my place to say anything. Although I also thought you knew about it. I didn’t realize he just blindsided you with it.”

I pulled a handkerchief out of a pocket in my skirt and wiped my eyes. “I guess I just have to accept it — like I’ve accepted every other plot and plan he’s involved me in.” I blew out a breath. “Do I have any other choice?”

She tilted her head and looked at me. “There is one upside to him wanting to hide who you are.” I gave her a confused look. “He won’t interact with you that much, and I doubt he’ll keep a close watch on you. Yes, you have to work as a servant, but I think you’ll be surprised by how much more freedom you’ll have.”

I had doubts, but I’d never really paid attention to the servants before. I guess I was going to have to get over that attitude right quick. I nodded. “So…where do I start?”

She smiled. “We get you some clothes. I’m sure whatever you brought with you is nice like what you’re wearing. That won’t do at all.”

I nodded again and followed her back through the halls to a store room. As we came to a junction in the hallway, I saw two men standing talking. From their uniforms, they had to have been members of the Shield Guard. The first looked serious and a bit stern, although not unattractive. But the other man had a smile on his face — his incredibly good-looking face. Dark brown hair with a loose curl, brown eyes, and a neatly trimmed anchor beard…I almost ran into Mary when she stopped abruptly.

She whispered, “Lts. Alecks and Anders. Alecks is calm and steady, Anders is…carefree and…expressive.”

I frowned. “What does that mean, exactly?”

She took my arm and steered me further down the hall, away from the two men. She said in an undertone, “That means you should stay away, is what that means.”

“Why? Is he taken?”

She shook her head. “The day that man settles down will be one to mark on the calendar. Don’t get me wrong — he only dates one woman at a time. But, not for very long.”

I gave her a half smile, “Bit of a libertine, is he?”

She snorted. “That’s an understatement. I don’t doubt it would be a whirlwind, and one wicked ride as you spun, but then when the wind dies, you’ll be the one left behind. If you’re lucky, you’ll still be intact. More likely you’ll be nursing a broken heart.”

On the other hand, if you knew that going in, and just wanted a wild ride you could protect your heart. At least I thought so. Never having been on any kind of ride, wild or not, I didn’t know for sure. After all, I was supposed to save myself for marriage. If I ever got married that was. At twenty-one I probably should have been married for a couple of years already.

I sighed and nodded, then followed Mary into the store room to get some new clothes.