Mary returned to the carriage to report she had done as Lilith asked. She noticed Lilith’s troubled expression, as though someone had disturbed her. "Are you well, Your Majesty?" She asked, peering outside for a moment to find the cause of Lilith’s state.

"I am. It is a good day, so there is no reason to get upset. Did you inform the guards to send the food to the orphanage and give it to the children?" Lilith asked, shifting her gaze away from the crowd.

The crowd thinned as they travelled deeper into the market, the noise fading. Lilith no longer needed to keep up with waving.

"I did. They have begun to share out the food. Some of the adults were rushing for it, so I delivered your order just in time. The crowd seems to be taking well to your idea of sharing some of the rum and food," Mary said, pleased that all was peaceful. "I will make sure your name is credited for it."

"And what of the Mortimers? Are they well-behaved? I must face them when we return to the castle for the celebration. If not for being amused by what is to come, I would retire to my chamber. I am awfully tired," Lilith said, resting her head against the carriage wall, the faint vibration of the wheels soothing her.

"You have faced too much in so few days. The poisoning, the wedding, and now the coronation. You must rest. A proper rest. Shall we knock out your husband when we are alone in the chamber with him? We can say he struck his head by accident," Mary suggested.

Lilith stared at Mary before laughter filled the carriage. "Knock him out? I assure you, you and I are not going to be able to knock out that man. I do not mind resting beside him. He is surprisingly quiet."

"He has not tried to force you to be intimate?" Mary whispered.

"No. It is a little too good to be true, so I shall keep my guard up. I will get some rest on the ride back, so please wake me when we are near the castle," Lilith said, closing her eyes.

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

In the carriage behind Lilith’s, Diana sat listening to the drunken speeches Richard gave, his voice reaching her carriage.

Diana looked out of her window, expecting Richard to pass her carriage at any moment. It was evident he was being loud because he knew she was in front of him.

"Men and their inability to handle rejection. A married man at that," Diana muttered, folding her arms.

Her rejection of Richard should not have provoked such behaviour since he had pursued her since her husband’s death and taken the rejection far better than now.

"Sarah," Diana addressed her maid. "I cannot bear this any longer. He must go."

Sarah had been Diana’s most trusted maid since her youth, following her faithfully when she entered the Mortimer family.

"He is ruining Cassian’s moment. I need a way to rid myself of him without spoiling Cassian’s celebration," Diana plotted. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"If only he were riding a horse in his drunken state. A fall straight onto his head would take care of your troubles. Would it not be wonderful if he hurt himself so badly he could neither walk nor speak?" Sarah asked, her eyes meeting Diana’s, both sharing the same dark thought.

"It would, but then his wife would be the one to have the pleasure of torturing him. Heaven knows that woman needs it a little. I cannot imagine what she endures with him trying to court another woman. How do I get him on a horse?" Diana wondered.

Sarah glanced down at the scarf she was knitting for Diana. "Why not tell your son how uncomfortable you are with Richard’s advances? The boy would kill his uncle for you. Think of the trouble if Richard stands behind the new duke."

"I could never return to the land I love, and Cassian does not want me inside the castle," Diana said softly.

"Richard is far from loyal. Pay a whore to lure him to bed, double the price to kill him while he sleeps. He would not be the first bastard robbed and slain by a whore. There are plenty around," Sarah said, glancing at the women outside. "Such disgraceful creatures."

"It does not sit well with me to arrange for another woman’s husband to cheat. I would be livid if someone did it to me," Diana admitted, wavering.

"Then you must endure Richard’s attempts to wed you and ruin the land your husband loved. You know he will come to your door daily when you return home," Sarah said, looking up at her.

"Then the bastard must die," Diana decided. "I cannot have a visitor because Richard is always lurking. I do not intend to marry, but do you think it wrong of me not to entertain a gentleman? Just for the fun of it?"

"Your son is married and now king. You have remained loyal to your late husband long enough that no one would question you moving on. You have been stressed of late. Would you like me to sneak him into your chamber tonight?" Sarah asked, certain Diana desired relief.

Diana pondered for a moment. "I fear someone lingering and seeing him. I can only have him in my chamber if Richard is disposed of. If he sees me with a man at my door, I will never hear the end of it."

"That is it. Find the best-looking woman near the market and pay her to entertain him. Triple it to kill him. I shall ensure her safe passage out of the castle. I have had enough of Richard," Diana said, her body relaxing.

"As you wish. I shall also wait for what the guard says about Her Majesty."

"I do not know if I should spy on her. I feel so seen by her. I only need to know she is not plotting against my son. Tell the guard to be careful," Diana ordered Sarah.

Sarah nodded, falling back. "Very well."