“Your sister’s appearance, then,” the King replied, “much belies her condition. I have never seen her looking better.”
“Nevertheless, my brother is right, your Majesty,” Marie said. “I have decided to leave Theos for a while.”
The King bowed.
“It is not amongst my prerogatives to question the movements of my subjects,” he said, gravely, “but you must forgive me if I remember that you and your brother are my earliest and best friends here. I shall venture to ask you therefore if ill-health is your only reason for desiring to absent yourself from the Court?”
Nicholas intervened. He rose and held back the curtains which led into another suite of rooms. Marie understood, and with a quick courtesy rose from her seat.
“Your Majesty,” Nicholas said, “with your permission I will return your candour. The subject is one which we can best discuss in my sister’s absence.”
Marie passed out. Nicholas let fall the curtains.
“Your Majesty,” he said, “only a short while ago, as your counsellor, and as one who has the interests of Theos greatly at heart, I ventured to allude to a somewhat delicate subject—to your marriage.”
The King nodded.