Free Temptations of Pleasure Island by Gilbert L. Morris

appoint Lady Maeve to the position, temporarily at least.”
    A stunned silence certainly did reign then. Not a sound was made.
    Lady Maeve got to her feet at once and said, “Gentlemen, this meeting is dismissed.”
    When the council members had all stumbled out of the room, Lady Maeve turned to the king. “I know you’re disturbed, sire, but you must not be.”
    “He’s done good service for this country, Lady Maeve. I regret its coming to this. Lord Denning has been a friend.”
    “Yes, of course he has. But for the good of thecountry we must move on. Come, Your Majesty. It’s time for your Soma.”
    “Yes—yes. I think I’m in need of … something.”
    As the king turned and moved heavily toward the door, a cruel smile turned the corners of Lady Maeve’s mouth upward.
So. We’ve gotten that fool Denning out
of the way, and the council is under my command
.
Now all I have to do is increase the king’s dosage of
Soma, and he will not be any problem
.
    “Your Majesty, you look tired. Are you not feeling well?”
    Queen Tamsin turned to Sarah and said, “No, Sarah, not unwell. But I am deeply worried. About Cosima.”
    Sarah was sure that this was true. Cosima had outdone herself in recent weeks. She had gotten completely out from under the authority of her father. And when her mother tried to correct her, the king would simply say, “If you would take medication along with Cosima and me, you would see how things are.”
    Now the queen’s shoulders sagged. She leaned forward in her beautifully designed, silk-upholstered chair and began to weep. “I know queens should not weep,” she said, “but I can’t help it.”
    Sarah went to her and tentatively put a hand on the queen’s shoulder. “I don’t know whoever told you that, Your Majesty. A queen is a woman, and there is a time when women need to weep. You’re worried about your daughter and your husband. Who would weep for them if not you?”
    Queen Tamsin reached up and took Sarah’s hand. “You’re a comfort, dear. Indeed you are.”
    Sarah took a seat on a low stool beside the queen.“We’re all concerned about your husband. Two of our own number have been persuaded by Lady Maeve into taking Soma. Their behavior is so different. They’re not like themselves at all.”
    “Exactly the way it is with Leo and with Cosima. They’re just not themselves.”
    “Is the king still pressuring you into taking the drug, Your Majesty?”
    “Constantly. Day and night. It takes all the strength I have to resist him. As for Derek, he and his father are scarcely speaking. Our family is shattered, Sarah.”
    “My lady, I would not give easy words of comfort. I know only a little of what your heart must be feeling. But I would encourage you, if I could.” She waited until the queen looked up and then said, “Since we came to Nuworld—miraculously, as you have heard—we have been in many dangerous places. There have been times when we despaired of life itself. But we are still here. We are alive and well. And it is Goél who has kept us so.”
    “Goél. I wish he would come and set the kingdom straight. He was here years ago, and both my husband and I knew that he was the right man to lead this world in the fight against evil. Oh, how I wish he would come!”
    “He may come yet,” Sarah said eagerly. “He comes sometimes when least expected. But sometimes he lets us get in terrible shape first. I think he does it to test our loyalty and help us learn.”
    The queen seemed to take heart at that. “It’s a relief to talk to you, Sarah. I can’t talk to Cosima anymore.” The worried look came back into her face. “She’s seeing a lot of your friend—the boy Jackson.”
    “You mean Reb. Yes. They do go places together a lot.”
    The queen seemed hesitant. “Is he—is he
reliable?”
    Sarah laughed. “Oh yes! He’s very reliable. You don’t need to worry about your daughter being with him.”
    Relief washed across the queen’s face.