Free Once Upon A Time (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon Page A

hearing because it concerns her."
    Henry stroked his chin with a satisfied smile on his face. "So, after all these years in hiding, the young queen comes to me. If indeed she's telling the truth." He turned to the chamberlain. "But she is mistaken when she says this sentencing concerns her. Inform her that I shall grant an audience in my private chambers at the conclusion of these proceedings."
    To Henry's amazement, a young woman appeared, dressed in white with a golden crown set atop her head. She glared at the guards who blocked her path. "Stand aside and allow me to pass," Jilliana ordered, pushing away the sword of one of the men. She advanced boldly into the chamber, flanked on either side by Sir Humphrey and Cardinal Failsham.
    Silence fell over the chamber as they moved toward King Henry. Jilliana could hear whispers rippling through the crowd.
    "Who can this beauty be?"
    "Whence does she come?"
    But her eyes were on the man who sat upon the throne. She stopped in front of Henry and stared into his puzzled eyes.
    "Sire, I am Queen Jilliana of Talshamar," she said in a voice that carried to the far corners of the room. "If you condemn Prince Ruyen and Princess Cassandra to death, then you must also condemn me, for I carry within my body Prince Ruyen's seed."
    King Henry was stunned, but no more so than Prince Ruyen. Henry's eyes went to the girl's stomach, but it was impossible to tell her condition since she wore a flowing surcoat.
    Ruyen stared at the woman as if she had lost her mind. How dare she make such an outrageous claim. His sister looked at him in astonishment.
    Suddenly, Ruyen remembered the baffling message he had received a fortnight ago. The servant who usually brought their meals had been replaced by another. As he served the food, the man had hurriedly whispered, while casting furtive glances over his shoulder at the guard. He had urged Ruyen to be alert for the chance that would come for him to save himself.
    Ruyen had assumed that the man was sent by Richard. But as days passed and nothing happened, he forgot about the incident. And now this woman appeared—surely this was the opportunity the man had meant.
    "You claim that you are Queen Jilliana of Talshamar," Henry said skeptically, "but how can we know that you speak the truth? It has long been our belief that Jilliana died in childhood."
    Although Jilliana's heart was thundering against her breast and her hands trembled, she faced the king with clear eyes.
    "I am indeed who I claim to be." She nodded at Sir Humphrey and he handed her an object wrapped in a velvet cloth. "Know you the Great Seal of Talshamar, Henry Plantagenet?"
    "I do," Henry answered, his eyes narrowing.
    She held the seal out for his inspection, but drew it back when he would have touched it.
    "Then know that the seal is in my possession and that it signifies I am the true queen."
    He nodded. "It looks to be the seal." He turned to Cardinal Failsham, knowing he would not put forward the claim of an impostor.
    "Is this woman the true queen of Talshamar?"
    "She is, Your Majesty. I have followed her progress throughout the years and know her to be the true heir to the Talshamarian throne."
    King Henry nodded. "I accept your word, along with the evidence of the Great Seal." His eyes were piercing as he looked at Jilliana. "You have kept yourself hidden from us, when we wanted only to help you, Queen Jilliana."
    Jilliana met his even gaze. "I have not been hiding, Henry. For these past few years I have been residing in one of your own castles. You are familiar with the castle of Salisbury?"
    Henry's fist came down hard on the arm of his throne. "Eleanor! By the true God, she did this to me!"
    Jilliana strived to hide her smile, wishing Eleanor could witness Henry's rage. "Did you not know that I was the ward of your lady wife?"
    It was apparent that Henry was having a difficult time bringing his anger under control, but he would not allow everyone to see that Eleanor had bested