She paced in her office. Queen Miriam had just had a call with Josephine. She could not believe that nothing had happened the previous night. She could not let her son stay single for this long. He had never shown any interest in any other woman. Not if she counted Lucia. Sure, she had been uncertain of the age gap between the two but what was twelve years? It did not hurt that Lucia was the daughter of Josephine who she knew to have exacting standards and understood court life. She had watched the girl grow up and she knew her temperament. Queen Miriam knew Lucia had a sharp eye and saw more than most. She never made waves and best of all, her son liked her.
There was a sharp rap on the door.
"Come in," she said calmly.
