He was frowning as he walked through the outer room and into the bedroom.
Pythia was holding a baby in her arms wrapped in a blanket.
She was just about to hand him to his mother, but, as she saw the King standing there, she said,
“A new citizen for Your Majesty and I feel in the circumstances that you will most graciously allow him to be called by your name.”
For a moment the King just stared at her.
She was looking very lovely, her cheeks flushed with her hair curling untidily over her head.
She was holding the baby close against her breast and, as she wished to make him interested, she moved a little closer to him, saying,
“I am afraid that young Alexius is not particularly handsome at the moment, but I am sure, since he bears your name, he will try to emulate you in every way.”
