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More laughter.
“I heard, back at the Aires, there’s this special room, right? Anetta told me about it once, said all the girls—”
“My lady?” asked a voice behind me.
I jumped. I heard a chorus of “shhs” from the gossips. The room was silent now.
Blushing, I composed myself and turned around to see who I assumed was the headmistress. The woman was certainly dressed like one; long skirts and long-sleeved tunic under a tight-fitting vest of brown wool.
I pointed a finger toward the entrance and made my way over there. Confused, she looked behind me at the room I had been eavesdropping on, then clarity made her nod.
Once we were out in the hall, the woman curtsied. “Princess. I am Thea, the Mor’s headmistress. The prince said you’d be by for a rescheduling of your tour.”
“Pleasure to meet you, and thank you kindly for offering to fit me around your schedule. I’m sure you are a very busy woman.”
Her smile was genuine. “Of course, it is no trouble at all.”
“I’d like to take that tour now, if that’s all right?”
“Yes, let me just let the girls know I’ll be gone for a bit. Be right back.”
While she was gone, I tried to gain some composure. My heart was beating too quickly. Taking a deep breath, I went over the conversation I’d overheard, sifting through it for some kind of order.
So, Lysander was a womanizer. The way they spoke so freely, I sensed more truth than just mere gossip.
I had to admit the thought of him being the court’s playboy was disappointing, and strangely made me feel inadequate and foolish. In the brief time I’d spent with him, he’d never given any indication that he was anything but a gentleman. I couldn’t imagine licentiousness being part of his character. I saw no flirtatiousness. No sultry looks or ogling. No innuendo. Nothing.
I was familiar with the kind of male who looked at a woman like she was a tasty dessert, had witnessed their slimy pushiness, where they gave the female no space. I’d seen it plenty of times in Father’s court and at the many dinner parties I had attended.
I never would have pegged Lysander as one.
“Ready to go, my lady?”
I nodded and put on my smile, brushing aside my worries. “I am. Where to first?”
Two hours later, my guards and I returned to my door. I found Tilly inside, tidying up my vanity, my riding dress draped over her arm.
“My lady, would you care for a bath before dinner or after?”
A flash of Lucinda asking me the same thing so many times pierced my heart. I sent a prayer to the gods in remembrance and smiled at the young maid. “I’m not sure. When is dinner?”
“In two hours. I was told we have guests, so you will be eating in the formal dining room tonight.”
“Guests?” Then I remembered that strange man who’d come in through the gate hours ago. The one with a pet crow.
“Yes, my lady. Lucius of House Dega and his men. The queen also sends her apologies that she couldn’t have a private dinner with you in her quarters. She has invited you to lunch with her tomorrow, however. Also, you are scheduled a fitting with the queen and her tailor after breakfast.”
“Sounds like I’ll have a busy day tomorrow. I think I shall have that bath before dinner. Thank you, Tilly.”
The bath was heavenly. I’d never thought much of baths, had always just viewed them as a means to an end. But ever since traveling and being without, baths had risen high on my list of things that I never wanted to live without again. A bed was also on that list, along with hot tea and clean clothes that fit me.
I chose one of my new court gowns Mother had purchased for me—a satin and silk turquoise dress with a scooped neck, fitted half-sleeved bodice, and a light-as-air skirt that fell in fluid lines. The color matched my eyes, and a pang of longing for my mother swept over me. Oh, how she’d love to see how well the gown complimented my “new eyes.”
My hair was swept up loosely, secured with silver combs encrusted with aquamarines. Tilly had applied a bit of lip stain to my lips and a dusting of silver shimmer to my eyes, which she had offered to add a hint of coal to, but I declined. When she presented me with two necklaces that would match my ensemble, I frowned.
“What about the choker?” I touched it, feeling its thin chains and round garnet center.
“Oh, my lady, you don’t have to wear it all the time.” She smiled.
