She snorted.Sounds lovely, Your Highness.
I almost laughed again but managed to contain myself.I’ll be in touch, but I better go. My lady’s attendant is starting to look at me as though I’ve gone crazy.
Well, considering what you’ve been through, some insanity is understandable.
I pinched my lips to stop another laugh.Love you. Thanks for listening to all of this.
Anytime, and I mean that.
I know. That’s why you’re the best.
We said our goodbyes, and I finished munching on my toast, which had long grown cold, and a quick look around revealed that in the time I’d been talking to Ree, Betsee had accomplished a lot.
I cocked my head at the lady’s servant who was still hard at work. A brief moment of pity filled me that I now led a life of leisure while she worked tirelessly to provide me every luxury.
In a friendly voice, I said to her, “It isn’t necessary to change my sheets daily, Betsee. Didn’t you just do it last night?”
She snapped the sheet and stuffed it into her laundry basket. “Indeed, I did, Your Highness, but I’ve been told you’re aware that you’re to move into the royal wing this morning?”
The royal wing.Some of the blood drained from my face, and I was reminded of my new role. My new life. “Oh, yes, my parents did mention that last night.”
She smiled good-naturedly. “Wonderful. In that case, I shall continue. I’m to ready these chambers for a new guest should one arrive, which means clean sheets are needed, but if you prefer me not changing your sheets daily in your royal suite, I will endeavor to follow whatever schedule you prefer.”
“Oh, okay.” Absentmindedly, I took another bite of toast because I didn’t know what else to say. I had no idea what kind ofscheduleI should give the attendant.
Just as fast, I wondered if Kole had arrived yet and was waiting for me in the hall. If he was, it would be the first time he hadn’t mistphased directly into my suite. His words from last night again pounded through my thoughts.My vows. My duty.
I couldn’t help but wonder if he was intentionally putting distance between us.
Appetite disappearing, I set my toast down and drank one last sip of tea. Betsee dumped the rest of the dirty sheets into a small laundry basket and then removed a cleaning charm from her pocket. She activated its magic, and before my eyes, dust began disappearing from surfaces, the windows turned gleaming, every area rug looked freshly scrubbed, and not a grain of dirt was in sight.
Once done, she dusted off her hands. “There we are. All clean and ready.”
“Is someone planning to stay here soon?” I wondered if that could be the reason for moving me so quickly. Or if it truly was now that the secret was out about my identity, that there was no longer a reason to keep me here.
Betsee shook her head. “Nobody yet. I’m just to ready it for a new guest should one arrive unexpectedly.” She picked up the laundry basket. “I can show you to your permanent quarters if you’ve finished eating? You’ll need to be there this morning anyway. You’re to have a gown fitting at ten.”
“My gown fitting. I almost forgot about that.” I stood and smoothed my dress.Gowns. Balls. Royal wings.Once again, it all came crashing back, and my brief reprieve that a good night’s rest and my time last evening with Kole on the Nelive Sea had brought me fell to the great beyond.
This is my new life now.
My forced smile was stretched so broad that my cheeks began burning, but I followed Betsee out the door.
In the hall, Kole stood watch, having already arrived exactly as I’d suspected he might have, and my attention inadvertently drifted to him.
As he’d looked last night when he left, his face was a mask of stone, and he refused to make eye contact. Instead, he automatically fell into step behind me without saying a word.
My stomach began to flip even though his closed-off demeanor didn’t surprise me. We’d stepped into new territory last night. Dangerous territory. Kole had all but admitted he felt things for me, things the Council would not approve of.
Yet one look at the warrior’s face told me he wasn’t going to acknowledge that.
My vows. My duty.
While a part of me greatly admired how noble of a male Kole was, disappointment also welled up in me, and a sharp stab of regret followed.
To cover it up, I plastered on a bright smile and launched into twenty questions, all directed at Betsee. Even though Kole might be intent on ignoring me, I was fairly certain the lady’s attendant wouldn’t shun me, and I needed to distract myself in some way.
“And where exactly are we right now, Betsee?” I asked her cheerfully.
