Still: He was the most natural suitor. Similar age; her nearest neighbor; as handsome as she was beautiful. And despite what the princess had spat at him last night, he knew from earlier meetings that these councilors did not object to any of the provisions in his contract.
The lead councilor’s eyebrow arched impossibly higher. “And you haven’t seen her since yourlovelydinner?”
A whisper of uncertainty crawled up Renard’s neck.
What did Satordi know about last night? Renard was unsure of the correct answer here. Didnoadmit that perhaps Amarande wasn’t enamored with him? Didyesmean he was being improper?
So, instead of uttering either the truth or a lie, he simply looked each councilor in the eye and carefully asked, “Where is the princess?”
It was a simple question, but no one—not Satordi nor any other member of the council—answered it immediately.
As the silence stretched, that cold uncertainty blew the length of Renard’s spine.
After far too long, Satordi spoke. “We are unsure. The castle staff has not seen the princess since the maids dressed her for dinner… with you.”
“What do you mean, you haven’t seen her?” Renard grasped hard to his internal script, his stomach plummeting into his well-shined boots. “She left our meal in great spirits.”
“Regardless of what actually happened at this dinner,” Satordi said, each word as distinct as a footfall, “the princess is missing.”
“Missing?”The word felt fat on Renard’s lips. Behind him, he was sure he heard a crack of wood settling as his mother shifted in her tiger’s-head chair to get a better view.
“Yes. Missing.”
“There must be some mistake.” Panic was rising in Renard’s voice, and he fought with every inch inside him to keep it down where it couldn’t be seen. “She would not disappear after the night we had.”
“No mistake. The night maids never saw her. The morning maids met unused sheets. And her horse is gone from the stable.”
As that news settled over the crowd, Renard knew what they were all thinking: another Runaway Queen, this one a queen-to-be. Maybe Amarande was more like her mother than anyone knew. Or maybe they suspected he knew something about her disappearance. He’d suddenly made himself a suspect.
Renard began to sweat. Possible responses swirled around his mind—a weak defense, an excuse, a threat. This was not good.
But then a voice he didn’t recognize broke the heavy silence. “The stableboy is missing as well.”
It was an Ardenian guard up front. He stood slightly out of line from the other guards—the man in charge with General Koldo out.
At Renard’s shoulder, his younger brother spoke. “I saw the princess with this boy yesterday morning. He very clearly likes the look of her.”
Renard was unsure as to whether Taillefer had actually seen such an interaction, but the muted reaction among the councilors was enough to confirm that it was a likely scenario.
Satordi scratched his nose. “Princess Amarande and the stableboy have a close relationship. They were babes together.”
Dowager Queen Inés shifted in her chair with another crack. “And King Sendoa allowed this?”
The old woman on the council spoke up next. “Our king,” she said, as gently as she would if speaking to a child, “did not subscribe to separation of social classes.”
Renard’s mother huffed but said no more.
“He must have stolen her away—this boy. Jealousy affects commoners much differently than those of us with means,” the prince said, his voice gaining steam as he sensed an opening. “The princess must have informed him of her impending marriage to me and his jealousy took over.”
“There is no evidence to indicate that.” This from the young man on the council. Joseba.
“What do you mean there’s no evidence?” Renard knew he sounded distraught. It wasn’t a bad thing.
Joseba continued. “As you know, the princess is a very strong-willed young woman, who often does as she pleases. It could be—”
“Both of them are missing, as is her horse. We must search out their path as soon as possible. She could be in danger.” Renard took a step toward the council table. “I do not understand thisinactionof yours. Her whereabouts should have been questioned the moment she didn’t return to her chambers from dinner. How can you sit there?”
His voice grew louder as he spoke, but the council remained in silence.
