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“I told them I would sit with you. They really fought me on it, as if they didn’t trust me. But all I had to do was cry a little and act concerned for your welfare, and they gave in.” She sighed and got up, walking to the vanity to look through the jewelry. “Anyway, they won’t allow me to wander the castle alone, and I can’t go into any of the interesting rooms. It’s wretched. I can’t wait to be married.”

“I’m touched, Ann,” I said, an edge in my voice I couldn’t seem to subdue. “That was almost kindhearted of you.”

My cousin rolled her eyes, busying herself with perfumes and trinkets, trying her best to make it look as if we hadn’t just spent the morning in a war zone. So her horseback ride with the duke was still happening today. Was it only possible because I’d been injured and we had to leave early? What would she have told him, I wondered, if she had missed their rendezvous? What excuse could she have possibly given?

I sat up with a wince, my tired muscles protesting. I wasn’t in pain, thank God, but felt the distinct tightness of a new scar. I pushed away the blanket from my legs, gingerly pulling up the hem of my chemise to take a look. The scar was larger than I anticipated, nearly wrapping around my thigh. It must have been a gaping wound when it was fresh. Suddenly I understood why Beric had been so desperate for me to heal it immediately.

I touched the scar, lightly. Raised and unpleasing, but without nerve pain. It could have been far worse.

When I looked up, Ann was looking at my scar too. Despite being a working knight, she had never dealt with an injury of this magnitude, and it showed in her gray complexion, her lowered brows.

“I think we can both agree,” she said, “that we’re never going out into that hellscape again.”

“We have to,” I replied, lying down again, my body melting into the mattress with no intention of going anywhere. “It’s our duty to the kingdom.”

“It’s your duty.”

Her words annoyed me. “And yours, if you know what’s good for you. You aren’t married yet.”

“I can’t do what Beric can,” she said, holding up two different earrings to her ears to see which looked better. “I’m not ashamed to admit that posing as a squire was foolish on my part.” She decided on a gold pair, smiling at herself in the mirror. “But it won’t even matter if I can secure a proposal. Which I will.”

“Is that all you care about?” I sat up, anger pounding in my chest. “You almost let me die out there. You do realize that?

Anise gave me a startled glare, as if the accusation was unfounded. “What did you expect me to have done? I’m not an actual squire, I don’t possess that magic—”

“Exactly, you’re not a squire.” I tried to get up, but my muscles were still too tired, so I stayed seated on the edge of the bed. “You’re a knight—or supposed to be. You could have protected me with a shield. And, if that failed, you could have been the one to heal me. Or at least tried.”

“And prove to the king’s loyal Royal Squire that this whole thing was a charade?”

Her words stole the air from me, and all I could do was stare at her. She must have seen my horror at her words because she went quickly back to preparing to see her duke.

“Good God, Anise,” I gasped, finally. “We’re cousins. My mother was your father’s sister. We grew up together.”

“We don’t talk about your parents, remember? And don’t pretend that you like me any more than I like you—”

“I stuck my neck out for you. Risked the king’s trust to find you a suitable husband.”

“I won the duke’s attention with my own charm—”

“You’re only here in the first place because I allowed it.”

“You allowed it?” She scoffed. “You agreed because it would have been foolish not to. Because you knew with one whisper to the right person that I could ruin your life.”

“Perhaps the king doesn’t even care about my father’s reputation. He died when I was four years old. Who would even remember?”

She gave a mocking laugh. “And what if he does care? Are you truly willing to risk your position just to deny me a happy marriage?”

She was turning this on me, like she always did. As if the only reason she was here wasn’t that I had allowed her into my carriage instead of leaving her in that alleyway. But she was right—I wanted this too badly to sabotage it. It was better, and easier, to just let Ann have what she wanted so she’d finally leave me alone.

“Well, hurry it up,” I grumbled. “It was a poor lie to begin with, and I don’t know how much longer we can keep it up before we both lose our heads.”

“Without Mother here, he’ll propose within the week,” she said, resuming her seat. “Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”

“He’d better.”

“He will.” She took up her embroidery again, though her expression was slightly disturbed. “Speaking of husbands, I can’t believe the way Beric touched you today. You’re the king’s wife. How dare he pull up your dress and touch your thigh like that? If you aren’t appalled, then you should be. I’m appalled on your behalf.”

Unbidden images of his actions, performed without the excuse of an injury, came to me, and immediately I felt as if I should repent. “I’m sure you wouldn’t have minded had you been in my condition.”