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Kella swept her braids over her shoulder. “An Azarqi woman’s home belongs to her. Granted, our husbands own our camels. But that offers a man little comfort if his wife decides she’s done with him, and she packs up her tents and leaves him stranded in the desert with only his camels for company.”
The ladies around the fire burst out laughing.
“Azarqi women can do that?” Miranda asked. “Leave their husbands?”
“That’s how my marriage ended.” Kella had taken up a spare hand loom, and her blue fingers raced across the warp and weft in an Azarqi pattern. “We were divorced the moment I packed up my tents, under Azarqi law. He didn’t dare try to follow me, but even if he had, Tilili is faster than a camel.”
The handmaidens’ scandalized laughter grew louder, and Lady Hadrian’s smile suggested she was laughing loudest of all, if silently. But when Miranda caught Cassia looking at her, her laughter rang false. For an instant, their gazes met, and Cassia saw the emotion in the young woman’s eyes.
Fear.
Then her demure handmaiden mask was once more in place.
A terrible realization settled over Cassia. If Miranda was not afraid of Hesperines, there could be only one explanation. She was afraid of Cassia.
Cassia knew she had ruined reputations when bartering information for her own gain. She had gotten servants chastised by their lieges for her own indiscretions. In her never-ending battle to escape the king’s deadly anger and his many, tiny cruelties, Cassia had committed so many cruelties of her own.
Was she Miranda’s monster?
When Cassia’s Gifting visions forced her to relive her past, would she experience Miranda’s pain? She would not wait to find out on that night. She needed to learn the truth about how she had wronged Miranda while there was still time to make it right.
Cassia knew how difficult it would be to convince Miranda to open up to her. She herself had once been just that untrusting.
There were so many disastrous consequences of her past actions still to solve. Miranda would need time, but right now, Cassia must seize her opportunity to escape her betrothal.
She decided to try asking Perita how things stood between Sabina and Flavian. “How does a certain lady feel about Lord Lusty Breeches’ role in all of this?”
Perita lowered her voice. “Those two are more star-crossed than you and your Hesperine ever were. I don’t know what to do with them. But I dare say you and I can sort out the mess.”
Cassia breathed a sigh of relief. For the first time since seeing Flavian again, she felt real hope. “If anyone can, it’s you and I. But it won’t be easy. I’m afraid I’m still very much betrothed.”
“I know,” Perita said darkly.
“Might you have any information that could help get me out of it?”
“Hmm. Give me some time to think. Lady Sabina may have let slip a few things that could be useful. If you think I have irreverent names for people, you should hear what she says about Lord Lusty Breeches when no one but Miranda and I are listening.”
Cassia stifled a laugh. “I don’t blame her for being furious at him. Do you think she still wants to continue their affair?”
“If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have a reason to be angry.”
“What do you suppose her ideal outcome would be?” Cassia asked.
Perita sighed. “I’m not sure she and that idiot even know. They’re trying to make the best of what they can manage.”
“Well, I can do better than that.”
“Oh, my lady, you have that look in your eye. How can I help?”
“Don’t you think Lady Sabina’s talents would be better put to use at the Full Council than here in Lord Hadrian’s camp?”
“Oh, no doubt. May I make a suggestion, my lady?”
“You never have to ask, my friend. I love your suggestions.”
“In that case, I think the first step is reminding her you’re on her side. Just as you did the night of the Autumn Greeting, when you told her you didn’t mind your husband-to-be dropping his breeches for her instead.”
“That I can certainly do.” Cassia touched her friend’s arm. “I want you with me at Patria too, where the Hesperines can protect you and your family.”
