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His gaze darted to the timepiece on the wall over my desk. “The tournament begins at noon. Dress and prepare yourself. I have no doubt someone will be coming to fetch you. In the meantime, I have much to do.” He rose from the bed. “Do not lose hope for your friend. I’ve a trick or two up my sleeve yet, Niece. In the meantime, you have at least one cause for rejoicing. Your youngest brother returns today.”
I was out of the bed in a flash, nightclothes and all. “Kaye? When? How do you know?”
He grinned at me, and suddenly, I saw the youth inside the old man. He tapped his nose, winked, and then stepped into the passageway he had left open behind him.
I stared at the bookshelves. My uncle was very sure of himself. But I was equally sure there was one thing he didn’t know. At least, not yet.
Rising, I dressed quickly. I had a visit to the queen to pay.
Orcades was in themidst of dressing for the tournament when I arrived. The guard had announced me, and thankfully, my sister did not turn me away as my brother had the night before.
Clothes were scattered all over the luxurious bed chamber. Silks on one chair. Bright brocades on another. Satins spilled all over the floor. And Orcades stepped over them as if they were litter on a path.
Of course, purple ruled triumphant. Though I did spot a few pieces in a rose pink and one fluffy, silvery concoction that had been tossed over the chaise.
“Dressing for the tournament?” I asked pointedly. “I suppose, for you, it’s simply another fashion display.”
She eyed me with amusement. “Have you come here to criticize me? Few would dare be so bold.”
“Few are your sister,” I retorted. “But no, that’s not why I’ve come.”
“Good.” She selected a dark plum satin undergown with gold laces at the back and, peeling out of her robe, slipped into it, groaning slightly as she did so. “Come lace me up.”
I rolled my eyes but did as she asked. “Is this what sisters do? Help to dress one another?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Don’t you have more than just me?”
“We have many sisters and brothers,” she said. It was strange to think of. “But no, we did not dress one another. It was never like that.”
I wasn’t sure how tightly to do the laces considering her condition. Eyeing her protruding stomach, I gave a careful but gentle tug on the laces one last time, somehow knowing if I hadn’t, she would have demanded I tie them even tighter. Then I started to tie a knot at the bottom of the fastenings.
“I suppose it is rather sweet,” she conceded. “Having a sister to help rather than a maid, I mean.”
“I’m better company than your maid? How very flattering.”
She shrugged. “My maids are all frightened of me. You are not.”
I laughed. “Oh, Orcades. Is that what makes a sister?”
“A good one, perhaps.”
I was startled at the compliment. “None of our other sisters are... nice, then?”
“Most are dead.”
“Oh.”
“I rarely saw the others. Sarrasine sometimes. I was always fond of Tempest. No one has seen her in years though.”
“A strange family,” I observed.
She snorted. “You would know.”
“Will you be wearing anything besides this?” I asked, stepping back as I finished and eyeing the very clingy ensemble.
“The violet tulle will do nicely, I think, overtop.” She crossed over to the bed and picked up a cloud-like skirt with many layers of gauze. “Help me step into it, will you?” She leaned against the bedpost, a look of pain crossing her face, and groaned. “I cannot wait until this is over.”
