“Thank you so much for attending,” she said, extending her hand to them in turn.
“The pleasure of your company is always a ray of sunshine, Highness,” Seregil said, gesturing at the rain-lashed windows overlooking the queen’s garden. “And what better day for sunshine?”
Elani laughed. “I hope you’ll allow me to try my bakshi skills against yours again. I have been practicing.”
“I’m at your disposal. Alec is a good hand at the gaming table, as well.”
“Then I’ll test your mettle at the stones, too, Lord Alec.”
Just then her mother called out for the princess and Elani let out a small sigh, muttering, “Oh, what now?”
Seregil smothered a grin; for a moment she was just an ordinary young girl, chafing at her mother’s demands.
“If you’ll excuse me?” she said. “And don’t forget, I want a game with both of you!”
Seregil and Alec bowed and she went to join her mother. As Seregil watched, Aralain introduced her daughter to a Lord Orin-the handsome son of Marquis Roleus-whom Seregil had gambled against a few times when the young lord was out carousing with his friends. He was also a member of Sarien’s regiment, and wore his uniform and commander’s gorget with style.
“Danos may have more serious competition than you, Alec.” Seregil chuckled softly, watching Elani blushing under the young man’s attentions. “I wonder if this signals a chilling of affection for Danos?”
“Do you think Elani knows about what happened?” murmured Alec.
“I think Korathan would have mentioned it if she did. No, soldiers at the front die on a regular basis, even officers; perhaps
dear Mama is simply hedging her bets, anxious to get Elani married off and producing heirs. If you get a chance today, sound her out on her feelings for Danos. I’ll do the same. But be discreet.”
Alec snorted softly at that.
Reltheus came over with Kyrin. “Kyrin, these are the friends I was telling you about. My lords, may I present Marquis Kyrin, a dear friend of mine.”
“My lord,” Seregil replied with a sweeping bow.
“Ah, the infamous Lord Seregil,” Kyrin said, looking him up and down with questionable approval. “And this must be young Lord Alec.”
Alec bowed. “Pleased to meet you, my lord.”
“Reltheus tells me you two have become fixtures here at court.”
“I’d hardly say that, though Princess Elani has honored us with a few invitations,” Seregil replied.
“Archery, isn’t it?”
“Alec’s forte, not mine,” Seregil said. “Have you known Her Highness long?”
“Since she was born,” Kyrin replied, sounding mildly offended that Seregil did not know that.
“It was Kyrin who suggested the hunt at my estate last winter,” Reltheus told them.
“Where Princess Elani met the handsome young Danos, I believe,” Seregil replied with a knowing grin. “At least that’s what I hear among the gossips.”
“Yes, indeed.” Reltheus clapped Kyrin on the shoulder.
Which of you gave the word to kill Klia?wondered Seregil. It was interesting to see the two men together like this; the friendship between them appeared genuine, rather than coerced through blackmail. Reltheus might be a better dissembler than Seregil had assumed. That, or he didn’t know that Kyrin had the letter. Perhaps it was being held in reserve, in case the duke needed a little extra encouragement at some point?
“It must be difficult for her, with him off at war,” said Alec, glancing Elani’s way; she was still talking with Commander Orin.
“Oh, yes.” Reltheus noticed the pair, and the hint of a frown threatened. “Yes, indeed. Excuse me, gentlemen.”
He and Kyrin drifted away to Elani’s side of the room and soon captured the conversation.
“Determined, aren’t they?” noted Alec.
“I wonder if Elani is as taken with Danos as they’d like?” Seregil replied softly, taking in the look of annoyance Orin was giving the duke. “And even though Danos was proven innocent by a truth knower, having his aide turn out to be a spy right under his nose may tarnish his luster at court.”
As the rain continued, everyone was called upon for a song or story to pass the time, then gaming tables were brought in and most of them settled down to play. Seregil found himself paired with the supercilious count who’d insulted him during the island picnic trip. Everyone played for wagers, and Seregil soon made quite a bit of money. Tolin paid up in a huff and left the table, making way for a pretty lady-in-waiting who was far friendlier, and a bit flirtatious.
Meanwhile, Alec and Elani had retreated to a corner and were playing some card game on a small table, heads together and chatting.
“You’re far too good at this to be a proper courtier!” Elani teased as Alec claimed another trick and discarded his last card.
“Will I be banished?” he asked, smiling.
“No, not if you’ll play another round with me.”
“Oh, dear. I suppose I must, then. Same again?”
She nodded and he dealt the cards. As they each gathered and sorted their hand, Alec said, “That Orin is a handsome fellow, in his uniform and all.”
“Shame on you, Lord Alec, looking at other men!”
“One can at least look, don’t you think? You seemed quite charmed by him.”
She rolled her eyes at that, reminding him very much of Illia Cavish. “Mama is charmed. I’m polite.”
“Then Captain Danos has little to worry about?”
She blushed prettily as she went back to sorting her cards. “I suppose it’s common knowledge that I-like him?”
“I’m afraid so.” Alec chuckled, glad that she seemed at ease talking about it with him. “You met hunting, or so I heard.”
“On dear Duke Reltheus’s estate near Tyborn Mountain. We out-rode the hounds and speared a boar together.” She lifted her chin proudly as she exclaimed softly, “ Hedoesn’t treat me like a child. And he’s a wonderful archer, nearly as good as you are. And he’s a poet and an artist! He sends me poems, and the most amusing letters with funny little drawings in the margins.”
“He sounds like quite the suitor.”
She blushed again. “Yes, he is.”
“I certainly look forward to meeting him when he returns to the city. Only a few more months to wait, eh?”
“You make it sound like tomorrow. Have you ever had to wait for Lord Seregil?”
“A few times, yes-” In cages and cells, sometimes. “Though not as long as you have for Danos. But you must think him worth the wait, if you haven’t encouraged any other suitors. There must be others.”
“Oh, yes. Mostly Mama’s choices, and some I’ve met at balls and salons.” She looked up with a secret smile. “But none I like so much as Danos.”
Knowing what he did, the girlish confidence almost broke Alec’s heart.
After a few games Seregil excused himself and went to one of the diamond-paned terrace doors, pretending to look out over the rain-soaked garden as he studied the crowd behind him reflected in the glass. Across the room Alec had been pressed to sing, accompanied by one of the ladies.
The handsome commander was talking with Elani again, but the watchful Reltheus was nowhere to be seen. The door at the back of the room stood slightly ajar. It was an easy matter to wander over to the bookshelves and have a peek.
A paneled corridor lay beyond, and then the princess’s private rooms behind another ornate door. Several other doors let onto the corridor-the rooms of the princess’s ladies and workrooms of various functionaries, no doubt.
Seregil heard men talking in low voices, one of them recognizable as Reltheus. He waited until no one was looking and slipped through the door into the corridor.
The voices were coming from a half-open doorway on the left. Seregil crept silently closer, until he could peer through the crack between the door and frame.