“What is wrong with you?” her sister demanded in a whisper. At least the performers didn’t seem to have noticed.
“It’s alullaby,” Aria protested weakly.
“Do you also drop into slumber in the mere presence of a pillow?”
Heat spread not only through Aria’s cheeks but through her ears and neck, hardly the demure blush of a princess. How long before everyone thought her incompetent, unable to perform the simplest of duties? How long before she trulywouldbe unable to perform the simplest of duties? She’d chosen a suitor, but if she returned to Upper Court meetings only to sleep through them ...
Kendall smiled as he continued to play his never-ending lullaby, gently caressing the harpsichord keys with long, thin fingers. Aria had the very unkind thought to break them off one by one, for which she gave herselftwomarks.
She swirled her ankles, hidden beneath the length of her gown. She dug her thumbnail into her opposite palm with such force she felt the bone beneath. She imagined a full retinue of tiny sailors perched on her head, harpooning her eyelids and dragging back with all their might to hold them open, shouting encouragements to the entire crew.Come on, lads, just a little longer! Hold!
Kendall finished with a lingering three-note rise, and beforethe final note faded, Aria lurched to her feet, applauding with force not because he deserved it but becauseshedid.
He grinned, clearly pleased with her reaction. “Your Highness, I’m fla—”
“A marvelous gift!” she declared over the top of him. “Simply stunning. Lord Kendall, I cannot wait to see your further talents in action. Let us make our courtship official.”
His chicken elbows flapped around in shock, and she took that as agreement.
“Wonderful! You can discuss it with my mother.” How kind of the queen to be so helpfully available. “I am overwhelmed by the performance. I shall return.”
She fled the room, not caring how it might look. It would look worse to simply collapse across the floor.
Which was exactly what she did upon reaching the washroom. The instant she bolted the door, Aria slumped to the ground. The fur rug beneath her seemed to be the softest bed invented.
Failure. Mark.
It was not precisely a mistake, more a state of being, one she had been unable to escape for nearly a month. What would her father have said, witnessing the heir to his kingdom abandoning her duty and succumbing to such a little obstacle asfatigue?
Through his political union with Queen Marian, her father had secured resources from Patriamere and revitalized all of Loegria after famine. By contrast, after finding decisions too difficult, Aria had chosen an eligible name at random and landed herself with Lord Kendall.
While she had always tried so hard to mirror her father’s effectiveness, she found herself instead modeling her mother’s laxness. In the same way her mother chased music with single-minded devotion, even to the point of ignoring her family, Aria now abandoned everything in pursuit of rest.
Perhaps it was better she not take the throne; she would only fall asleep on it.
Somewhere near the half hour mark, Aria’s senses betrayed her, screaming danger where there was none, shoving her to her feet and leaving her disoriented. When she exited the washroom, she plowed right into Jenny.
“Oh!” the smaller girl squeaked. Recovering, she hurriedly gave a formal bow. “Your Highness, I’ll be off now. With permission.”
Aria had angled herself away in embarrassment. “Of course. You ...” She hesitated. Struggling to focus, she took in Jenny’s clothes—not her usual maid’s uniform. Sturdier. For travel. “You’re going somewhere?”
“We discussed ...” Jenny’s voice faded, as did some of the color in her face.
“It’s not a problem.” Aria tried for a reassuring smile, though it was surely half grimace. She willed her senses to function. “I’ve simply been busy. Tell me again?”
“Harper’s Glade. My mother . . .”
Her mother’s grave. It was the anniversary, wasn’t it?
At once, Aria felt like a heel. “Oh, Jenny. I’m sorry. I meant to arrange a carriage for you. And travel supplies. Do you have money for an inn? I can provide an advance payment on your wages—”
She was rambling, but the corner of Jenny’s lips twitched upward, and that was an encouraging response.
“It’s only past Stonewall,” was all the girl said. She bowed again. “Your Highness.”
“Wait.” Aria’s mind raced for a different reason. “Stonewall, that’s ... near the Reeves estate, isn’t it?”
Jenny blinked. The girl couldn’t be expected to know whereevery lord and lady in the kingdom held their estate. But Aria knew. If only her foggy mind would tell her what it expected her to do with that knowledge.
