His gaze heated. “I am yours to command.”
She glanced away, embarrassed at her momentary show of weakness. She hurried to one of the sofas. Graham joined her.
The rest of the siblings quickly took seats as well.
Elizabeth curled her hands over the handle of her cane and rested her chin atop it. “What is your mission? Does it involve bloodshed?”
“Not at this time. I am to join the Balcovian Royal Guard like my ancestors before me. My elder brothers are also Guardsmen, here to scout potential security concerns for an upcoming royal visit.”
Graham straightened, his eyes sparkling as though she’d just confirmed some long-held wish.
Elizabeth wiggled the handle of her sword stick. “Balcovia has Royal Guardswomen? But that’s lovely!”
Kuni winced. “I would be the first. A new crop of soldiers will be inducted into the training regiment at the end of this summer’s annual competition. For me to be considered a viable candidate, the report I present to the king must be undeniably superior to my brothers’. If I can best them, I will earn the chance to compete against the other hopefuls in the combat trials.”
“Well, that’s simple enough,” said Tommy. “If you need information about London, you’re sitting next to the person most likely to have it.”
Graham tensed, then nodded.
“And if you need something that’s not on those shelves,” Jacob added, “Graham can have the answer for you before suppertime.”
The other siblings voiced their agreement.
Kuni stared at them. Not one of the Wynchesters had so much as blinked when she’d mentioned competing against men in combat trials.
Floris and Reinald had laughed themselves silly at the idea—despite Kuni regularly trouncing young men whowereeligible to compete. Yet all six Wynchesters appeared to accept that Kuni’s fighting and defensive talents were the equal of her competition’s. The only question was compiling the report.
Their unexpected, absolute faith in her skills and worthiness was so heady, tears stung her eyes for a horrifying second. Kuni was forced to avert her gaze and blink to collect herself.
She straightened her spine. “Thank you, but no. The point of the mission is to provemyselfworthy, not to pass off someone else’s efforts as my own.”
“I respect that,” Philippa said.
“Although Graham wouldn’t mind,” Tommy added. “It’s not stealing if you have permission.”
“Not that I think you need help,” Graham said. “The guards they sent are clearly amateurs. I wouldn’t even have known to look for you if it weren’t for their inadequately coded communications. I’ve no doubt you can easily outmaneuver your competition.”
“Thank you. No one in the Royal Guard considers me worthy of a chance. Not because I lack any of the necessary skills, but because I lack a…That is, because of my gender.”
Sounds of outrage and commiseration came from every woman in the room.
“It’s not that I don’t appreciate the sentiment,” Kuni explained. “It’s that I cannot accept any help. I must remain above reproach at all times in order to avoid accusations of being unworthy later. Idle rumors claiming I was unable to perform my duty without outside assistance will sink any possibility of me being chosen for the post.”
“Either way,” said Elizabeth, “I recommend running naysayers through with the closest sword.”
“I will get that chance,” Kuni said with a chuckle. “When I win the competition…” And shewouldsucceed. Her father had believed in her. Soon the king would too. “I will be the first Royal Guardswoman.”
The first, but not the last. Once other young women saw Kuni in uniform, they’d know that they, too, deserved an opportunity to prove themselves capable of anything they wished to achieve.
“I had hoped it was different in Balcovia,” Elizabeth said wistfully. “One place on earth where women were considered more than useless decorations.”
“You would be a dreadful guard,” Tommy informed her. “I have never seen you stand still for longer than a minute.”
“There’s very little ‘standing still’ in active military,” Elizabeth replied dreamily. “Just think if I’d been at Waterloo. I’d have a statue erected in my honor.”
Kuni touched the spot above her heart where she kept her father’s epaulet. She could not erect a statue in his honor, but she would become the respected soldier he’d always believed her capable of being.
From that moment on, the de Heuschwomenwould be a full part of the family legacy, too.
