“But he has sixteen dogs. And he lets them sleep in his bed,” Charlotte wrinkles her nose. “I like dogs, but that’s too many.”
“At least you can demand your own room in an estate of his size,” Genevieve suggests.
The ladies chatter about the earl for a bit, but Antonia doesn’t say a word. I catch her eye and whisper, “Everything alright?”
She sighs, then sets her silverware down loudly enough that everyone turns to her. “I can’t be the only one who’s heard the rumors?”
“What rumors?” Charlotte asks.
“About his previous wives?” she clarifies.
“I didn’t even know he’d been married. I suppose it makes sense, he is old,” Genevieve says.
“He’s had seven wives.” Antonia looks at all of us.
My eyes widen. “Seven?”
Antonia nods. “All died mysteriously.”
“Why would the emperor agree to let him wed his niece then?” Katherine asks.
“Because he has ties to the mines in the Shatterlands,” Antonia says.
“I thought it was illegal to bring in any of the minerals,” I say.
“It is. But do you think the emperor or his inner circle follow those rules?” She waves her hand.
“How did they die?” Genevieve asks. “His wives?”
“Two while with child. Rumors were that he beat them.” Antonia shudders. “Two while traveling by ship. They just simply didn’t arrive back in Pendralia.”
“The others?” Charlotte asks.
“One was said to have killed herself,” Antonia says. “The last two, nobody knows. He just returned to court in need of another wife.”
“We can’t let Juliette marry him,” I say. “What would prevent a marriage like that from happening?”
“I’m not sure you can stop it. I think her best bet might be to ask to live apart from him. Convince him that she will be his bargaining chip when he needs one. Perhaps her status will appease him enough that he keeps her.”
“What if he had an accident?” Charlotte asks.
“Before or after the wedding?” Antonia asks.
Charlotte shrugs. “Either.”
“Then I suppose she’d be free,” Antonia says.
“You can’t talk like that,” Genevieve warns. “Women have been hanged for less.”
My mind wanders to the garden in the tunnels. All those poisons. Maybe I should show Juliette.
No. What am I thinking? It’s getting harder to remind myself I’m not here to make friends. But maybe it wouldn’t hurt if I gave her the books the late empress left behind.
“Maybe you can talk to Prince Caiden?” Charlotte asks me. “Maybe you can ask for a favor or convince him to end the engagement?”
“That’s a great idea. I’ll do that.” Caiden seems to like me. It’s possible he’d help. Even if this isn’t real, I don’t want Juliette in danger. It’s not right that she can’t choose how she lives her own life.
Conversation shifts to the marketplace. The ladies talk about what they want to purchase or eat and the things they want to see.
