‘Your older sister married Commander Wright, is that correct?’ Fayre asked.
Lyndal nodded. ‘Yes. I’m afraid he got stuck with the entire litter.’
The queen’s sharp eyes never left her. ‘And yet you return to the merchant borough daily.’
‘My family still has a shop there.’
Fayre nodded. ‘But you do not go for the shop.’
Lyndal looked around at the people staring at her, Astin among them. ‘I’m in a fortunate position. I can help those who are struggling by cooking a meal, running errands, or simply caring for an infant whose mother is ill. Very small things.’
‘Small acts add up,’ Fayre said.
Thomas cleared his throat. ‘My daughter has played a vital role in teaching Lyndal the ways of a lady.’
Astin scraped his teeth over his bottom lip. He was fairly certain Kendra had not been to the merchant borough since the Suttone women moved out of there.
Nodding in agreement, Lyndal said, ‘Lady Kendra is a fine example of what a lady ought to be. Though hopefully we can learn from each other.’
Borin smirked. ‘And what is it you think a lady can learn from a merchant?’
Lyndal met his gaze. ‘How to make one carrot stretch across six meals.’
It was meant as a joke, but there was no humour in her eyes.
‘Join us for dinner,’ the queen mother said, her eyes shining with something Astin could not identify.
Thomas twitched in irritation. ‘I believe Lyndal was going to help out in the kitchen. A merchant cannot have too many skills nowadays.’
The queen mother looked at Thomas. ‘I think your niece has enough skills, and I would certainly enjoy her company.’
Lady Victoria placed a hand on her husband’s arm. ‘Let her join us.’
‘Fine.’ Thomas gestured abruptly to the dining room. ‘This way.’
‘There really are no limits to my mother’s charitable nature,’ Borin said to Thomas as he followed him into the next room.
Astin stopped in front of Lyndal. ‘As the king’s guard, do I need to watch you with the cutlery this evening?’
Lyndal stared up at him. ‘I’m honestly surprised you didn’t immediately deem me a threat and haul me away.’
He leaned in, voice low. ‘I thought I’d be nice and let you eat first.’
She tilted her head. ‘The chivalry really never ends with you, does it?’
‘It really doesn’t.’
The hostility present during their early encounters had evolved into a squabbling siblings type of relationship. It was fun—some of the time.
Lyndal still had not moved. Seeing her hesitation, he said, ‘Half merchant, half nobility. You’re the perfect muse. Don’t worry, the queen mother will forget all about you by tomorrow.’
Lyndal rolled her eyes before walking ahead of him into the dining room.
‘Kendra also speaks Latin and French,’ Thomas said, pushing his half-eaten meal away.
Lyndal stared across the table at it. There was still pork on the bone. If she could get to the kitchen in time, she could take the bones home with her. She would boil them up in a large pot of broth at the shop, encouraging families to come by and take some for soups and stews.
Her eyes moved from plate to plate, calculating.
