‘And she is fertile,’ Thomas added, despite having no proof of the fact.
Candace smiled. ‘And compassionate. A true queen.’
Thomas cast a stern look at Lyndal. ‘Compassionate when appropriate, mind.’
She wondered what he deemed inappropriate compassion.
‘It is likely she will simply wish to meet you,’ Thomas continued. ‘Then you will be free to help in the kitchen or assist Lady Kendra if she should need you throughout the evening.’ He adjusted the reins. ‘It will benefit you all to show your cousin in the best possible light.’
Lyndal forced a smile. Anything to end the conversation. She needed him gone before the boar went rogue again. ‘We would all love to see Lady Kendra with a crown on that clever head of hers.’
He nodded. ‘And be sure to mention her charitable nature. She has, after all, taken her half-merchant cousin under her wing.’
Candace looked down at the ground. ‘I suppose the occasional visit might be seen as charitable.’
‘Shall we withhold food until tomorrow?’ Blake asked. ‘To give my sister that slightly starved look one expects from a merchant?’
Thomas levelled her with a disapproving look. ‘Did your mother never teach you how unbecoming sarcasm is on a lady?’
Blake adjusted her grip on the rope as the boar pulled once more. ‘She has certainly tried, my lord.’
Thomas shook his head. ‘I will send for Lyndal in the afternoon. My daughter will find something appropriate for her to wear.’
Candace bristled. ‘Lyndal has plenty of fine dresses, my lord.’
His gaze drifted to Eda. ‘And you. Are you speaking yet?’
Eda did not even shake her head. She liked to infuriate him by playing deaf as well as mute.
Lyndal spoke up on her behalf. ‘Not yet, my lord, but I assure you we’re all working towards the same mutual goal.’
Thomas all but sneered as he turned his horse, then cantered away without so much as a goodbye.
Only when he exited the gate did Lyndal turn to her sisters. ‘With the Toryn princess out of the way, every noble man with a daughter will be parading their offspring before the king now. You watch.’
‘We cannot blame your uncle for being among them,’ Candace said. ‘Kendra is a very competent young woman.
‘With no understanding of the world outside her borough,’ Blake said. ‘I love her dearly, but she’s a little out of touch for the role.’
‘Can you imagine if Uncle succeeded?’ Lyndal said. ‘He’ll be even more unbearable with that kind of power behind him.’
Candace brought her hand to her forehead. ‘Let us not get ahead of ourselves.’
The boar thrashed and pulled Eda in the other direction once more. Lyndal and Blake both grabbed for the rope.
‘Let’s focus on getting the boar in the pen today,’ Lyndal said. ‘And rebuilding the pen when she breaks it apart,’ she added quietly.
Blake shooed her sister out of the way. ‘And catching her when she escapes?’
Eda smiled.Then you’ll need to wash the debris, mud, and pig shit off you before you meet the queen mother.
‘Language,’ Candace said, tutting.
I didn’t say a word, Eda signed before dragging the boar away.
Chapter 3
Astin stood at the king’s side, watching the disgruntled merchants gathered in the square before them. He studied their hands, expressions, distribution of weight, all while taking mental notes of the weapons concealed beneath oversized clothes—clothes that had likely fit once upon a time.
