Borin kicked his horse into a trot. ‘Why not find yourself a fresh maid to entertain you for the evening?’
Drawing a calming breath, Astin followed him.
Chapter 4
‘Rubies or emeralds?’ Kendra asked.
Lyndal turned away from the window and faced her cousin, who was holding two necklaces to her collarbone. She wore a cream gown, the bodice embroidered with tiny roses and the neckline and cuffs trimmed with gold fabric.
‘My goodness. All you’re missing is the veil.’
Kendra’s face fell. ‘Is it too much like a wedding gown?’
‘Is that not the point?’ Lyndal asked, walking over and taking the emerald necklace from her cousin’s hand. ‘Definitely the emeralds.’
Kendra turned, assessing her reflection in the long mirror while Lyndal fitted the necklace. ‘I think the point is to be subtle, not throw a bride at him the moment he steps through the front door.’
Lyndal smiled to herself. ‘Well, if King Borin doesn’t immediately propose after seeing you in this dress, then he truly is mad.’ She appeared behind Kendra in the mirror, squeezing her cousin’s arm encouragingly. ‘You look absolutely beautiful.’
Kendra’s hand went over hers. ‘I am pleased you are here. I do hope Father was nice when he extended the invitation.’
‘Don’t worry about me. I can handle dear Uncle Thomas.’ She squeezed her cousin’s arm again before letting go. ‘It’s nice to spend time with my favourite cousin.’
‘Hardly a compliment. I am your only living cousin in Chadora.’ Kendra turned to see herself from the back. ‘I am sorry I have not spent more time with you all over the previous year. Father likes to keep my social life nice and busy, perhaps to get me out from under his feet. And you know how time slips by.’
Lyndal waved the apology away. ‘Never mind that. I’m rarely in the borough anyway.’
‘Yes, Mother keeps me up to date with all your charity work.’
Lyndal scrunched her nose up. Charity was a popular term among the nobility. The ladies loved to appear “charitable” before their peers whilst never actually stepping foot outside their borough.
‘Whatisthe plan exactly?’ Lyndal asked, changing the subject. ‘Am I to sing your praises before the queen and then vanish into the kitchen to help wash dishes?’
Kendra walked over to the wooden stool in front of the dressing table and sat. Picking up the powder, she began dusting her face for the eighteenth time. ‘Father says he will be led by the queen’s wishes. I assured him you are more than capable of carrying polite conversation. He frets you will bring up the almshouse.’
Lyndal played with the ends of her hair. ‘Well, it would be the ideal audience to share some of my ideas.’
‘But not the right time.’ Kendra cast a stern look over her shoulder.
With a heavy sigh, Lyndal replied, ‘Then you better find me a rich husband when you’re queen. One way or the other, I’m getting my almshouse.’
She had been throwing the idea at anyone who would listen. A home in the merchant borough for those with nowhere else to go. The sick and hungry would never die alone on a muddy street again.
Kendra met Lyndal’s eyes in the mirror. ‘I am quite certain all eligible noblemen will overlook your inferior bloodlines if a crown does land upon my head.’
It was not intended as a nasty comment, so Lyndal let it slide past her. It was not her cousin’s fault she was blinded by her own privilege. Her father was Lord Thomas Welche, after all. In fact, Kendra had come out surprisingly well considering the fact.
A knock at the door made them both turn, and a maid entered the room.
‘The king’s just arrived out front, my lady.’
Kendra rose, pinching her powdered cheeks as she faced Lyndal. ‘How do I look?’
A lazy smile appeared on Lyndal’s face. ‘Like a queen.’
Astin dismounted, looking around the neat gardens of Cardelle Manor, then up at the windows above. It was tempting to assume the king was safe within the walls of the nobility borough, but the bodyguard knew there were no safe havens in Chadora for an unpopular king.
Even the farmers were now complaining.
