‘Oh, she has plenty of dresses,’ Candace said, picking up her knife and fork. ‘She simply chooses not to wear them.’
‘She has been wearing Kingsley’s old clothes of late,’ Lyndal whispered to Kendra. ‘Mother is beside herself.’
Kendra stopped eating. ‘Men’s clothing?’ She had not whispered.
Eda only shrugged and said, ‘Trousers are more practical for hunting and chores.’
Thomas flicked his napkin—hard—and settled it on his lap. ‘Let us not turn your guest off before we have even begun eating.’
‘I’m not turned off, my lord,’ Leigh said.
That made everyone else at the table smile—except Roul. Eda’s face also remained neutral as she reached for a tray of food.
Blake cleared her throat. ‘I spent the afternoon with Birtle today. I worry about him being in that shop all alone. He’s struggling to lift the reams of fabric nowadays.’
Thomas finished chewing his food, then replied, ‘If he is no longer able to do the work, then he is no longer able to live there for free.’
‘We wouldn’t be able to keep the shop open without his help, Uncle,’ Blake replied. ‘If anything, we’re in his debt.’
Thomas ignored her.
‘We heard rumours that Prince Becket was spotted disembarking a ship in Gwynedd,’ Lyndal said, looking to Harlan. ‘Is it true?’
Harlan nodded, finishing his food before speaking. ‘Harlech Castle, to be precise.’
‘Seems the English got to him first,’ Astin said. ‘Good luck bringing him home now.’
Candace brought a napkin to her mouth. ‘This is the closest he has been to home in some time.’
Eda had stopped eating. ‘I don’t understand why he’s at Harlech Castle. Was he taken there at arrow point?’
It always amused Roul how similarly their minds worked at times.
‘My sources tell me the prince is aguestthere,’ Thomas said. He liked to point out that he had sources outside the walls.
‘So how are we supposed to get to him now?’ Blake asked.
Roul cut into his pork. ‘We don’t. Queen Fayre can’t leave the safety of Chadora’s walls. If anything were to happen to her, we would have no one to rule. And we can hardly send an army in her place.’
Kendra sighed. ‘I remember Prince Becket. Such a sweet boy. He will likely hand the kingdom to King Edward with his best wishes.’
‘Can Queen Fayre not send one of her advisors in her place?’ Lady Victoria asked, looking to her husband.
Thomas swallowed his food. ‘The prince must be prepared to accept the visitors sent his way.’
‘I can’t imagine King Edward will be receiving any other Chadorian guests at court any time soon,’ Lyndal replied. She was trying to entice Luella to come to her with a piece of parsnip.
Eda was spinning her fork along her fingers, listening. The sound of her uncle clearing his throat made her stop.
‘What’s to stop King Edward from simply executing him and taking control of our kingdom?’ Leigh asked, joining the conversation.
‘King Edward’s not the concern,’ Harlan replied. ‘It’s his mother and her… companion who control England right now.’
‘Lord Roger Mortimer,’ Astin said on a long exhale.
Kendra touched her napkin to her lips. ‘Why King Edward would relinquish control to those two I have no idea. I keep hearing how he is a better king than his father, but he is yet to prove it.’
Blake nodded in agreement. ‘If he’s old enough to marry, he’s old enough to rule, surely.’
