“And Quinn,” Winnie added. She crossed her arms. “He’ll recognize her. He accompanied you to that tower, and he grew up in Pontarena.”
That was true. I hadn’t considered him, and he hadn’t questioned the presence of one more woman in the lady’s carriage. I’d told Nicolas of my plans to bring Florence into Castle Altaigne,and he’d approved wholeheartedly. Perhaps he’d already relayed what needed to be said to the viscount.
Winnie sighed, then gestured to the basin. “Go on, then. Thank you for the truth.”
“Can you swear to secrecy?” I asked, removing my chemise and climbing into the copper tub. The miserable chill melted away as I settled in. “Telling you this places a magnificent risk upon me.”
“My love for you far outweighs my aversion for the witch,” Winnie replied, nodding her head. “I am disquieted by the thought of you tampering with the dark arts, but I will not stop you. You must protect yourself, and it’s not as though anyone would train you with a weapon. And, if I was the reason you denied yourself that right, if something happened to you…”
“I know,” I said, filling in the blanks that Winnie could not voice.
“You know fuck-all,” Winnie grumbled, sitting beside the tub to wash my hair. I had to appreciate the irony of how I’d come to allow her to speak in my presence, considering how Winnie had just criticized Florence. “If your witch is to pose as a convincing lady-in-waiting, she must learn to conduct herself accordingly. No one is going to buy it as it stands; she has an air of superiority.”
“Right,” I exhaled, leaning back into the water. “I shall inform her in the morning. First, I must think of how to tell her she’s been demoted.”
How on earth was I supposed to do that? Lightning struck close to the manor, quaking the building’s foundation. I hoped it wasn’t a warning from the Lord of Night, if He truly existed, to know my place around the Hadrian sorceress.
The following days were pleasantly sunny, if much cooler. It had finally occurred to the leaves that autumn was well upon them, and now they fell in colorful blankets to catch up to where they ought to be. Once again, the carriages rode through the village at the bottom of the hill, past manors whose masters were clearer to me now. Out here were the quarters to high court officials and their families, military leaders granted estates for their service, and a few court functionaries like the royal librarian and chief royal architect.
It seemed odd that such figures of importance could sleep beyond the gates at night while men like Percy, devoid of official roles, kept close quarters.
There had been no word from any riders during our brief stay in Pontarena. Percy’s fate was yet unknown, though surely if the man had suddenly perished, someone would have sent a messenger. More likely than not, he’d made a full recovery and was no worse for wear.
Hopefully, he’d fallen for my attempts at healing him. Perhaps he thought me unaware of what he’d done, a pretty little fool with no head for politics. Perhaps, though the chance was slim, he even felt remorse for his actions. How could he have done such a terrible thing to such a kind spirit? It was no wonder the gods sought to punish him with flux!
That felt like wishful thinking, but it was better to have hope than worry myself to death.
In the courtyard, I was the last to exit the carriage. It was late afternoon now, the air crisp and smelling of seasonal decay. I stretched and bid my handmaidens to go on without me, though Winnie and Florence were welcome to stay. The carriage departed for the coach house by the stables, and we took a short walk about the grounds, allowing Florence to get a taste of her new surroundings.
The sorceress shivered constantly, and her Gallaean clothes, borrowed from Winnie’s wardrobe, fit her poorly. As we walked, she tugged at the unfamiliar garments, her skin prickling from both the chill and the rougher cloth against flesh accustomed to silk.
“Worry not, good lady,” I said, no longer allowed to use the termMatire. “It is quite warm inside.”
“Perfect. From freezing to suffocating,” Florence said with narrowed eyes, pausing at the creak of the castle’s gates.
We turned to watch the new arrival come riding in, a small entourage shortly behind. At first, my brow climbed at the sight of a lord I had yet to meet; the stranger rode nearer in a fine wool tailcoat, navy blue and traced with gold braiding. The broad shoulders and slender waist were an unusual stylistic choice, and the short red cape fastened by a brooch with the Callan insignia told me that this was a relative of the royal family. At my side, Winnie bowed.
Only when the rider was very close did I register that this was not a man, but a woman in modified men’s clothes. The severe military cut of the coat, combined with the cap that shadowed her features, had completely disguised her feminine form. Without her makeup and elaborate court dress, she was completely unrecognizable, save for the stolid, unreadable expression that could only belong to Queen Adelaide.
She looked down her nose from atop her bay mare, a compact and muscular creature with a dark, braided mane pulled back from its neck. The two of them were quite the sight, enough to stun the manners from me. Queen Adelaide climbed down from the warmblood, patting her on the side. The mare responded with a shuffle, but once a new handler took hold of the reins, she behaved herself, moving on down the path to the stables. The queen watched her go, then turned to acknowledge her audience.
I remembered myself and bowed, keeping my head low. The queen walked like she might pass us by, but then she stopped.
“I find a certain comfort in the quiet of a hunt,” she said suddenly, and I realized that I was being addressed. I raised my head, lips parting in surprise. “In time, you’ll find your own escapes.”
Too startled to reply, I couldn’t find my words before the queen’s own lady-in-waiting ushered her away. I watched her go, then stomped my foot in frustration.
“The queen must think I’m such a damned fool!” I groaned. “She despises me as it is!”
“I wouldn’t say so,” Winnie disagreed, hooking her arm in mine. “Think of the implications of what she said. I believe she’s come to accept you as more of a permanent fixture around here, and not merely her son’s fleeting fancy.”
“Do you think so?” I asked. “Truly?”
“If she despised you, she wouldn’t have stopped to speak.”
Florence walked at my other side, a quiet accessory as we entered the palace. She looked around, memorizing the route to my chamber, then followed me and Winnie through its doors.
“You were right about it being warmer,” she commented, moving to the mirror. She frowned at what she saw. “I shall need to see about having clothes tailored for me at once.”
