‘If you don’t answer in ten seconds, I’m coming in.’
I scrambled to my feet, hastily pulling the robe I’d found the night before over my nightdress.As I tightened the belt, the door opened, revealing a woman maybe five years my senior, her light hair pinned carelessly away from her face.Her clothes were simple but well made.Although her apron was damp from a recent failed attempt at scrubbing out a fresh stain, the fabric was otherwise white and crisp like no whites I’d ever owned.She held a tray in one hand, which was teetering dangerously to one side.
‘So you are awake.’She frowned.‘Why didn’t you answer?’
I didn’t know what to say.Who was this woman?Another prisoner like me, or was she here willingly?‘Sorry, who are you?’
‘Raleigh’s housekeeper,’ the woman said, not at all like a housekeeper.‘Moira.’
‘I didn’t think the prince had a housekeeper.’
‘Why wouldn’t he?’
I searched for an answer that wouldn’t offend, and when I took too long to answer, Moira bristled.
‘It’s only me,’ she snapped.‘And it’s a huge castle.I don’t have time to dust every bloody surface on top of looking after His Serene Uselessness.’
‘Bylook afterhim, do you mean …’ I trailed off, unsure what horrors this poor woman must have to endure.
‘This and that,’ she said evasively.‘Personal grooming, mostly.He’s awfully vain for someone with no …’ The final word escaped her.
‘Reflection?’I offered.
Moira exhaled, visibly relaxing.‘You already know, then?’
‘Is there anyone who doesn’t?’
She snorted, then bustled past me, glass crunching underfoot, and set her tray on the table.
‘Christ.’Her eyes fell upon my discarded stake.‘You really tried to kill him, then?I thought he made that up.’
‘What would you have done?’
‘I’ve been here for thirteen years.Believe me, if I wanted him dead he’d be dead.’
Thirteen years.She must have come here shortly after Orlfen finished constructing Raleigh’s dam.
‘But if I really wanted to kill him, I’d open the shutters in his bedroom while he’s sleeping.’My face must have given me away, because Moira continued.‘Don’t get any ideas, Theseus.You’d die in the labyrinth before you reached him.’
I didn’t know many housemaids who could call upon mythology so readily.‘It doesn’t matter anyway,’ I said.‘I won’t leave this room again until he grants me my freedom.’
Moira pinched the bridge of her nose.‘I won’t keep delivering food to you.I have enough to do as it is.’
‘Then I’ll starve,’ I said, jutting my chin out to emphasise a resolve we both knew I didn’t have.
‘And what will that achieve?’When I didn’t reply quickly enough, she continued.‘No, really, what will that achieve?You’re welcome to torture yourself as much as you like, but Raleigh is just going to find another wife if you die.’
My stomach plunged at her words.She was right of course.For whatever reason, Raleigh wanted a bride.My death wouldn’t martyr me; it would only doom another to take my place.No matter what, I couldn’t force that on anyone else.‘I didn’t think …’
‘Clearly.Go on, eat.’Moira picked up the tray again and forced it into my hands, sloshing the contents of the jug over the side.‘Eat over there.I’m going to see what I can do about this mess you’ve made.’
I did as she asked and kept out of the way as she untied her apron and laid it on the ground to start gathering glass.As she worked, I cut into the cheese, marvelling at how smoothly the knife passed through it.The inside was gooey, almost liquid, and spread on the bread like thick butter.‘This is a beautiful knife,’ I said, keeping my tone casual.It wasn’t a lie.The Rostenburg crest was carved into the base.The detailing on the leaves was so intricate it could only have been forged by an expert hand.‘Is it silver?’
‘We don’t keep silver in the castle.For obvious reasons,’ Moira said without looking up.‘Well, with some exceptions.’She fished out a hidden pendant from within her bodice.It was a simple cross, pierced through the middle by a lonely ruby.
‘You don’t trust him?’
‘There’s a difference between trust and pragmatism.Raleigh’s kind need to feed regularly, otherwise they’ll lose control of themselves.It hasn’t happened yet, but it’s always better to be safe.’She stood up and brushed down her skirts, then noticed my expression.‘Don’t worry.There’s no danger of him starving anytime soon.’
