“Are you sure you’re well enough for all this fuss, Princess?” the viscount said. “I thought perhaps you would be recovering from your ordeal. No one would blame you for being discomposed by a near-death experience.”
Theo turned his head, captured in spite of himself. Princess Elowen flushed again under his scrutiny, her expression making him think she would have preferred him not to hear about whatever ordeal Lord Bertrand had referenced.
“Lord Bertrand exaggerates, Prince Theodore,” she said with a light smile. “I suffered a mishap earlier today, but I’m neither injured nor discomposed.”
“No exaggeration is required,” Lord Bertrand contradicted her. “My dear princess, you threw yourself under a falling building.”
“I did no such thing.” The princess looked increasingly irritated. The brazenness of the viscount in smiling fondly on her annoyance made Theo’s heart sink further. How close was their relationship that Lord Bertrand teased her so openly? She drew a deep breath, turning to Theo again. “I came too close to a collapsing building, but not by design. Naturally I didn’t wish to be crushed.”
“Naturally,” Theo agreed, his tone reassuring. “I’m glad you’re unharmed.”
“Of course you didn’t wish to be crushed,” the viscount said, as if Theo hadn’t spoken. He leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Only a fool would listen to the idle gossip of the servants who are claiming you hoped for injury so as to avoid…unpleasant responsibilities.”
With the last word, his eyes flicked to Theo, who felt himself stiffening.
“Bertrand.” The pained murmur came from Lady Sophia, but her brother didn’t seem much chastened.
Before Theo had decided how to respond to the startlingly bold attack, the duke pulled his attention from his conversation with the king to look at his son. He said nothing, but under his slight frown, Lord Bertrand leaned back in his chair, his words ceasing as he idly lifted his wine glass.
Prince Patrick had also become aware of their conversation. His eyes darted over Princess Elowen’s strained demeanor and Theo’s stiff silence, and a small crease appeared between his brows.
“Forgive my distraction,” he said lightly. “What are we speaking of?”
“Lord Bertrand was telling me of the princess’s unfortunate accident earlier today,” Theo said blandly.
A brief flash of annoyance crossed Prince Patrick’s face, suggesting he also would have preferred the incident not to be mentioned.
“Fortunately no one was harmed,” the prince said tightly. “The building had just been condemned, but we were clearly too slow in acting on its deterioration.”
“I’m simply glad I happened to be present to intervene on the princess’s behalf,” Lord Bertrand said, inclining his head in apparent deference to Princess Elowen.
“Indeed, Princess,” interjected the duke. “As regrettable as the incident was, I was very pleased to hear our family was able to assist in your protection as well as Sophia’s.”
His eyes flicked to his daughter, a hint of anxiety visible. Theo concluded that the young noblewoman had also been placed in danger.
Princess Elowen’s face gave little away. “Thank you, Your Grace,” she said. “It was indeed fortunate that your servant was there, and able to use his considerable skill in magic craft to protect Sophia and myself.” She glanced at the servants lining the wall behind the table, frowning slightly. “Where is Simeon, incidentally?”
Theo followed her gaze, but none of the servants seemed to catch her attention.
“I’m not sure.” Lord Bertrand didn’t bother looking around.
“What do you mean, you’re not sure?” Lady Sophia frowned at her brother, showing the first sign of animation Theo had seen from her.
Lord Bertrand shrugged. “He disappeared after we returned from the watchtower, and when I called for him to accompany me to dinner tonight, he was nowhere to be found.”
Theo didn’t miss the look that passed between Princess Elowen and her friend, neither woman looking pleased with this information. Who exactly was this Simeon?
“Irregular behavior, to be certain,” said Prince Patrick with the air of one wishing to close the conversation. “But I daresay he can be forgiven the need to rest after his exertions today.”
“He wouldn’t go to rest without alerting you,” Lady Sophia interjected, apparently not ready to let the matter drop.
Lord Bertrand just shrugged again, but the young man to Lady Sophia’s other side leaned forward.
“Are you talking about your manservant, Bertrand? He left Toledda.”
“What do you mean?” Lady Sophia demanded.
“I saw him riding out the northern gate when I was arriving a couple of hours ago,” the newcomer said. “He was hard to miss, because he was covered in ash, or something. Very disheveled, he looked.”
