“Of course, Your Highness.” The cook bowed. “Perhaps we could interest you in something to eat now?”
Elowen was itching to be out of the conversation—the head cook wasn’t someone she could casually question. But she forced her impatience down.
“I would be glad of one of those cheese pastries I’ve always been fond of.”
“I will prepare it with my own hands, Your Highness,” the cook said, bowing low. “Shall I bring it to your suite?”
“I’d rather wait here, if I may,” Elowen said. “It’s so interesting to watch you all work.”
A few of the kitchen staff exchanged looks, and she had sympathy for them. None of them would be able to relax orperform their tasks naturally with her in the room. But she wouldn’t stay longer than necessary. Once the head cook had bustled away, Elowen smiled at the nearest scullery maid.
“Were you working last night?”
“We all were, Your Highness,” the girl said, wiping her forehead with an arm and inadvertently leaving a big streak of flour behind. “It was a big event. It’s kind of you to thank us in person, Your Highness.”
“Oh, the food was wonderful,” Elowen said blithely. Hopefully they wouldn’t ask for more detail because she didn’t think she could remember a single thing she’d eaten. She’d been too full of nerves about the betrothal, then concern at Theo’s demeanor. “The wine also was especially fine, although I confess I didn’t drink any after the ceremonial cup for the betrothal.” She sent the girl a sheepish smile. “I don’t have a very good head for it.”
The maid bobbed a curtsy. “I’m sure I wouldn’t either, Your Highness, if I were ever to imbibe.”
She hurried to knead the dough she was working on, and Elowen concealed a sigh. She wouldn’t get anywhere with this girl. She was too nervous.
“The wine in the ceremonial goblets was a special vintage, Your Highness,” another voice chimed in.
Elowen turned eagerly to see an assistant cook stirring something in a large cauldron.
“Was it? That must be why I noted the flavor particularly,” Elowen said.
The assistant cook nodded. “It was from the border region down south. To symbolize the alliance, of course.”
“Of course,” Elowen agreed politely. She hesitated. “Do you know who poured it?”
The assistant cook looked up, eyebrow raised at the strange question.
“I only ask because I wanted to thank the person,” Elowen hurried on. She lowered her voice. “My goblet was less than half full, which was a relief to me because I wasn’t sure I’d be able to finish it all in one go as required.”
“I’m glad it was to your liking,” the assistant cook said.
“We noticed that the prince didn’t drink all of his,” said a nearby scullery maid, sounding unimpressed.
“Hush.” The assistant cook quelled the maid with a look. “Don’t mind her, Your Highness.”
“It’s all right,” Elowen said. “Prince Theo meant no offense. He didn’t know that aspect of the ceremony.” She frowned, trying to sound naively curious. “I wonder why he was given a full glass and me only half. Who did you say poured it?”
The assistant cook thought about it. “I’m not sure, Your Highness. The goblets were set aside in there all afternoon to ensure they weren’t knocked over in the bustle.” She pointed to a storage room that appeared mostly empty from the glimpse Elowen could see through the open door. “And it would have been poured maybe half an hour before the ceremony so as to let the wine breathe.”
Elowen had wandered toward the indicated door as the assistant cook spoke, trying to make the movement seem casual. She peered inside, noting the shelves lined with huge bags of flour and empty crates. It wasn’t the main pantry, but some kind of overflow storage, probably little used. She realized with a jolt that there was another door on the far side of it.
“Does that storage room lead out into the corridor?” she asked.
“That’s right,” the assistant cook said. “Sometimes we carry dishes from there straight to the dining hall. That’s what would have happened with the ceremonial goblets last night, too.”
A prickling sensation was passing down Elowen’s arms. So the goblets had been unattended in the storage room for hours,accessible without even entering the kitchen. Anyone could have gotten to them. And it was clear from the specific designs which one was hers and which Theo’s. It seemed unforgivably careless, but given the physician’s words, she shouldn’t be surprised. There had been no attack by poison in the castle for decades. The kitchen staff had become complacent.
“Here you are, Your Highness.” The head cook had returned with a pastry which Elowen felt far too ill to eat.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice wavering slightly. Forcing a smile, she left the kitchen, trying to think of a way to investigate what had happened without using her father’s authority. It didn’t seem hopeful.
Chapter
