Bianca shook her head. "I do not know why you must do that. I know you want to have all the latest information, but really, you're going to make yourself sick. You've already lost twelve pounds in the last month. Diado may lose his mind if he has to alter any more of your clothing."
"Diado can go suck an egg," Eleanor said.
Bianca raised her eyebrow. "Who has been hanging around with Veta again?"
"Veta always has the best stories," Eleanor said. "Besides, I was alone all day yesterday. You were gone. Caoimhe was, well, wherever you were, doing official things for the treaty. Freya was with you, wasn't she?"
"She was."
"So I was bored."
"How was your trip to the Rhimodian worlds? Did they have whatever it was Father demanded to make us comfortable?" Caoimhe smiled. The Emperor had been making these massive lists of outrageous demands to send to the Rhimodians for the peace talks. Security measures. Residence requirements. All sorts of unusual things.
Eleanor was certain the demands were being used to manipulate the Rhimodians so the negotiations would fail. The tactic was a classic one. The Emperor had used the method many times when he wanted to encourage a negotiation without actually having to do it at the negotiation table. Yet another way of him trying to bend the rules his way.
"It was, well," Bianca looked down and patted her pocket, then back up as she sat down on one of the chairs. "It was surprising."
"Oh?" Caoimhe asked.
Eleanor stared at her governess. Was the woman blushing?
"Bianca?"
"Mom?" Caoimhe said at the same time.
This time, it was obvious Bianca blushed.
Both girls ran to Bianca and dropped on either side of her. Caoimhe almost spilled her tea.
"You have to tell us what happened," Eleanor said. "You're blushing. Who did you meet?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Bianca said.
"Oh, stop it," Caoimhe said. "I knew you looked different. Who did you meet?"
"A new boy?" Eleanor asked.
Both she and Caoimhe knew Bianca had maintained a physical relationship with the Emperor over the years. They did not know how it started and what it was, for he never acknowledged her in any way. Once, he allegedly called her his mistress in a social gathering. But that was only a story, and no one could find proof of it.
So any time that Bianca seemed interested in any new male, they were the first to encourage her to get away from their father. Horrible to think that was what they wanted for their governess, but it was true. They wanted her as far away from him as possible.
"I went over there, and girls, everything smelled like sulfur and fire. And it was so hot, the air felt like you were breathing in the hottest, most humid day ever."
"Eww," Caoimhe said, putting her hands on her hair. "I will have to have these curls braided down tight, I think, under all my headdresses."
"Probably a good idea," Bianca said. "For they certainly have wind. At least on the main moon there."
"How are the facilities?"
"Plain. Clean. Very clean, in fact. And they have exactly everything we have asked for. Nothing more, though. The Rhimodians do not have bedrooms and beds like we do."
"What were they like? Truly?" Eleanor asked.
Bianca got a far-off look in her eyes.
"Bianca?" Caoimhe asked.
"They were humanoids."
