Giselle’s face grew redder by the second. “Unwelcome distraction? He might as well blame his son for having a working pair of eyes!” She stood and paced the room in a swirl of turquoise skirts. “You’re telling me King Maximus thinks capturing the general’s boy is more important than passing the laws that could very well end this whole debacle?”
“He detained Dominic last night,” I said. “He’ll pass the laws soon enough.”
“Yes, but what about the press?” Giselle said, tugging at her dark hair. “He might as well have sabotaged himself, using the Royal Guard like that. The only reason the people are rebelling is thathispolicies are lacking.”
She was voicing the same thoughts I had before, but somehow I couldn’t muster an ounce of concern. What was the point now? King Maximus already discharged me from my duty.
Bennett was wrong. I was not fit to be the crown princess. My devotion was a charade, something I adopted to ease my guilt. I was every bit as selfish as Mother. Now, I was facing my punishment.
The memory of Bennett shutting the door resurfaced. At leasthisdevotion to Olderea hadn’t wavered. I lifted my chin so the tears wouldn’t fall. It was better this way. I never deserved his affection in the first place.
“Are you seriously going to let Celeste go unnoticed?” Giselle demanded.
“If she’s really behind this they will find out eventually,” I said. My voice sounded hollow.
The seamstress thinned her lips, eyes blazing.
“Forget it. I’m going to find Maddox,” she said. “Maybehewill listen to sense.”
Lady Vanessa came in a moment after, looking more surprised than offended as Giselle marched off without a word.
“I thought you’d be hungry by now,” Lady Vanessa said.
The tray in her hands was laden with a steaming bowl of cheddar pear soup and biscuits baked golden brown. A tantalizing pairing, even in my state.
She set it down on the bedside table. I ducked my head, sure I looked a mess.
“Thank you,” I said, hugging Misty to me.
Lady Vanessa tapped her fingers. “Are you cold? There are quite a few blankets in my quarters. An excess, really,” she said with a laugh. “I could bring a few if you’d like.”
I realized the feeling blooming in my chest was shame. Shame and guilt. The combination made me want to curl into a ball.
Why was she so kind to me? I spurned her the moment I stepped foot in Greenwood Abbey. I had intruded on her home. I was a stranger, the illegitimate child she knew nothing about. The daughter of a woman her husband had once loved. A traitor.
That was enough for anyone to scorn me, yet Lady Vanessa was nothing but compassionate. She didn’t pry. Didn’t demand answers, even when she found me sobbing in the middle of a hallway. She had put me to bed and coddled me like her own child.
The pressure in my chest compelled me to speak. “I-I’m sorry.”
Lady Vanessa tilted her head. “For being cold? It’s no trouble, dear, I’ll just—”
I grabbed her sleeve when she made a move to get up. “I’m sorry,” I repeated. I blinked rapidly as another surge of tears pressed against my eyeballs. Blazing fires, when would it stop? “And...thank you. Again.”
My stilted words encompassed all I wanted to say but couldn’t.
Lady Vannessa melted and drew me into a hug. She smelled of gardenias and biscuits, her embrace soft and motherly. After a moment’s hesitation, I wrapped my arms around her.
“There’s no need to apologize,” Lady Vanessa said. “We’re family, are we not?”
Misty slipped out discreetly, settling next to Pippin.
I managed a nod. I knew if I tried to speak, I’d burst into tears.
