Priscilla emerged only moments later, every hair in place, corset fastened so tightly she looked as though she could hardly breathe.
“Come, sister,” was all he said.
For all his fussing, Victor barely looked at her before he took off, setting an unforgiving pace with his long strides.
They had been given rooms in the eastern wing just off the great hall. Outside the hall’s massive doors, the staff was lining up at attention. Priscilla took a place on the steps beside her brother as Yvette found an unassuming shadow behind them, following their gaze down the lane. Lord Caspian was riding in on a single grey horse. His clothes were travel worn and-
There was someone else riding behind him.
Yvette’s senses honed, though she didn’t get a good look at the figure until she jumped down from the horse’s back, a graceful motion from such a height. Her black hair was kept in a tangled braid, her warm brown skin tanned by hours in the sun. She wore traveling clothes in various shades of green, finer than that of a servant, but certainly not befitting of the nobility. Her eyes gaze up at the visage of Northall with a sort of novel wonder, as if she’d never seen it before.
Lord Caspian dismounted as one of the grooms came running to take the reins. He smiled and thanked the boy by name.
“Welcome home, m’lord,” the steward greeted him with a customary bow.
“It’s good to see the keep’s still standing,” Lord Caspian joked and then put his arm around the woman, a familiar gesture if ever there was one, leading her up the steps.
Priscilla turned to her brother for some direction as Caspian began to introduce her to the staff. Yet, Victor’s gaze was fixed on the strange woman, cold as ice.
“-and this is Lady Priscilla of Redfield.” Lord Caspian’s voice made her whirl.
She stared speechlessly into the woman’s eyes. Yvette could see why. Not only were they vibrantly green, but there was a wildness within…
“It’s good to meet you,” the stranger said. No manners or rituals observed whatsoever.
“And her brother, Lord Victor Redfield.” Lord Caspian introduced, and the woman nodded to him. Nothing more. “This is Keira, a dear old friend of mine.”
“Well, she is certainly very lovely,” Victor said, reaching out to her.
Keira considered his hand before taking it.
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it as if she were a proper lady. They didn’t seem to see it for the mockery it was.
“I am very glad t-t-to see you again, L-lord Caspian,” Priscilla crafted each word over her clumsy tongue, wincing each time she faltered.
Caspian smiled at her as if he hadn’t noticed that either. “It’s a pleasure to see you again as well, Lady Priscilla. I hope you’ve been comfortable.”
Priscilla nodded, giving a well mannered curtsy.
“Good. I will see you both for dinner?” Lord Caspian asked.
“Of course,” Victor said, bowing slightly.
Caspian nodded to them and moved on, turning to the steward as he went.
“I’ll need a room made up for Keira for tonight.”
“All the rooms in the East Wing are occupied by the Redfield party.”
They were almost too far within for Yvette to make out what he said next, but she heard well enough. “She’ll take the room beside mine, then.”
Victor fell back until he was beside her. His jaw tensed beneath his cheek as he watched them disappear inside. “Follow them.”
Keira
Keira’s hand smoothed over the banister as she climbed the massive staircase. The carved and polished wood felt ancient beneath her touch. Beside her, Caspian followed the- well, Lionel. She wasn’t sure what his official title was, but he was certainly the type to have one. He was wearing nice clothes, but not any sort of uniform, she thought. He carried himself with authority, but seemed to consider Caspian his superior. Fate have mercy, this was already giving her a headache.
Lionel led them up to a long hallway. The walls were decorated with tapestry murals hung in measured, even spacing. Some depicted hunts in the pine woods, others courtly parties in the gardens. Her favorite piece was the slaying of a dragon on a mountain peak.
