“Shall I order tea… milord?” She trembled, peeking at him from beneath her white cap, where several silver-flecked brown strands escaped.
Milord. Good. She didn’t know of him. The better to get the needed information. “Only if you so desire, milady.”
A flush swept the woman’s cheeks. Her features lifted with the faintest hint of a smile. “Flatterer.” She didn’t order tea, which meant she intended for him to earn any hospitality. To her, he must only appear as a conquering brute.
“As I’ve been told.” Only by Rufe, and in jest, but still. “However, I am not milord, I’m merely Draylon, and I wish to talk with you. What’s your name?”
“Mary, mi… Draylon. Since we have five Marys among the servants, they call me May. And I’m about as far from a ‘milady’ as one gets.”
“May.” Draylon gave what he hoped passed for a reassuring smile. He wasn’t in the habit of reassuring anyone. “I just want to ask you a few questions. As you know, your former ruler betrayed the emperor and has paid the price.”
May gave a slight nod while settling herself in the chair. She didn’t seem overly concerned with her king’s death. Then again, as head cook, she’d likely known the moment King Lleval died. Kitchen staff seemed to know everything, as they interacted with many others in the household, and servants loved to gossip. “What do you want with me? I’m only a cook.”
Only a cookunderestimated her power. Draylon continued smiling. “Back in Cormira, if you want to know what’s going on in the kingdom, really going on, you don’t ask the emperor’s secretary. You ask the cook.” Esmeralda might not start the gossip, but it all landed at her feet soon enough. Servants talked. Esme listened.
Give her enough drink, she’d tell all.
May relaxed somewhat. “I hear the odd bit here and there.”
Time for a little more flattery, which, in times like these, amounted toWhat would Rufe say?“Well, May, the information you give me may well shape the future of your country.”
May eyes widened. “Me?”
“Yes, you. Now, I’ll ask you about the royal family, and I want honest answers.”
“I will not speak ill of my employers.” May’s lips stretched into a thin line.
Loyalty, Draylon could respect, even if May’s devotion made gaining answers far more difficult. “Then I’ll ask the questions. If I don’t quite believe your response, I’ll provide one. If I’m correct, say nothing. If I’m wrong, correct me. That way, your conscience is clear. Now, remember, I already have some knowledge of the DiRicis, but I need clarification.” May smiled when Draylon correctly pronounced the name. “What role they play in the kingdom's future management depends on what I learn.”
When May didn’t offer anything, Draylon pushed on. After all, she hadn’t said no. “What do you know of the queen consort?”
A quick look of revulsion crossed May’s face. She should never play games of chance. Her expressive features would give her away. After much staring at the table, she replied, “The queen is a beautiful woman.”
Which spoke volumes when May led with looks instead of kindness or a charitable spirit. Draylon supplied, “She’s vain.”
May didn’t correct the assumption. “She allows her children freedom.”
Draylon interpreted May’s words to mean, “She doesn’t spend any time with her children.”
Again, May didn’t correct him. “She’s very sociable.”
“She loves parties.”
“Men can’t resist her beauty.”
Ah, so May would play this little game. Draylon ventured, “She has several lovers.”
“She spends a lot of time away from court.”
Now they were getting somewhere. “The queen spurns her duties.”
Nothing from May. Oh, yes. Esme would probably love this woman.
Draylon offered up another suggestion. “If she left permanently, the people wouldn’t miss her.”
May gave an inelegant snort. “Wouldn’t notice, more like.” She slapped a hand over her mouth but too late. Once more, her face flamed. So, the queen wasn’t part of day-to-day life at court. Duly noted.
“I take it she’s not a loving mother.” Nothing new there. Many noblewomen scarcely saw their children except to use them as props or bargaining chips.
