Ursa followed us into the room, her hands clasped in front of her in that demure manner that was a total lie because therewas nothing demure about her. Then she added a little curtsy. "Would you like me to serve tea, Your Highness?"
"Yes, please. Iced tea would be best, and some cut fruit."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Cardilia shifted on the padded chair and arranged the folds of her dress over her knees. "So, how is Gavon doing?"
"Still limping, but I think he's making it look worse than it is to get out of things he doesn't want to do."
She arched a brow, and a corner of her mouth lifted in a conspiratorial smile. "And what are those duties he neglects, if I may ask?"
I wasn't a prude, but I had a vivid imagination, and her very deliberate question reminded me of said duties and how well Gavon had performed them last night. I felt my cheeks heating up.
"If Mother only knew what a twisted mind you are hiding under that prim and proper façade of yours."
Her lips curved into a full smile. "There is nothing twisted about my question. I'm just asking if Gavon is fulfilling his obligations to your satisfaction."
"He is, even though he's compromised now, and we have to be inventive."
The smile slid off her face. "Do you love him?"
"I don't know," I answered honestly. "He's entertaining, and he does fulfill those particular duties exceptionally well, but he's not a great conversationalist, and his areas of interest are limited. I crave company that is intellectually stimulating."
"I know what you mean." She sighed. "It's difficult to find people of that caliber. I'm fortunate to be spending a lot of time with Mother, and even though she is a lot to handle, she's knowledgeable in many subjects, and if she needs to explore something new, she brings scholars to the palace to explain. I don't lack for stimulation in that regard."
"How about the other kind of stimulation? Anyone new?"
Cardilia's former paramour had been retired to the countryside when she'd caught him making improper advances to her maid, and she hadn't selected anyone new since.
She shook her head. "I'm too busy. Mother is driving me hard as if she's planning to retire next year and needs me ready to take over as soon as possible."
I snorted. "Mother is never going to retire. She'll be running Tarina from her deathbed, and given how stubborn she is, she will not surrender to death until she's well over a hundred."
Our maternal great-grandmother was still alive and over a hundred years old, so that was not far-fetched.
Cardilia laughed. "I don't know about that. She keeps talking about wanting grandchildren and stepping down so she can spend time with them."
"It's just talk." I waved a dismissive hand. "She'll never do that."
Ursa came with the tray, set the pitcher with the iced tea and the sliced peaches between us, and began pouring the tea into two tall glasses.
"That's lovely, thank you," Cardilia said.
"Will Your Highnesses require anything else?" Ursa asked.
"No, thank you." Cardilia smiled at her. "That will be all."
It was not quite a dismissal, but it was close. Cardilia would never be so direct as to actually order my attendant from my own room, but it was very clear from her tone that she wanted Ursa to go away.
"I'll ring if we need anything," I said.
Ursa inclined her head, withdrew, and the door clicked shut behind her.
Cardilia didn't speak right away. She took a long sip of the iced tea, popped a slice of peach into her mouth, then drank some more tea.
"Okay, out with it," I said. "I know you didn't come here to admire the Silver Princess."
"No." She put her glass down, sat back, and folded her hands in her lap. "You need to promise me that this stays between us. I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but I'm going to burst if I don't talk with someone about this. I mean someone other than Mother."
