Page 47 of The Masked Princess

“No problem, Your Highness. I was just telling Captain Kierson that I can send a messenger into Rea at his earliest convenience to inform them of your return.” Lieutenant Rorarck looked between Annalise and Soren and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m afraid that when the Rhinnean delegation told King Nelan’s representatives about the nature of your kidnapping, they were very unhappy at the delay of your arrival, but didn’t offer to send any men to help and seemed more than content to wait for your eventual rescue.”

At his words, Annalise understood what caused the tense expression on Soren’s face. She shoved down her misgivings and folded her hands. “I understand. In that case, I’m sure they’ll be ecstatic that I’ve returned a month before the spring equinox. Please send the messenger as soon as you are able so that we may move into Rea. It would be most unfortunate if another band of bandits attacked us while we were camped directly outside the walls of Rhinnea’s capital.”

“My men and I will wait here until you’ve been escorted into the city,” Captain Padrin said.

“That’s really not⁠—”

“I insist, Your Highness. High Lady Telimary will have my head if I don’t ensure that you are safe, and it will be most inefficient if we leave now only to have to turn around to rescue you once more.” The normally taciturn captain’s smile was gentle, and even without his esteemed lineage, Annalise could understand why so many young women in Orighet would smile and bat their eyes at him whenever he walked through the streets.

“I will arrange it, Your Highness. Captain Kierson, I can muster the men for your inspection, if you’d like,” Lieutenant Rorarck said.

“Yes, I think I would appreciate that. Would you care to come along, Captain Padrin? I’m afraid the last time you saw Dovean guards, it was under rather unflattering circumstances,” Soren said.

Annalise stepped away. “I will leave you three to it, then. If I am needed, I’ll be with my lady’s maids.”

On her way back to the carriage, Annalise ran across Priscilla, who was returning from the forest with her arms full of firewood.

“My lady,” Priscilla said, dipping into an elegant low curtsy that was quite impressive considering the bundle she carried.

“Hello, Priscilla. I assume those are for the brazier?” Annalise asked with a nod at the sticks.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Something in Priscilla’s voice, or perhaps it was the way she kept her eyes downcast, didn’t sit right with Annalise, and she slowed to a stop. “Is there something bothering you?”

Priscilla nodded, but didn’t look up. “Please forgive me for my bluntness, Your Highness, but has my service to you been lacking?”

“No, of course not. Why would you ask such a thing?”

“You’ve hired another lady’s maid. Is there something I’ve done that displeases you? Were you expecting me to ride with the guards to come to your aid?”

“Not at all. Priscilla, please stand up. Are you okay?”

Priscilla finally stood and looked at Annalise, her brown eyes shining with unshed tears. “If that’s the case, why have you replaced me? Are you going to send me back to Dovea?”

Annalise’s heart went out to her maid. “Of course not. Priscilla, how could you think such a thing? As I said before, I’m simply adding to our little group.” She stepped closer to Priscilla and lowered her voice. “There’s no need for jealousy. You are one of the few people I trust, and nothing will change that. Elsabeth was my mother’s maid, but King Everet sent her home when my mother died. Having her close makes me feel like I have a small piece of my mother again, and truthfully, she’s wonderful. I think both of us can learn a lot from her, if you’ll let her teach you.”

“Are you sure you can trust her?”

“With my life.”

Priscilla swallowed and nodded. “In that case, for you, Princess, I will give her a chance.”

Annalise smiled and bent down to pick up a few sticks that had fallen out of Priscilla’s arms. “Thank you; that’s all I’m asking. Now, come, let’s go talk to the newest member of our party.”

CHAPTER 37

Annalise had just enough time to tell Priscilla about her adventures in Murana when a messenger from Rea arrived. The servant was dressed in fine red and black cloth and proclaimed to the entire camp that an escort contingent from the palace led by King Nelan himself was on its way and would meet them outside of the city gates in an hour.

The messenger’s announcement prompted a flurry of activity.

“It’s shameful that they gave you only an hour before you meet your betrothed, especially when you’ve just traveled all this way without so much as time for a bath or to brush your hair.” Elsabeth clucked her tongue before her face broke into a smile. “Well, it’s certainly cold enough that anything that warms us up is a welcome surprise, and there’s nothing like a good challenge and burst of adrenaline to get the blood pumping. Priscilla, do you have a preference between dressing Princess Annalise or doing her hair?”

Priscilla, who’d been hurriedly putting away her embroidery, Elsabeth’s knitting, and Annalise’s whittling, paused in her work. “I’ve always helped the princess dress. She never lets me do her hair.”

“I see. Yes, you’re such a pretty thing and by all accounts a top-notch servant, so I doubt she wanted to risk anything happening to you. If you don’t mind, I’ll work with her hair, and you can dress her. While you get her things together, I’ll warm some water so she can at least wash the visible bits. Your Highness, are you going to wear a mask?”

Annalise, who’d watched the interactions between her lady’s maids with a small amount of both trepidation and amusement, froze. “I… I’m not sure yet,” she said.