Despite myself, I laughed, even though I knew I probably shouldn't. "I honestly didn't think he would be. I'm sure he has far more important things on his mind."
"He also respects his people, and would never treat a woman that badly," the man said.
"I like that." I stared out into the night, trying to work out where Dart disappeared to. I knew it was a good thing she wasn't still with me and gaining attention from the stranger, but I still missed her.
"Tell me, what else do you like about the Prince?" he asked.
"I see you're spying for him," I teased.
"I promise, I'm not."
I sighed loudly. "Honestly, I don't know anything about him, other than his name. We're not given many privileges here, so we don't hear about the world outside our walls."
"But you're all dressed so finely," he observed.
"We're not usually," I admitted. "It's normally rags and muck for us here. This is the first day off we've had since...well, I'm not even sure."
"It's that bad?"
"You get used to it," I admitted softly. "It doesn't sound good, I know..."
"It sounds awful. Have you tried appealing to someone?"
A short bark of a laugh slipped out of me. "Who is going to listen to me? I'm a serving girl. I don't normally wear silk and lace, I normally spend my days sweeping ash out of the grate and trying not to burn my hands." I held them up to show him the welts there.
The man sucked in a breath, then reached out. His touch was light, which was the only thing that stopped me from pulling my hands away. Why was he doing this?
"This is what working does for you?"
I shook my head. "That's what working every hour of the day does to me," I corrected. "I suspect a lighter workload and some time off to heal would avoid it."
"The Duchess does this to you?"
I nod.
"And she orders you to men's beds?"
"Oh, no. This is the first time she's done that, and I think it's just because it's the Prince. Not that it makes that any better. He doesn't deserve having spies forced on him."
"How do you know that if you've never heard anything good about him?"
I shrugged. "I've also never heard anything bad about him. And bad gossip always travels faster."
He laughed. "You have a point there."
A bell rang within the house, startling me into focus. I pulled my hands out of his, missing their touch almost instantly. I pushed the longing for more away. I shouldn't forget my place simply because a man showed me kindness. That was a good way to end up on the wrong side of everyone.
"I have to get going," I said. "That was the dinner bell."
He nodded. "I'll have to as well."
"Will you..." I trailed off, not wanting to voice the question on the tip of my tongue.
"Will I?" he prompted.
"Will you be at the servants’ dinner?" I asked.
A sad look crossed his eyes. "Unfortunately, I must dine with the Duchess."
"But only the Prince is dining with her." Even as I said the words, understanding dawned on me. He was the Prince. "I...I'm so sorry, Your Highness, I didn't realise..."
"It's all right," he assured me.
I dipped into the deepest curtsy I could manage. "But I've been addressing you without using your title." And complaining about my station in life. I'd messed this up more badly than I could have ever imagined possible.
"Please, I'm not offended," the Prince said. "You admitted to not knowing anything about me, I should have been fair and told you then."
I straightened my back, the urge to ask him why he hadn't revealed his identity on the tip of my tongue.
"Because you looked so peaceful out here, and I didn't want to scare you away with who I was."
"How..."
He chuckled. "It was written all over your face," he responded.
"I should have recognised you, Your Highness." I hated grovelling, but for the Prince, I'd do it.
He grimaced. "Please don't call me that. Everyone else does, I have enough of it from them."
My brows knitted together in confusion, and I began to fiddle with the soft silk of my dress. "What would you like me to call you?" I asked, biting back the urge to call him an even more flowery name to get my point across.
"In public, Your Highness is fine," he admitted with a disgusted look. "But if we're alone, why don't you call me Raynor?"
I gasped. "By your name?"
"Why ever not?"
"It's not proper," I responded.
"Neither is engaging a lady in conversation without revealing my identity," he pointed out. "Yet I did it all the same. And I owe you a debt. Now I know I should watch myself around all of the ladies in the house save one."
"The Duchess?" I guessed.
A smirk lifted the left side of his mouth. "You," he pointed out.
"Oh."
"Would you be so kind as to let me know your name?"
My eyes widened. How had I not thought to introduce myself before now? "Tanwyn," I answered.
"A noble name."
"I don't know," I admitted. "I came here when I was barely old enough to remember everything."
"My Father's former Chief Advisor had a daughter named Tanwyn. She must be about your age now. Did you know Duke Floren?"
I shook my head. "The only member of the nobility I've ever met is the Duchess."
"That you remember."
"True," I admitted. "I've always assumed I was the daughter of some minor nobleman who got on the Duchess' bad side. Most of the girls here are to pay some kind of debt, from my understanding of the situation."
"The Duchess sounds charming," the Prin-Raynor, quipped.
"You'll never meet a more generous woman," I sent back.
"In which case, I shall ensure I keep my eyes on her throughout dinner," he said.
"You should."
"I wish you could join us," he said softly.
"The Duchess would never dream of allowing it."
"Perhaps you could accompany her to the ball I'm throwing next week?" he asked.
The second bell rang from inside, reminding me that I couldn't spend the entire evening out here talking to the Prince.
"I have to go," I said. "I can't be late or they'll ask where I was." I started to make my way back to the castle.
He reached out and caught my wrist gently. "Why don't you tell them you were with me?"
"Then they'll ask what we talked about, and I'd rather not betray your privacy like that."
"Thank you," he whispered. "I truly am humbled by that."
A blush spread over my cheeks.
"Will you try and get her to agree to take you to the ball?"
"No promises," I said softly. "But I'll do whatever I can to see you there."
"I'll be watching for you," he vowed.
And I for you, I thought as I ran back to the house.
Chapter 6
I tried not to let my nerves show, but the tray I was carrying bounced up and down in my hands. The Duchess had asked me to wait on her and the Prince for breakfast, despite allegedly not wanting to see any of us. I wasn't sure what to do with that. Other than my job.
Dart rushed out from a crack in the wall beside me.
"Now isn't a good time," I told her in a hushed tone.
She shook her head and then gestured towards the door.
"You can't go inside." If she did, it would be a disaster. "The Duchess could see you."
The dragon didn't listen to me, I wasn't sure why I thought she would.
A Page stepped up next to me just as Dart disappeared back into the crack. Hopefully, she'd stay there and wouldn't cause any trouble. Even as I thought that, I knew it wasn't going to be the case. Dart had something planned. Or something had caught her eye, I wasn't sure.
The Page swung the door open for me. "Good luck," he muttered under his breath.
I shouldn't be surprised by his words, every one of the servants in this house would w
ant to avoid this job. There was so much potential for things to go wrong.
The long table was already laden with dishes, probably the cold ones that the cooks could have laid out before the Prince and the Duchess got here.
The Prin-no, Raynor, looked up from his dish, a slow smile spreading across his face. No. That wasn't good.
I gave him the tiniest shake of my head. If he acted like he was interested in me, then the Duchess would stop at nothing until I was spying on him. And while I didn't want to betray his trust, I'd have to at least tell her something to get her to stop.
His gaze dropped back to the cold cuts on his plate.
I dipped into a curtsy to the Duchess first, knowing she wouldn't like it if I greeted the Prince before her, even if I technically should, given his superior position in the hierarchy of noble life. I'd never understand how the nobility worked.
"Your Grace, Your Highness, I've brought freshly poached eggs from the kitchens, if you wish for them."
The Duchess waved me away.
"I would, please," Raynor said.
My blood raced at the sound of his voice. I didn't realise how much of an impact our one conversation had on me, but now I knew I wanted to spend more time with him, and get to know him better. I pushed the thought away. It would get me nowhere. I was little more than a slave, and he was the heir to the throne. He didn't have time for someone like me, and nor should he. I would simply be a distraction from the kinds of people he should be socialising with.
I placed two of the eggs on his plate, then dipped into another curtsy.
"Is there anything else I can get for you?" I asked.
"Leave," the Duchess said, anger filling her voice. I didn't understand that. She'd asked for me to be here, why was it a problem now? The Duchess was a woman I'd never understand, even if I tried to.
"Actually, I'd like some more coffee, if that's all right," Raynor said, his eyes on me.
I nodded. "Of course, Your Highness." I set the tray on the table, and turned around.
My eyes widened as I spotted Dart running out from under the table. What was she doing here? She could get us into so much trouble if she was caught.
I stepped forward, trying to ignore the dragon and focus on my task. I knew Raynor only wanted the coffee so I'd stay in the room longer, but that didn't change the fact I had to make it.
The moment I went to move again, Dart got under my feet. I wobbled and then began to fall.
The scrape of a chair sounded, and Raynor rushed forward, catching me before I could hit the ground and then righting me.
"Are you all right?" he asked, alarm on his face.
I nodded. "Thank you," I whispered.
"Thank you, Your Highness," the Duchess said, her voice bellowing across the room.
Oh no. I'd forgotten she was there. Somehow.
I stood up properly and took in the sight of the formidable woman coming towards me, anger etched onto her face.
"I'm sorry, Your Grace, I tripped." I dipped into a curtsy, unsure if that would be enough to placate her. Knowing her, probably not.
"You should be paying more attention when you're in my presence," she fumed.
Interesting there was no mention of the Prince also being here. Which only drew my attention to Raynor's hands still being on my arms. A small part of me wanted to relax into him, but I knew that wouldn't be deemed acceptable.
"I'm sorry, Your Grace," I repeated. "It won't happen again."
"You're right it won't. Leave the room and send one of the others to replace you." She turned away.
"Your Grace, I don't think that's necessary," Raynor said, stepping away from me and into her line of sight.
My eyes widened. What was he doing? Didn't he know this would only make it worse for both of us? The Duchess didn't want anyone protecting her girls from her.
"As she is a member of my staff, I believe it is up to me to decide what is necessary," the Duchess said flatly, retaking her seat at the table and opening a paper, not paying attention to either of us any longer. I expected this dismissal of me, but it surprised me she would treat the heir to the throne with the same amount of contempt.
Raynor opened his mouth to speak.
I leaned in and placed a gentle hand on his arm.
He craned his neck so he could see me properly.
"Not worth it," I mouthed.
His expression darkened, and he looked between the two of us, trying to work out what he should do.
With a quick glance at the Duchess to make sure she wasn't paying any attention, I leaned in so I could whisper in his ear. "Anything you say will only make it worse for us all. The Duchess doesn't like being told what to do, even by someone who has the right to do it."
Understanding crossed his eyes. He didn't like what I was saying, but he recognised the need to heed my warning. He was already getting himself into a strong position for when he became king, and it wouldn't work if he didn't read the people in his kingdom correctly. The Duchess was a woman who needed to think she was in control, and to retain her obedience, he had to play into that.
"Thank you, though," I added in a whisper.
"You're welcome, Tanwyn."
A shiver ran down my spine at the way he said my name.
"I'll send Jill in a moment, Your Grace," I said to the Duchess.
She didn't even acknowledge I'd spoken. That was fine by me, I didn't expect her to.
I turned to Raynor and dipped down into a low curtsy, but met his gaze with my own. I wasn't sure how I knew, but he wanted me to feel like I was his equal, and even though I was currently showing him the respect owed to someone in his position, I wanted him to know I understood the message.
His lips twisted into a smile. Good. He understood me.
I left the room with a smile on my face, despite the dangerous interruption from my dragon friend. I wondered what she was up to. Whatever it was, it was a risk to us all, and I wasn't likely to ever get an answer about why she'd done it.
At least the Prince had proved himself to be as kind as he had been last night. There was always going to be a chance that he didn't act the same in front of people of his own social status, but I was glad to have discovered that wasn't the case. Whether the Duchess liked it or not, I was already more loyal to him than to her.
A small amount of kindness goes a long way, and she'd never given any.
Chapter 7
I straightened the skirt of my faded and worn servant's dress, hoping Raynor wouldn't mind seeing me in it. With the Prince leaving within the next hour, the Duchess had removed our access to the fine dresses and put all of us back to work.
Except me. Though I had no doubt I'd be sent there any moment. But first, the Prince had asked to see me. Alone.
I swallowed down my nerves and pushed open the door to the room he was using. I hoped he realised the Duchess would have someone listening in the whole time. Or that she expected me to fill her in on everything he said to me.
"You came," Raynor said, true relief filling his voice.
Despite my apprehension, a smile spread over my lips. "Of course, I can't very well ignore a Prince, can I?"
He chuckled. "I'd expect you to ignore anyone you don't think worth your time."
"In which case, I wouldn't talk to a great many people," I teased. "But you would be one of the exceptions."
"I'm glad to hear it. Will you take a seat?" He gestured to one of the chairs. The light from the fire illuminated the fine weave of the fabric, and the intricate look of the embroidery. This wasn't the kind of seat I was normally called upon to sit on.
But he was expecting me to. I swallowed loudly, then sat down, trying not to worry about leaving dirt behind. My dress was clean, even if it was an old one.
"I see the fancy dresses have gone," he observed.
I laughed softly. "Long gone. Never to be seen again, unless you visit in the future, though even then I'm not so sure."
"Because I didn't engage any of you in conv
ersation?" he mused.
I shuffled uncomfortably. "I'm going to be expected to report back on this," I said softly. "What would you like me to say?"
"Anything you want to."
"That's not going to cut it." And the last thing I wanted was to get the Prince into trouble, Raynor had been too kind to me for that.
"Perhaps say that I was merely enquiring after your health, that fall wasn't a natural one, after all."
I glanced away, trying to avoid him seeing the guilt on my face. The fall hadn't been an accident. Dart knew what she was doing, even if I didn't understand what motivations a tiny dragon could have.
"Well?" he prompted. "Do you think that will pass the examination you're going to receive?"
I shot him a bemused smile. "No. But if I stick to it, there's nothing anyone can do except call me an idiot for not talking about more important things."
"Maybe you should also mention the ball I'm having, and that I'd like you to attend."
"The Duchess will never allow that," I pointed out.
"Maybe not. But if she thinks it'll get on my good side, you never know what she might do."
I chuckled. "That's true." I wasn't going to pretend I understood anything about how the Duchess' mind worked. She was a mystery to us all.
"I hope you do come," he said, reaching out and placing a hand over mine. "I'd like to see you again."
"I'd like that too," I admitted. "But I'm not sure it'll be possible. The Duchess..."
"Is a piece of work, I'm aware of that."
I cocked my head to the side. "Is that why you came here? To see what she was like?"
"Partly." He shrugged. "But there's also been talk of unrest in the Lord Daryll's lands, and I needed to ensure she would protect the good of the kingdom."
"Do you think she will?" I asked.
"The honest answer is that I don't know."
"Why are you telling me that?" I blurted. "How do you know I won't run to her and tell her all of this?"
"Will you?"
I shook my head. "Of course not, but you don't know that for sure. I could be anyone. I could be tricking all of this out of you, I could..."
He picked up my hand and clasped it between both of his. "But you won't. I'm an excellent judge of character."
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