Paradise Plagued

by Sarah E. Burr

  “I’m well aware of that information, Uma.”

  “Well, what’s to say he hasn’t sent more to the other duchies in the realm?” Uma’s voice wavered. “I’ve heard whispers in the palace that he’s trying to turn the common born against you in Savant. What if he has been secretly extending his reach to the other nations?”

  Jax reached for the stack of towels positioned near the steps of the large basin. Rest continued to remain elusive. “I would know if he is sending campaigns outside of his borders.” She wrapped herself in the soft cloth as she stepped onto the chilly stone floor.

  “Would you?” Uma challenged. “The northern territories might be in your pocket, Jax, but what about Hestes? Tandora? Zaltor? Virtues, even Kwatalar may side with his claims. If people believe you are out to take away their independence—”

  “Is that what you think my plan is? To take away the independence of the duchies?”

  Uma’s brown eyes narrowed. “Frankly, I don’t know what you’ve been thinking these past few weeks because you won’t tell me.”

  “That’s because it’s my burden to worry about, not yours.” Jax’s shoulders sagged as she stood beneath one of the incense lanterns, inhaling the invigorating mint to give her strength.

  Uma stood and approached Jax, her steps light and careful. “Whatever troubles you, troubles me. It’s a negative side effect of friendship,” she said with a nervous smile.

  Jax met her worried gaze. “I’m not out to take away the freedoms of the people. If anything…” she paused, looking down at the puddles forming around her feet, “I want to save them. Save them from careless men and women who have lost sight of their true purpose in life.”

  Uma’s lips parted as a small gasp escaped. “You think the duchies are failing?”

  “In a way, perhaps. But I think with some supervision, order could be restored.”

  Uma’s eyebrows rose. “Supervision? Is that your intention?”

  “It’s just a dream, at the moment.” Jax sighed. “A very far-off, fading dream.” In her perfect world, one where everyone was equal and had the opportunity to live the life they wanted, a sole monarch would be anointed to oversee the realm, leaving the duchies to be managed by elected premiers and governors. One treasury would fund the continent, ensuring no duchy went without, and people would work together for the common good, not just for their own gain.

  Uma pushed open the sauna door and led the way into the bedroom. Vita’s head emerged from the closet, clearly surprised to see Jax up and about already. “Do you know what rest and relaxation entail, Duquessa?” she asked as she selected a pale blue linen frock from the assortment of dresses and handed it over to Uma.

  “It will take me a while to unwind, I’m afraid. And please, Vita, be careful using my title. Remember,” Jax chastised lightly as Uma helped her into the gown, “I am simply Lady Victoire outside the confines of this chamber.

  Vita’s sun-kissed face darkened with an annoyed frown. “Even Uma and Hendrie get to pretend to be someone else while they are here,” she whined. “Why wasn’t I given a new identity?”

  Any other ducal leader would have Vita’s head for the back talk she often let slip, but Jax found it rather refreshing to have a lady’s maid who wasn’t afraid to challenge her. “All that was required on Uma’s entry paperwork was your service title. If you’d like to have a different name for this adventure, please, go right ahead. But do let us know about it.” Her voice trailed off in a drawl.

  Vita’s hands went to her hips. “How are you accounting for the fact that Uma’s ‘lady’s maid’ is also attending you?”

  “We’ve arranged it so Perry’s ‘Lord Rapaste’ is Uma’s brother. Once he discovers his sister is here, he’ll insist on his new wife having access to the family’s servants.”

  Uma’s eyes brightened. “Speaking of Perry, how public of a run-in do you want us to plan? I was thinking we could make a fuss over lunch.”

  “Then I look forward to the performance.” Jax squeezed her arm, happy to see her friend having fun with her role. “In the meantime, you two better disappear before someone spots you coming out of my room and ruins the whole charade. I’ll see you at the luncheon.”

  Uma and Vita scurried out of the room, first checking the hall to make sure no one saw them.

  Alone at last, Jax decided to stretch her legs and explore her new surroundings. With graceful strides, she left her suite behind and stopped at the landing, once more marveling the beautiful artwork that hung from the walls. The silence draping the villa surprised her. Uma had said Ferran and his wife were seeing to other new arrivals, but Jax had seen more life in a royal crypt. Where was everyone?

  She meandered down the staircase, following a deep purple carpet to a set of double doors at the back of the main entrance hall. Pressing a hand against one of the doors, Jax soon found they were crafted from solid gold. Preparing to use the full weight of her body to push open the doors, she was caught off guard when they invitingly swung open.

  “Goodness! I didn’t know anyone was on the other side,” a booming voice belonging to the tall, dark figure before her replied. The gentleman rushed to Jax’s side as she steadied herself. “I’ve been telling Ferran for years these doors need small windows carved into them.”

  “I take it this isn’t the first time a near-mishap has occurred,” Jax said as she smoothed out the ruffles in her gown.

  Her rescuer grinned. “Consider yourself lucky it was only a near-mishap. I’ve seen trays of tea and dishes destroyed over these bloody doors.”

  Jax took the man’s outstretched arm and followed him onto the lavish terrace the doors led to. She took a moment to bask in the glorious desert landscape before responding. “I take it Master Ferran is not a fan of modifying the entrance?”

  Her companion snorted. “The casting mold was designed by his great-great-great-grandfather when Ogdam Oasis was first constructed. Ferran’s afraid to break with tradition.” The handsome man escorting her ran a hand through his long, black hair.

  “You sound very well acquainted with the history of this estate,” Jax commented.

  He bowed to her. “Forgive my imprudence. I was so busy rescuing a beautiful damsel in distress, I have not even introduced myself. I am Tarek Killiam.”

  “Pleasure to meet you. I am Du—Lady Victoire.” Jax held out her hand, and the dashing young man kissed it lightly. “I am here on holiday with my husband, Lord Rapaste.”

  “Rapaste?” The darkly tanned skin across Tarek’s forehead wrinkled with confusion. “That is not a house I am familiar with.”

  Jax’s stomach tightened. “My husband’s father oversees a small barony in northern Mensina.”

  The gold flecks in Tarek’s amber eyes blazed. “Ah, a barony. How quaint.”

  Jax fought the urge to roll her eyes at the man’s condescending tone. “Do you work for Master Ferran?” Her lip quivered as she watched his cheeks flush.

  “No, Lady Victoire.” Tarek’s fists balled at his side. “I most certainly do not. My father is Earl Killiam. Perhaps you’ve heard of him?”

  Jax prided herself in her extensive knowledge of noble houses throughout the realm, but this family name escaped her grasp. “I’m sorry to say, I have not. But please, I am merely the daughter of a lesser known Savantian Viscount. I know very little about Kwatalar and its history.” Her last statement wasn’t far from the truth.

  Tarek suddenly took a step back and created a chasm between them, as if she were carrying some horrible plague. “Well, good day to you, my lady.” With that, he turned on the heel of his golden shoe and retreated through the ornate doors.

  Chapter Five

  Jax watched the man retreat into the inner sanctum of the villa before the gold doors swung shut. How rude. In a clear downfall of her Lady Victoire persona, she stood to be subjected to the rude and patronizing attitudes of people who thought they were better than she, simply by virtue of their birth. Her temper roiled. How had people like U
ma, Hendrie, and Darian Fangard, the first common-born Duke ever to be seated in the realm, put up with the demeaning behavior of elite nobles for so long? No wonder they longed for change. Only three minutes in, and Jax was ready to confront Tarek Killiam and demand the respect she deserved. Not because she was the Duchess of Saphire, but because she was simply a human being.

  “May I offer you some tea, my lady?” a soft voice asked, breaking through Jax’s brewing thoughts.

  Startled that she was no longer alone on the sweeping terrace, Jax turned toward the beautiful young woman approaching her from one of the sandy paths with a tray. She must have been serving tea out by the springs, Jax guessed as the woman carried the silver platter up the patio stairs with ease. Her long raven hair hung loose and flowing, save for a thin, intricate braid nestled in the locks of her hair. Turquoise ribbon ran through the entwined strands, contrasting nicely with her saffron-colored shift dress. Her outfit, while modestly cut, clung to every curve of her slender body, leaving very little to the imagination. After meeting Abra in the foyer, and now this young woman, Jax felt the green claws of jealously hooking themselves into her spine. She had not expected to feel so plain and homely in the presence of the villa staff.

  “Tea?” the girl asked again, holding up a silver tray a bit higher, as if unsure if Jax understood what she was asking.

  “Yes, thank you. That would be lovely.” Jax smiled warmly before taking a seat in one of the plush lounge chairs bathed with the midmorning sun. “Sorry, you caught me lost in my thoughts.”

  Settling into the welcoming cushions, Jax titled her head and watched as the tea was poured into a delicate silver cup.

  “Here you are, my lady.” The young woman placed the saucer into Jax’s awaiting hands.

  “Smells divine.” Jax inhaled the steaming beverage. “Is that mint?”

  The woman clasped her hands, looking pleased with Jax’s interest. “Our special estate blend, my lady. Mint, lemon, and just a tiny bit of eucalyptus.”

  “I can hardly wait for it to cool,” Jax said as her eyes twinkled. “I am Lady Victoire, by the way.” When the woman did not offer hers in return, Jax cleared her throat. “May I ask your name?”

  Her flawless olive skin blossomed like a primrose in the morning. “Forgive me, my lady. My name is Samira Ogdam.”

  Jax sat back in surprise. “Ogdam? Are you a relative of Ferran’s?”

  “I am his daughter.” Samira bowed her head.

  Considering how closely her beauty rivaled Abra’s, Jax chastised herself for not deducing it sooner. “You have a lovely home, Samira. Who knew such a diamond existed in the vast deserts of Kwatalar?” She let a light laugh slip across the air.

  Samira’s expression grew sullen. “Sadly, it will not be my home for much longer.”

  Jax’s face crumpled into a confused gaze. “Why not?”

  A flurry of anxious thoughts seemed to swim through Samira’s golden eyes. Her uneasiness to share was apparent.

  Jax doubted guests of the Oasis rarely asked its workers about their personal lives. “Samira?” she pressed the raven-haired beauty further.

  Samira’s gaze swept around the empty patio before she hung her head with a sigh. “I just learned we will be moving to my fiancé’s estate once we are married. I had hoped we would remain here.”

  “I’d say congratulations are in order, but you don’t look too thrilled to be engaged.” Jax got up from her chair to stand at the woman’s side. From Samira’s expression, Jax guessed she might appreciate a sympathetic shoulder. “Is it an arranged marriage?”

  Samira nodded wordlessly, and Jax’s heart tightened at the sight of tears in her round, piercing eyes.

  “Take it from someone who knows about arranged marriages,” Jax said softly as she placed a gentle hand on Samira’s trembling shoulder. “You’d be surprised how pleasant they can sometimes work out to be.” She spoke as Jacqueline Arienta Xavier, Duchess of Saphire, not as Lady Victoire. Jax and Perry had been brought together by a marital agreement made between their fathers. Jax herself had only learned of the arrangement after her father’s untimely death, when Duke Pettraud sent a delegation to pay his condolences. While at first she strongly resisted and demanded she be given the chance to get to know Perry before agreeing to wed him, much to her surprise, she eventually did fall in love.

  Samira looked at her in a manner that suggested Jax had sprouted another head. “Work out? I’ve never witnessed a happy union that was arranged.” She plopped down on one of the nearby chairs, burying her head in her hands. “I just can’t believe my own parents would agree to this after the years they’ve spent moaning about their own marriage.”

  Intrigued by the details Samira revealed, Jax took a seat next to her, after retrieving the teapot and filling another cup for the despondent young woman. “Your parents’ families planned their union?”

  “My mother could have had any man in the dukedom,” Samira said in an indirect reply to Jax’s question, “a fact she frequently reminds us of when my father gets under her skin.”

  Jax took a sip from her silver teacup, relishing the tingling sensation running through her as she savored the delicious blend. “If you don’t mind me asking, how did your father make the final cut?”

  Samira’s arm motioned to the desert palace surrounding them. “You said it yourself. Ogdam Oasis is a jewel. It has been coveted by every family in the region for centuries.”

  Jax’s gaze went to the steps of the terrace. The white stone staircase melted into a rock path that led to a glorious hot spring in the distance. Steaming water spouted from the statue of a marble panther, running off into a sprawling pool of inviting waters. Jax noticed for the first time several guests sitting along the edge of the basin, oblivious to the intense heat from the sun overhead. “I can see why, and why it would be so hard to leave it.”

  Samira wiped the stray tears flowing down her tanned face. “I love working here. I love sharing our stress remedies with our guests. I love experimenting with tea leaves and creating blends like this,” she said as she held up her teacup. “This has been my life, and now it’s all being taken away from me.”

  “You created this?” Jax nearly choked on her tea. After taking her first sip, she was determined to figure out a way to transport barrels of this blend back home to the palace without blowing her cover.

  Samira nodded, a proud smile struggling against her set frown. “Yes. I even create unique blends for all our guests, once I get to know them a little better.” She looked Jax up and down before letting the smile win out. “For you, I suspect something chocolate and cherry flavored may be the best route.”

  Jax’s jaw hung slack in amazement. “How did you guess that?” she asked in awe after she recovered from Samira’s spot-on assessment of her favorite tastes.

  “I’m good at reading people, I suppose,” Samira said with a humble shrug. “I mean, here you are, only minutes into your vacation, and you’re willing to listen to one of the help complain about her problems.” Samira’s cheeks blushed as she likely realized how out of line she’d acted in the presence of a guest, but Jax didn’t give it a second thought. “Someone who shows an interest in others is warm and rich in heart, much like chocolate. Not only did you listen to my problems, but you tried to make me feel better about them and convince me everything would be all right. You have a brightness about you, Lady Victoire. Bright and sweet, like a cherry.”

  The thought of chocolate and cherries in her tea made Jax’s mouth water, but she did not want to completely cave to the girl’s flattery. “I’m sure you say that to everyone,” she responded, although her face still radiated red with the complimentary words.

  “Hardly,” Samira said with a light, musical laugh. The reaction heightened her beauty tenfold. “I usually have to scrape my assessments together using overheard moments at dinner or short conversations in the hallway. Rarely any of the guests who frequent here ever stop and actually have a meaningful chat with me.”<
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  “Really? You’re the daughter of a nobleman. I find it hard to believe they would treat you in such a way,” Jax said, although her thoughts drifted back to Tarek Killiam’s rude behavior toward her, and she was a fellow guest.

  “My father holds the title to Ogdam Oasis, and therefore, he and my mother are treated in a somewhat honorable manner, despite his low rank of Master. The same courtesy is extended to my brother because he will one day inherit the Oasis, as he is the first-born heir. That leaves me without a title. To most of our guests, I am but a mere servant.”

  Jax’s shoulders tightened with indignity. This poor woman had given everything to her family’s livelihood, and yet, she was looked down upon because she did not have a title simply due to the order of her birth? Jax took a long sip of her tea, her mind whirling at the implications. Not only was the current hierarchal system robbing the common-born people of the realm the opportunity to live the lives they wanted, it also caused issues for those in the noble class as well. Why should this woman’s brother be treated any differently than she? Why did his having a title change how his sister was respected? Why can’t people just treat each other with the respect and kindness they’d want for themselves?

  “A rather idealistic thought for a noble lady, I should say,” Samira said shyly as she gave Jax a heartened smile.

  Jax’s face drained of color as she realized she had spoken her last thought aloud. “I’ve seen firsthand how people’s perceptions can be altered all because of a person’s birthright. Perfectly brilliant and wonderful people have prejudices thrown at them before they can make their own way in the world.” Her memory danced to Darian Fangard and the assumptions she had made before meeting him, all because he was of common birth. Oh, how her views had changed since that fated meeting.

  Samira took a moment to consider her words before responding. “It is the sad reality we live in. I spend my days working ten times harder than the region’s Margrave, and yet, when he comes to sit in the hot springs, he asks my father to personally attend his delegation because someone as insignificant as me could hardly do the job right.”