“Now, don’t look at me like that.” She rolled her eyes. “I thought you might like something to eat while you were out here.” She pulled three rolls from the little basket hanging from her arm. “If you eat here instead of in the dining hall, you’ll be ready faster for your meetings.” She glanced at Katy. “I thought I might find you here, so I brought you one as well.”
Katy thanked her and took the bread. As soon as the bread was passed out, Saraid immediately squeezed herself between them, her face bright. “I recalled how Peter had once said you were the closest thing he’d ever had to a sister, so I expected he might bring you here this morning.” She drew in a deep breath through her nose. “Isn’t this perfect?”
“How did you two meet?” Katy asked.
Peter couldn’t help smiling at Saraid’s enthusiasm. “Katy, do you remember how you used to follow me around everywhere?”
Saraid beamed up at him and snuggled closer.
Katy kept her eyes on her food, but she nodded.
“Well, this little thing here took to doing the same thing. Saved me from near insanity, I think,” he laughed. “She was practically in my shadow everywhere I went. In a way, I felt like I hadn’t lost you completely.” He tweaked Saraid’s nose, and she slapped his hand away. “Of course, she’s kept me on a good path, too, since then. Not letting me wander from my duties the way I should like. Besides, I think she might have had my head if I didn’t accept the crown eventually.”
“Because you don’t know what’s good for you.” Saraid leaned in for a quick peck on the cheek, her lips dangerously close to his mouth.
“I see,” Katy said quietly.
Something in her voice made Peter turn away from Saraid’s adoring gaze, but before he could ask what was wrong, another head popped through the door.
“You’re not nearly as pretty as the present company.” Peter scowled at his friend.
Tomas scowled back. “Stop flirting with all the pretty women. We have work to do.”
Peter scoffed then turned to Saraid and Katy. Saraid wore a pout, and Katy had turned away again. “I’m afraid I’ll be gone for the next several days,” he said.
“Not again,” Saraid whined piteously as she straightened the neck of his shirt.
“I’m afraid I must. We’re going to scout out the villages that were taken by the forest last week and see if we can find anything that might help us understand why the forest is growing. Saraid, you’ll watch out for Katy for me, won’t you? Help her find her way around?”
“Of course!”
Then he stood and went over to Katy. He wanted to sigh at her familiar posture, the one where she folded her arms over her chest and hunched over, as though preparing for an attack. After all that had happened, why did she always go back to fear?
“Katy.” He took her by the shoulders.
She met his gaze reluctantly.
“Stay with Saraid. She knows this palace better than anyone.” He leaned in to give her a hug, but as he did, he whispered in her ear. “If you need to be alone, there’s a lovely garden in the castle’s central courtyard. It’s called the Blue Garden because they only grow blue flowers there. You can dip your hands in the fountains if you want. No one will think it odd, and it’s well hidden because of all the foliage.”
When he pulled back, her smile was more genuine this time, if a little sad.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He nodded and turned to follow his friend back down the steps. Many feelings lingered that felt unfinished, and he had no time to sort them all out. But perhaps it was for the best that he keep his mind on his duties. Somehow, the morning that had begun so sweetly now felt sour.
21
Not Strong Enough
Katy’s heart beat faster the moment she woke up the next morning. Peter was gone and would stay that way for several days at least. As she stretched out on the soft blankets, she wondered at her sudden sensation of alarm. She had been alone before. Peter had been gone for eight years, and she’d survived. Today should be no different.
Except that now she didn’t even have Emma or Firin Reaghan.
And she was in the castle.
And Peter was gone.
The light that seeped through the white curtains wasn’t strong yet, but Katy pulled them open anyway, then she turned and looked at the dozens of portraits hung on the walls.
“Good morning,” she said quietly to the painting closest to her bed. In response, Sir Christopher’s gray eyes stayed as steely as ever, but there was a slight curve to his mouth that made her smile. “No one would ever guess from looking at this picture that you were so sweet.” She ran her hand lovingly along the bottom of the portrait’s frame. Then she moved on to the portrait beside it.
“Good morning, my lady,” she told Lady Fiona. “I wish you could speak. I would greatly appreciate your assistance. And you,” she said, folding her arms and glaring at the little boy in the next painting. “I have some choice words for you about women and overbearing uncles and telling the truth. But they’re not fit to be said in front of small, beautiful children such as yourself. Perhaps in about twenty and one years you’ll be mature enough to hear them.”
Perhaps by then Katy would have enough courage to say them.
“Katy?”
Katy spun so fast she nearly tripped. The door was still closed, but Saraid must be standing just outside.
“Wait just a moment!” she called as she fumbled for her dressing gown, hoping desperately that Saraid hadn’t overheard her conversation with the portraits. She was rather sure the castle’s occupants already thought her odd enough as it was.
Finally, she was put together enough to answer the door. “Yes?” she asked breathlessly.
Lady Saraid glanced at Katy’s attire but was gracious enough not to comment. “There will be a gathering today of the court women. I am here to see if you’re interested in coming.”
Katy tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ears. “What will we be doing?”
“Preparing for the coronation ball.”
“I thought that was being postponed.”
“Oh, it was. But a ball takes more planning than you can imagine.”
Katy wanted to sigh, but instead, she drew up a smile. “Of course. Thank you for inviting me. When shall I be ready?”
“I’m heading there now if you wish to join me.”
“Of course. Um, just give me a moment. The gowns arrived last night. Or some of them, at least.” Katy turned and looked at her wardrobe, which still hung open from when the maidservant had placed the dresses there the night before, but only then did she realize that she had not the slightest idea as to which dress ought to be worn to a ladies’ party for preparing a party. Saraid stood in the doorway, staring off into the distance through the open window while Katy stood at her wardrobe, waffling. Finally, she could take it no more.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not sure which dress...” She looked at Saraid for help.
“Oh, not to worry. I know it can all be a bit much. Here.” Saraid went to the wardrobe and rummaged through it for a minute before pulling out two gowns and holding them up. “Either of these is acceptable.”
Katy quickly chose the simple lavender gown. Stepping behind the dressing curtain, she donned the gown as carefully as possible without wrinkling it.
“I want to thank you for bearing with me,” she called out from behind the curtain. “I’m afraid life in a small town is much less...” She paused, staring at the gown in the mirror, trying to decide how to cinch up the back. “Busy,” she finished. “But I’m trying.”
“Hm? Oh, of course you are.”
Katy finished dressing, but as she stepped out she couldn’t help wondering at the change in Saraid’s behavior. They hadn’t spoken since the morning before, when Saraid found her with Peter on the platform. Katy had managed to hide between meals, during which Saraid had been the loudest, happiest of the courtiers present, teasing everyone, complimenting the gow
ns Katy was going to receive, and even talking about throwing a tea party to welcome Katy officially.
But as attentive as she’d been before, now she seemed more than a little distracted.
Katy put her new velvet slippers on and gave Saraid a timid smile before turning in a circle.
For the first time that day, Saraid seemed to notice. She smiled and shook her head. “Almost. Here, let me help.”
“Thank you.”
They were quiet for a moment as Saraid adjusted something in the back, but finally she spoke. “Before Peter arrived here, did you ever notice that he doesn’t roll up his sleeves?”
Katy stiffened, then hoped immediately that Saraid hadn’t noticed. “Many of his childhood shirts had the sleeves cut short, so I wouldn’t know his habits with the clothes that men wear here, I suppose.”
“Hm.”
Katy turned, hoping she didn’t look too stricken. “Why do you ask?”
“Believe it or not, in all the time he’s lived here, Peter has never worn shirts that don’t reach to his wrists. Even in training, when most of the young men take their shirts off. The men teased him about it constantly when he first arrived.”
“I...I wouldn’t know about that,” Katy said, fairly running to the vanity and searching thoughtlessly for a trinket to wear. Not that she really knew what to put on. Or cared. All she knew was that if she wasn’t careful, Saraid might discover one of Peter’s oldest secrets. And one of Katy’s darkest. “I’ve never asked him.” She’d never had to.
“No need to get flustered.” Saraid joined her and dug through the pile of silver. After examining a pin that looked like a butterfly, she fixed it in Katy’s hair. “I just thought that perhaps you might know, as you’ve known him longer than nearly everyone here.”
Katy forced a smile and thanked Saraid for her help. Suddenly, she couldn’t wait to go to this gathering. Anything to avoid this intimate conversation.
“It appears you have many duties here,” she said, hoping to direct the conversation away from herself.
“My father is an earl, so I started by helping him around the palace when I was little. I suppose I’ve been here so long that my duties have sort of grown with me.” She reached out and lovingly stroked one of the tapestries.
“Have you always wanted to be queen?”
“Now what is that supposed to mean?” Saraid whirled around to face her. Katy was taken aback by Saraid’s reaction. Wasn’t it common knowledge that she was Peter’s intended? But before Katy had to decide what to say, someone down the hall called Saraid’s name.
“What is it?” she snapped.
“We can’t find the tapestries you were talking about last week.”
Muttering to herself, Saraid walked quickly toward the open double doors. Following her, Katy sent up a prayer of thanks to Atharo. She hadn’t meant to offend Saraid.
She breathed a sigh of relief when they finally reached the ballroom. Servants pushed the great wooden doors open, and Katy entered a room that was large enough to fit Downing’s entire pier with room to spare. Thin rectangular windows stretched up at least four stories high, spaced just far enough apart that one large man or two women might stand between them comfortably. The sunlight streaming through the dozens of windows was caught in the distant chandeliers, throwing rainbows all over the room. Two large thrones sat at the far end of the room on a rectangular dais, and the entire room, unlike the rest of the castle, was white.
Dozens of women roamed around, their gowns flawless even in their comparative simplicity. They gossiped and laughed and whispered as Katy and Saraid made their way to the front of the room.
Katy turned to ask Saraid how often the room was used, but Saraid was already busy catching the attention of a young boy. The boy nodded and darted off, returning less than a minute later with a young man holding a trumpet. The young man raised the trumpet to his lips and let out a loud note. Katy cringed a little from being so close, but neither Saraid or the young man seemed to notice or mind.
“Thank you, Ferdy.” Saraid dismissed the young man and stepped up on a chair to address the dozens of women now watching them. “Good morning, ladies! Today we have a great deal to accomplish, so let us do it with haste. Lady Glenda and Lady Chloe, you will choose the table. Lady Roisin and Lady Hannah, you will be in charge of the musicians. Lady Ellen will choose colors, Lady Ava will do flowers, and I will visit with all of you to make sure they correspond. If you haven’t been given an assignment, find someone who has and assist her.” She clapped her hands. “Let’s begin!”
The hall moved from near silence to a dull roar as the women began to group up and chatter as they moved in various directions. It was only then that Katy noticed not all of the women wore the same fine attire as Saraid. In fact, many seemed to wear the clothes of villagers, though they were cleaner and better cared for than those found on the streets of Downing. Had the whole city turned up to prepare for this ball?
And more importantly, why were they all looking at her?
“Lady Saraid?” Katy called. But when there was no answer, she turned to find that Saraid was nowhere to be seen. After a moment of panic, Katy spotted her with a group of women at the far end of the room. They were laughing about something. Part of her just wanted to go back to her room and hide, but the other part knew Peter would not like that in the least bit. So Katy began to make her way toward them.
The two women Saraid was talking with were about as different as could be. One was tall with a sturdy frame and hawkish eyes. The other was shorter than Katy and far rounder but with a rather mischievous grin.
“And who’s this?” the shorter woman asked.
“Lady Glenda and Lady Chloe, this is Katrin McKine,” Saraid said, not looking up from the parchment she was skimming.
The little woman’s eyes grew even rounder. “Not the one the prince was always—”
“Yes, that one.”
“Well,” the woman turned to Katy and grinned. “I was beginning to think you didn’t exist!” She elbowed the tall woman next to her. “Hear that?”
“I’m not deaf, Chloe,” the tall woman said, keeping her eyes on the table. “Do you think we should choose peacock or geese and quail eggs? Or perhaps we should simply serve a little of everything.”
“Let’s ask Miss McKine!” Lady Chloe turned eagerly to Katy. “You know him better than any of us. What do you think he would prefer?”
None of it, Katy wanted to reply. Peter hated attention and fuss. Still, that wasn’t what they had asked her. “When we were young, he liked—”
“Have the kitchen prepare boar,” Saraid said, scribbling a note on her parchment.
“Does the prince like boar?” Lady Chloe asked Katy.
“Lady Chloe,” Saraid said, “we still have much to decide on.”
“But I think we should let her answer!”
Katy’s hands warmed on the spot as she looked back and forth between Saraid, who was glaring daggers at the older woman, and Lady Chloe, who was looking expectantly at Katy. By now, she could feel the women around them beginning to notice the tension as well.
Finally, after an awkward silence, Saraid turned around and faced Katy. “Very well, then. Tell us, Katrin, what meat does Peter prefer?”
Katy’s mouth felt like she’d been chewing on sand. Venison was on the tip of her tongue. It was only one word. One word. So why was she having such a difficult time saying it?
The longer she waited, the more piercing Saraid’s gaze became. And soon, Katy knew she didn’t dare give another answer.
“Boar will be fine,” she murmured. Saraid turned and gave a sharp nod to the ladies.
“Very well,” Lady Glenda replied. Lady Chloe nodded as well, but Katy didn’t miss the curious look she sent Katy’s way.
“I will return to hear what else you’ve chosen,” Saraid said before sweeping off.
Katy swallowed. Something hurt inside, though she couldn’t quite say what.
“Born t
o be queen, that one was,” Lady Glenda said, her long silver earrings clicking lightly as she nodded sharply at Saraid’s retreating figure.
“Oh?” was all Katy could say.
“But what about you?” Lady Chloe asked. “What have you been doing all this time while he was waiting to return for you? He said something about you being an orphan.”
“Um, yes. Sir Christopher rescued me when I was a baby. The woman who lived on his land in Downing cared for me until she passed.”
“And when was that?” Lady Chloe’s voice was kind.
“Just before Pe—the prince returned.”
“Chloe, we need to choose the fruit spread,” Lady Glenda said, sending Katy a sideways glance, but Lady Chloe ignored her.
“I’m so sorry, my dear.” She came and took Katy’s hands.
Katy nearly jerked her hands away. She had no desire to hurt this woman, and every touch was an opportunity. Especially with the way the power was flitting through her hands, stronger with each of Saraid’s passing glances. But the longer the woman held on, the more Katy recalled how much she had missed human contact. “Thank you,” she whispered, daring to look into the small woman’s bright eyes.
“Chloe, the food.”
“Oh, very well!” Lady Chloe grimaced up at Lady Glenda, then pulled her hands away from Katy’s to snatch the parchment from the other woman. “I don’t know why we are doing this to begin with. Saraid will change it all around anyway.”
“I don’t see why she wouldn’t. You’re not focusing on anything.” Lady Glenda finally spared Katy a glance.
“It would seem Lady Saraid is quite talented at these sorts of…details,” Katy said, looking around. Saraid had already floated to a third group of women.
“Lady Saraid may be young, but she was raised to be of the highest ranking nobility,” Lady Glenda said. “Her mother saw to that before she died. The most expensive governesses, tutors, dance masters, and etiquette instructors. No man alive would be fool enough to reject her. He would lose not only her talents but also her contacts. That girl knows more about the kingdom’s present goings-on than I think the king does.” She gave Lady Chloe a little smile. “Rumor has it that he will propose at the ball.”
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