Grace of the Goddess (The Death Dealer Book 3) (18 page)

              Grace straightened awkwardly, itching to say something to Drake about his foolishness. She dreaded opening her mouth for fear of what would come out.

              “Why so glum? Speak plain to me, Grace.” He started down the road to the village.

              Grace gritted her teeth and followed. “Has Your Highness lost his mind? You commit treason and you damn well know it.”

              “Such strong words from such a delicate flower,” he said. “Oh, don’t look so sour, Grace. I am only teasing.” The smile faded from his face. “I know full well what I have done, but I want my father to see how the extra food will help Arganis survive the winter. He will not admit that many of the baronies and provinces are in dire straits, but I see the look of hunger in the servants’ faces. It is not even as bad here as it is further inland. You have fishermen who can bring in food. My father needs to be made to believe that famine is fast coming to Cesernan.” Drake looked around. Satisfied they walked alone, he continued. “Katherine used her husband’s gold to secure the trade. I couldn’t very well use crown gold.”

              “How did it go unnoticed?”

              “It did not. Her husband was arrested, though he was in it with us. We made one order, which was split into two shipments. My father seized the shipment bound for Actis, but I am glad this one made it through. It took longer than expected, likely due to bad weather.”

              “You have put us in danger of being found guilty of treason. Do you honestly think my uncle will accept these illegal food stores into Arganis?” Grace grabbed Drake’s arm, making him stop.

              “Then
I
will distribute the food among the villagers. My father cannot hang the whole village for treason.”

              “Can’t he?”

              “Not if he wants a prosperous lumber trade coming out of here. Arganis may not be rich where gold is concerned, but the land is a wealth in and of itself. My father will not let all the skilled lumberjacks die for a treason they didn’t commit.”

              Grace bit her lip and let Drake go. He didn’t move, but took her hand back and kissed the top. “You worry too much. The king is not going to hurt anyone in Arganis for my choices. Now,” he said, looping her arm under his as though they were a couple going for an afternoon stroll, “I want to greet the captain.”

~*~*~

              Grace ate an evening meal of watered down fish stew that night. Though Drake insisted on bringing the illegal food into Arganis, George didn’t let the cooks use it for the evening meals. He and the prince had been locked away for hours “discussing” the issue. As Grace passed her uncle’s study en route to her mother’s, she heard the two speaking in raised voices, though she couldn’t quite make out the words. She imagined in the end the prince would get his way, but George wanted him to know he was displeased at being placed in the way of the king’s wrath should it point north.

              She didn’t care much for the arguing of George and Drake. After Grace’s walk with the prince, she wanted to talk to Katherine, to make sure her maid didn’t suspect her involvement in bringing the trade ship from Sera to Arganis.

              Grace entered her mother’s solar and found it packed. Victoria, Gretchen, and Juliet were there in a sewing circle with Kara. Leandra and Katherine sat with Deidre, opposite the younger women. Katherine had a book in her hand. Grace guessed either they took turns reading or Katherine read to them.

              “Grace,” Victoria smiled warmly. “So nice to see you. My mother said you would most likely be joining us. Do you have needle and thread? I can have Kara get you some.”

              “Let the girl alone,” Katherine chided. “She is here to spend time with her mother, not join your sewing circle.”

              Grace sat on the floor at her mother’s feet, since all the suitable seats were taken up already. Katherine looked down at her meaningfully and then cut her eyes to Kara. She was a more astute woman than Grace had given her credit for in the past. The duchess was aware Kara joined her tonight because of the shipment from Sera, and the whole stinking affair gave Grace a headache. She could crack the heads of ruffians who used their fists as weapons, but high conspiracies and traitors were beyond her normal scope of action.

              “We have been reading the epic poem of Ruli tonight while my daughter and her friends sew. Would you like to take over?” Katherine held the book out for Grace. “We have only just read the part where Julian calls on the Nareroc tribes for assistance.”

              Grace wasn’t in the mood for reading ancient poems about deeds long done, but she wasn’t about to refuse Katherine in front of the others, either. Grace took the book and began to read, “‘And yay unto you I say, I am the rightful king. Join me and I shall free thee from thy bonds of servitude.’” Grace read a few more stanzas until Leandra asked for the book to continue the reading.

              Around their circle, the book passed until Ruli called down fire from the sky and rode a lightning bolt into battle to vanquish his enemies. Grace kept a watch on Kara when it was not her turn to read. The maid pretended at being simple, smiling and laughing politely when the young women made a joke. She even fumbled with her embroidery. Her face was soft in the firelight and she looked like a demure, well-brought up young lady, perfectly suited to be a lady’s maid. But it was her eyes that hinted at deceit. They were hard and watchful. Her ears, no doubt, were absorbing every word that was said, while her eyes took in what wasn’t. Once or twice Kara caught Grace staring at her. For those moments, her shy mask fell away and a sly smile played on her lips. It could have been a trick of the shadows, but Grace trusted her eyes. Kara spied on the duchess.

              “I tire, Leandra,” Deidre said when the book was closed and put aside. “Kat, I do hope you will stay until the end of the week when Daniel returns.” And the evening had been going so well.

              Grace looked at the young women. They had probably already heard that Deidre’s mind occasionally slipped, but hearing a rumor and witnessing the truth were two different things. Victoria and her brood inched ever so slightly away. Even Kara didn’t dare stay too close to Lady Deidre. That, at least, gave Grace grim satisfaction.

              “I will stay in Arganis for some time, Deidre,” Katherine responded gently, getting out of her chair and helping Leandra with Deidre.

              “Grace, dear, will you show the young ladies to their chambers?” the duchess asked.

              “Of course, Your Grace.” She hugged her mother good night before going to the door, where she opened it and smiled to see the young women hesitate. They were actually afraid she could infect them.
Silly geese
, Grace thought. Finally Victoria squared her shoulders, gathered her needle and thread, and marched through the door with her head held high. Gretchen came next, followed by Juliet. Kara remained.

              “I will wait for the duchess,” she said, her tone challenging Grace to argue.

              Instead, Grace smiled and bowed good night before closing the door and taking the head of their small party. “Shall I ring for your own maids?” she asked, striding down the hall toward the stairs.

              “Our girls are already waiting in our chambers,” Victoria remarked as she came up right next to Grace. “We decided we would only need one maid among us, and Kara volunteered.”

              “Aren’t you afraid you will fall ill?” Juliet blurted out from behind them. Grace heard a “Sshhh!” from Gretchen and an “Ow!” from Juliet immediately after. “I am serious, and stop pinching me!”

              “I do not think I will catch what my mother has, my lady.” She looked over her shoulder to glare at Juliet and then turned back around, her point made.

              The young woman bit her lower lip, but foolishly continued, “My old nurse told me that madness is contagious.” Grace heard another “Ouch!” and smiled to herself that Gretchen had pinched her again. “I am being serious!”

              “Grace has been dealing with her mother for months and she is not mad,” Victoria said. “Now can we please drop the subject?” She gave Grace a sweet smile, hoping she was being helpful.

              “Your rooms, ladies.” Grace took them into the guests’ hall.

              “They will be joining me to help me prepare for tomorrow.” Victoria said, taking Gretchen and Juliet by the arms.

              Grace raised an eyebrow, wondering what these ladies could possibly have to say about the wedding night. The young women shuffled off into Victoria’s room and Grace turned to leave.

              “Grace!”

              Grace felt her heart sink. The day had been long enough, and an encounter with Tristan would only make it longer. She turned around slowly to see Tristan standing in his doorway, not looking quite as angry as usual.

              “Sir Knight?”

              “Join me in my chambers.”

              Grace crossed her arms over her chest. “Whatever you think transpired between your brother and me is never going to happen between
you
and me.” He may have stood above her in social rankings, but that didn’t mean she had to accept his advances.

              Tristan’s brow crinkled in confusion at first, but after a moment his eyes widened, understanding what she meant. “Gods, no! I just want to talk to you in private.”

              Grace had to admit he was keeping a civil tongue today. There had not even been one utterance of “tramp”, “whore”, or “witch” since he opened his door. It was a marked improvement on his usual tone with her. Still, she deliberated for another moment.

              “If you do not talk to me now, I will dog your every step until you do. Neither of us wants that,” Tristan said earnestly.

              “Fine.” She walked into his room, though she panicked a bit when the door closed. She tucked her hand into her sleeves, feeling for the straps on her arm sheaths. She would be ready to draw her knives if the need arose.

              Like Katherine’s room, Tristan’s had a fireplace in the small front room as well as a closed door that led to his bedroom on the far wall. Grace remained standing, even when Tristan offered her one of the cushioned, wooden chairs set before the fireplace.

              “I understand Drake talked to you about the ship today.” Tristan sat in one of the chairs, turning it to face Grace.

              “He did…”

              “I wanted to make sure that you will keep your mouth shut about you-know-who’s involvement. I do not trust that shifty eyed minx that tails her.”

              Then this was about Katherine and Kara. Victoria brushed the maid aside, but obviously others took her presence as a threat. Grace felt a headache come on. She never should have talked to Drake about any of it. She didn’t want to be stuck in a treasonous plot, no matter how wrong she thought the king’s decree was.

              “I can keep a great many secrets, Sir Tristan.” She thought of the hood waiting for her, tucked away in her trunk, waiting to go out and scare ruffians.

              “Good. We are already perched on the edge of the knife, and I think Drake was a fool to tell you anything.”

              “You are good to care about him, but you need not fear anything from me. May I go now?”

              “Not quite.” He crossed his leg and tapped his knee. “You understand the nature of what the prince did?”

              “I do know a bit of the comings and goings of law in Cesernan, and I read the occasional edict sent by the king. Don’t treat me like a dolt, Tristan.”

              He frowned at her, but none of his usual anger surfaced. “I want you to watch Kara for me. Report her doings. Make sure she is not doing anything she should not be.”

              Grace remembered being asked to trail a city guardsman for the King of Thieves. She didn’t like to follow people, not like that. She would trail a bandit to make sure he didn’t disturb the peace, but spying was entirely different. People who were spied on often went missing.

              “If I see the maid doing anything she should not be, I will report it to Sir Leon and Master Broyles…however, I will not spy on her.”

              “I am not asking, I am giving you a command.” Now the anger started to creep into his voice.

              “You are not master here. May I go?”

              He waved his hand. “At least you will keep your mouth shut. Because if you do not…”

              “What? You will kill me? You have made that threat before, yet here I stand. Find a new threat, Sir Tristan.” She slipped out of the door before he had time to offer a rebuttal.

              Grace continued on her course to reach her room. She hurried for the servants’ stairway, deciding her best bet for going unseen lay that way. Torches were lit every six steps, providing just enough light to see where one stepped, but not enough light to allow for running downstairs. On the servant’s stair she met Drake, who looked just as bewildered to see her.

              “I did not want to run into anyone on the main stairs,” he explained.