Why couldn’t he dream about that?
When they reached the receiving courtyard, Sage suddenly squealed and ran across the gravel to a young woman climbing out of a carriage. The pair embraced and danced around each other for several seconds, laughing and chattering. Even in a simple traveling dress with her mahogany curls bound in a single thick braid, Lady Clare Holloway was easy for Alex to recognize.
“When did you get to Tennegol?” Sage was asking when he caught up to them.
“Just now,” said Clare, her shoulders drooping in exhaustion. “We rode through the night.” She gestured to the stately man who’d helped her down from the coach. “Papa was called by the king, and he said I could come along to visit you.”
The man stepped forward, and Clare introduced him. “Papa, this is my friend I’ve told you so much about, Sage Fowler. Sage, this is my future father-in-law, Ambassador Lord Gramwell.”
The ambassador’s bronze mustache twitched with amusement as he kissed Sage’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, my dear. Your appearance is just as I expected.”
Sage’s already rosy cheeks darkened further. Between their ride and lying on the blanket with Alex, much of her sandy hair had come loose from its coils. Clare extended her free hand to Alex. “Captain Quinn, I didn’t realize you would be here, too.”
“I arrived yesterday, Lady Clare,” he answered, bringing her fingers to his lips.
“Is— Did you bring— I mean— Did the whole company come?” Clare stammered as he released her hand. She was blushing furiously.
Alex grinned. “I came with Lieutenants Casseck and Gramwell, yes.” The two officers had been an easy choice. “I’ll tell Gram you’re here.” He nodded to the ambassador. “And you, too, sir.”
Lord Gramwell shook Alex’s hand in greeting. His son had been one of Alex’s lieutenants since the ambassador retired and brought his family back to Demora a few years ago. Someday the younger Gramwell would also serve as an emissary, which was one reason Lady Clare lived with his parents now, learning the role she’d play as a diplomat’s wife.
“Come on,” Sage said, tugging Clare toward the main doors. “Let’s let Her Majesty know you’re here and get you settled.”
Alex had a few duties he needed to attend to, so it was better that Sage went with her friend now. “See you after dinner, Sage?” he said hopefully. “Same place?”
Sage paused, looking torn, but Clare answered for her. “Of course she will. We can catch up tomorrow after I’ve had a chance to rest.”
Alex thanked her, though he doubted Clare’s willingness to part with Sage was completely unselfish. Casseck would end up covering most of Gramwell’s duties, too, once the lieutenant knew his own betrothed was here.
Ambassador Gramwell leaned down to kiss the top of Clare’s head. “I can see you’re in good hands. I have urgent business, so you must excuse me.” He nodded to Alex, catching his eyes with his own for a second. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Captain.”
Alex frowned at the man’s back. First Ash and now an ambassador. Everyone seemed to know more than he did.
8
THE NEXT MORNING Sage woke later than usual and was struggling to tame her hair when Clare knocked on her door. “Late night?” her friend asked with a smirk. “You look tired.”
“You hush,” Sage said. “I know you and Luke were out just as late.” That was a gamble, but she knew she was right when Clare blushed. With her friend’s help, Sage managed to get her hair braided and pinned in a few minutes. Together they walked to the queen’s apartment, making plans for the next few weeks. Clare had no idea how long the ambassador intended to stay, but he’d acted as if he’d be in Tennegol through summer.
“He retired rather young, didn’t he?” Sage asked.
Clare nodded. “Mama was in poor health, so he returned to Mondelea for her. I think he misses his work, though. He jumped at the chance to come down here.”
Sage couldn’t help but notice how attached Clare was to her future in-laws, referring to them as Mama and Papa as northerners called their parents. Considering how cruel Clare’s actual father was and that her mother had made no effort to shield her daughters from greed-driven matches, Sage was glad her friend had a real family at last, even if it had taken sixteen years to find them.
A servant ushered the pair into the queen’s dining room for a private breakfast. Her Majesty already sat at the cozy circular table draped with a periwinkle cloth and laden with an ivy-spray tea set. Though she’d greeted Clare warmly yesterday, Orianna had seemed somewhat irritated by her arrival, and Sage observed Her Majesty for the first few minutes, looking for signs she was still in a foul temper. The queen seemed cheerful, however, even playfully commenting that Sage was supposed to rest on her day off—not roam the corridors until the wee hours of the morning. Little escaped her notice, apparently.
Sage was relieved by Her Majesty’s teasing; she’d been half expecting a lecture about last night. It had been too rainy for their usual spot in the gardens, so she and Alex had strolled the palace halls, hand-in-hand, enjoying several minutes of privacy in every secluded alcove they’d passed—and there had been many. Surely such behavior wasn’t proper for a royal tutor. As much as Orianna didn’t sound bothered by it, Sage had no intention of abusing that allowance. She and Alex would have to be a little more discreet.
“I’m so glad you girls are here,” the queen said, holding on to both Sage’s and Clare’s hands after they’d recited the mealtime prayer to the Spirit. “I need your help.”
Sage glanced at Clare. Her friend looked as bewildered as she felt. “Of course, Your Majesty,” said Clare. “Whatever we can do.”
“Good.” Orianna released their hands, sat back, and picked up her fork. “Do you know why Captain Quinn is here, Sage?”
Sage shook her head, before shoving a forkful of eggs in her mouth, relieved the queen had started eating right away so she could. “Not other than that he has a new assignment. Even he doesn’t know.”
The queen nodded curtly and turned her blue-green eyes to Clare. “And do you know why Ambassador Gramwell has come to Tennegol?”
“No, Your Majesty. He’s said nothing to me.”
There was a hard gleam in Orianna’s eyes. “Then we all have the same problem. We’re being left out of something significant.” She gestured at the servant behind her, a young woman who was almost constantly at the queen’s side. “This is Meadow. Her brother Bryony attends the king as cupbearer.”
Sage knew who Bryony was, so that was said mostly for Clare’s benefit. As royal cupbearer, he attended the king in all public functions—and most private ones. However, after catching him throwing knives with astonishing accuracy one morning in the training yards, Sage privately theorized the young man was, in fact, the king’s bodyguard. She’d never heard him speak, though. It was rumored he had no tongue.
The queen continued, “For years, they’ve kept me abreast in matters of state that the king does not bother to include me in. Though I rarely seek to interfere, I feel it’s my duty to stay informed.” She paused and arched a delicate eyebrow. “Would you like to know what they’ve heard about the king’s current intentions?”
Sage nodded, astonished by the queen’s casual admission of eavesdropping on very private royal conversations.
“Nothing.”
Sage blinked. “Nothing?”
Orianna shook her head. “Not a word. Bryony has been excluded from almost all His Majesty’s meetings and councils.” She leaned forward again, her food seemingly forgotten. “But Ambassador Gramwell was immediately included on arrival. Today, Captain Quinn will be added.”
The queen’s intentions were now obvious. “You wish us to learn what we can through our connections,” Sage said.