Page 22

“We are all very excited for this opportunity. I will get my chance.”

“It would have been better if you had, Cecily. You may not have almost dragged the king to the floor.” Wyetta giggled behind a scone before nibbling into it.

“Poor thing. I felt terrible for her,” Valerie said, before sipping her tea again. “I tried to catch her, but it seems I was too slow.”

Wyetta held her gaze knowingly, then casually changed the subject. “I must admit, I appreciated your opinion on the gods and how it leads to war. I have never heard that poem, but I felt deeply when you recited it.”

“I found your response to what you would do when faced with a Dragon was rather splendid as well. I do not have the training with a weapon to even consider going toe to toe with anyone.” It was a lie. Valerie was a perfect marksman. She could wield a sword and unleash an arrow with accuracy. She could even throw a spear. “Do you know how to wield a weapon to have such grand thoughts?”

It is a shame I doubt I will ever regain my sword from the real Lady Cecily.She’d thought carrying it with her would have been far too suspicious. Also, revealing that she was excellent with a sword would cause them to wonder why. Most noblewomen weren’t trained to fight.

Wyetta leaned forward to whisper to her. “I begged my brothers to teach me without Father knowing. If I were born a man, I would have been destined to be a soldier.”

“Should I be frightened of you, Wyetta?” Valerie teased, finding she was fond of her.

“Only if you cross me.”

“Let us make a sweet deal, then,” Valerie offered, noting how Wyetta’s bright green eyes lit up. “Let us not crawl over each other for this gala.”

The darker-skinned woman immediately pouted. “The idea of torturing the other two was to be my main source of entertainment.”

“Do as you will with them; they are not a part of this spoken deal.”

Her bright grin returned. She reached her hand forward after wiping jam off her thumb, and Valerie grasped it.

They shook hands. “Deal.”

Good, one less person for me to worry about.

“I am sick of tea,” Wyetta laughed, sliding her chair back to stand. “Would you care to join me for a stroll outside?”

Valerie’s gaze fell on the balcony, seeing others already doing something similar.

“Yes, fresh air does sound appealing.” She leaned closer to Victoria so no one could overhear. “Please remain here with the other ladies. I am curious to know what they say while we are gone.”

She got to her feet and linked her arm with Wyetta.

The rear of the palace was a vast area of gardens. There was a maze of scrub hedges at the very back that seemed miles away. To the right, there was a thin forest, perfect for men to hunt wild birds. To the left, they grew the food consumed inside by the nobles. She was sure there was more she couldn’t see behind those features.

Not too far of a stroll from the balcony exit they used was a tree with a stone bench under it. It faced clear fields and a rectangular lake she was sure the king would keep stocked to fish in.

Wyetta was busy chatting away, reminiscing about their stroll with the king and the controversial opinions they shared.

Valerie had one thought.How can I use this friendship to my advantage?

“I think those women are more than I can handle on my own,” King Bradwick sighed while collapsing onto a settee. His head fell back so he could close his eyes.

He appeared truly worn out by the last few hours.

Geryon sat on the settee next to his, placing his feet on the arm of the chair Bradwick sat in. When he finally opened his eyes and sat up, the king almost head butted the bottom of his boots.

“Picked one you like yet?” Geryon asked instead of lowering his feet, even when a brow was raised.

He did have his feet pushed off, though. Bradwick knew telling him what to do would get him nowhere.

“It is far too early to tell. I must admit, I am thankful I instigated this gala and that I will be able to choose my own wife.” Bradwick leaned his face on an enclosed fist, resting both his elbows on the arm rest. “If my parents were still alive, they would have spoken with their fathers and tried to orchestrate the best marriage to strengthen their alliances.”

Geryon moved his feet to place them on the long, low table in front of them.