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Valerie sat at the head banquet table next to King Bradwick.

She’d been the first lady to arrive, and she took this as her opportunity to get closer to him. Those who sat directly next to him were the ones who controlled their conversations. That meant she wouldn’t be trapped again to answer questions she was not fond of.

Instead, she got him to boast of himself. It made him awfully cheery, and he often placed his hand on her forearm. The other ladies usually talked about themselves to gain his interest.

Valerie knew the true power behind growing a man’s confidence, of getting him to talk of himself and complimenting him while he did so.

When he spoke of the battles he’d won, she would tell him that her father, Duke Grayson, could not speak of such triumph. If he spoke of the wealth and peace of his lands, she would tell him she doubted any other kingdom had such prosperity.

Wyetta had taken the other spot next to him, and for the first time, the conversation with the king had been pleasant to Valerie. Between his boasting, they spoke of stimulating things, things for which one needed tothink.

“Tonight’s conversations are very stimulating, ladies. I must say, I am enjoying them,” King Bradwick said with a broad smile upon his pleasant face.

“Wyetta and I are rather fond of each other, your Highness,” Valerie said while cutting into her meat drizzled in some sort of oily herb sauce. “We have resorted to trickery and rehearsed our conversations in order to deceive you with pleasantries.”

Bradwick gave a bellowing laugh. “You hear that, ladies and gentlemen?” he shouted to the court, who wouldn’t have been able to overhear their conversations. Everyone paused to turn to them. “These women are wicked! They have tricked me into having a good time in my own palace.”

While he leaned forward, Wyetta backed up so Valerie could see her and gave her a thumbs up.

“We do so wish to please you, King Bradwick,” Savannah said from next to her.

After their discussion about the day Valerie tripped Charlotte, and her version of events, the beautiful redhead had grown to like Valerie, at least enough that she tolerated her.

Charlotte refused to speak to her unless necessary, and Valerie was pleased with that. Often, they were seen on opposing sides, whether that be in a room or beside the king.

“I heard you were not feeling particularly well today, Lady Cecily,” he commented.

She nodded. “With my mother so unwell, we at Dyèrie manor have not thrown many parties for quite some time. I have felt overwhelmed with the festivities.”

“That is understandable. You will surely adjust in due time.” He nodded his head, returning to dig into his plate of food. “I have yet to ask how things are at your manor with your mother unwell. What ails her?”

“Her heart has grown weak, and she must rest often.” Valerie only came to know the specifics by asking her version of Duke Vermont what he thought was unwell with Duchess Edrea. “With her guidance, I have managed to keep the house running in the same manner as it had been before.”

“I know she has sisters; have they not fallen ill as well?”

“No, they have not. My aunts, who are much older than my mother, come to the manor to visit often.”

“What about finances? You surely must pay for the aid of doctors. Does that not burden Duke Grayson?”

Valerie shook her head. “We have a doctor paid to remain at the manor. My father is good at managing his lands.”

“I am pleased the estate can afford to house so many. I worried for your health, but it appears I have nothing to fear.”He wanted to know if what affected Cecily’s mother would affect her.

With their lack of medical knowledge, it was hard to know what sicknesses affected them and what their causes were. Of course, there was too much risk in asking a Witch for aid.

He turned to ask Wyetta about her lands and position in her home, giving Valerie a moment of silence.

When the evening grew late, the first lady to retire was Charlotte, who was obviously unhappy she was barely a part of the conversation.

As these things often lead to, the court began to stand around the banquet hall in disorder. They danced drunkenly in the centre of the room between the tables.

A shiver ran up Valerie’s back when the tip of a finger was drawn from her hips to the middle of her shoulder blades. She felt it over each indent of her spine.

“Bradwick, I plan to retire,” Geryon said, his head and body closer to her than the king as he leaned in between them.

Her eyes widened, darting across the room.He touched me so forwardly.

He continued to do so, placing his entire palm against her back. Even through her clothing, she found it remarkably warm. The guards didn’t seem to notice, his body shielding his actions.