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“I often become a beetroot in the face with too much wine,” Victoria giggled. “Baron Cole often cradles me back to our room.”

Baron Cole was Victoria’s husband and was a dashing man. He was polite, and one of the few noblemen Valerie could tolerate speaking to.

Victoria gave a deep yawn – attempting to stifle it to the point that she teared up – once she was done with the ties at the back of her dress.

Valerie turned to her. “I can do the rest; you may leave to return to your husband. I am sure he wonders where you are.”

“Thank you, my lady. Although he is aware of our agreement, he does worry for me when I walk the palace alone at night.”

He fears her walking the castle on her own?Valerie hadn’t thought about the woman’s welfare.Geryon stopped; others may not.

“Guard!” Valerie yelled, startling the poor woman.

“Yes, Lady Cecily?” one said as he ran in.

He quickly averted his gaze when he saw she was holding the front of her dress up. The back was open and loose.

“From now on, in the mornings, one of you will escort Lady Victoria to me. In the evenings, one of you will escort her to her husband.”

“It is okay, my lady. You do not need to worry for me.”

“If you wish to have your freedom to commit acts you should not, but that I do not care if you participate in, I will rescind my command.” Valerie didn’t care what the woman did; it was none of her business. “But I am happy to keep the command if you are truly worried, as it is for your safety. I will not permit you to come to harm in between your care for me.”

Victoria nodded. “You are much kinder than you appear. The additional protection would be much appreciated, especially at night, when wine has been involved.”

With a nod, Valerie turned her head back to her guard. “You are to issue my command to the others and detail yourselves accordingly.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“I have news of the rest of the week’s events, Lady Cecily,” Victoria said, while she ran a brush through Valerie’s wet hair. She’d not long been awake, and she was already having her morning bath. “Each day, King Bradwick will court one of you ladies for the entire day.”

Valerie’s gaze drifted over her room as she thought on what this meant for her. “So, I will not be with him at all during the week unless it is my day?”

“I know you must be disappointed, but it does mean you will have a whole day to win him without interference.”

No, this is perfect,Valerie thought.I can begin to search the palace grounds.

“Are you informed of which days will be granted to each of us?”

“I am. Today is for Lady Savannah, since she was the first to arrive at the palace. You will be the final lady, since you were the last.”That gives me three days to gather knowledge.“You will also no longer be dining in the banquet hall. Instead, the formal dining room is being prepared. He will sit at the head with the lady of the day. The other ladies will sit in the middle and converse with the court.”

“We will be completely separated from him each day?”

“Somewhat. He may wish to spend part of his time at court with the lady of the day. You may be able to sneak in a conversation with him in those times.”

Valerie had no such desires. She was just making sure she understood how far her freedom stretched.

“What will happen after the next four days?”

“There is no news on that. All I know is on the second to last night of the gala, there will be a ball where more visitors will arrive.”

After the update, Valerie was dressed in a baby blue dress, low cut and suggestive. She hadn’t thought it would be so revealing when she selected it from Cecily’s clothing chests.

“What is the court function for today?” Valerie asked when they left her living arrangements.

They were heading there now, so that she could show the court she was interested in them.

“I believe it will be another day of scatter.” A scattered court meant they would be spread out over the main lawns and rooms they attended.