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Lady Keventin’s large brown eyes widened, and she shook her head. “I couldn’t take th-this from you, m-my queen.” A light accent to her voice.

So Mer’s suspicions were right. The duchess was Scythian.

“Nonsense,” Mer replied, securing the clasp at the girl’s throat. “You’re caring for more than yourself.”

“Th-th-thank you.”

“How are you feeling, Your Grace?” Mer asked as the cool air ruffled her short hair, locks falling in her face.

“I am w-well, my queen.”

“How is the sickness?”

The duchess blanched. “F-fine.”

Mer cocked her head. “There’s no wrong answer, my lady. You don’t have to fear me.” She’d had a friend who had a tricky tongue growing up. His stutter always grew worse when he was nervous, scared, or excited. Was this something similar?

A flush crept into the girl’s olive cheeks. “I don’t f-fear you. I’ve been t-ton-tongue-tied since I was a ch-ch-child, my queen.”

“You speak beautifully. Thank you for your words.” She smiled warmly at the girl and took Duchess Keventin’s hand in her own. “I have a feeling we’ll be fast friends. You may call me Mer in private.”

The duchess smiled shyly. “Thank you. I’m Sienna.”

No stutter. It felt like a reward.

Sienna stepped closer to Mer, her gaze flitting from the group of girls and back to Mer’s face. “Th-thank you for what you did, M-mer.”

“I’ve done nothing.” She frowned at Sienna. What was she referring to?

“For Phia. Th-the servant.” The girl shifted on her feet, the cloak dragging on the ground. “You distracted the l-l-lord from his rage.”

Mer squeezed the girl’s frail hand, hate for Duke Keventin burning hot in her gut. “Is he often like that?” she asked softly, trying not to scare the girl.

“If y-y-you get in his way,” she whispered.

“Has he hurt you?” Mer murmured softly, scanning Sienna’s face.

“Not since...” Her hand dropped to her rounded belly. “I’m his th-third wife.”

Mer stiffened but tried to keep her fear and worry for the young woman off her face. Duke Keventin was an abusive brute and quite possibly a murderer. Lady Sienna wasn’t safe, and neither was her unborn child.

“How did you two meet?” Mer asked gently. After all the genetic tampering the Scythians had pursued over the past millennia, they’d almost doomed themselves to extinction. They never let their women leave the country. So how was Sienna here in Methi?

“A long s-s-story, one I d-don’t speak of, my queen.” Her words were firm.

Mer wouldn’t be wheedling the story out of the young duchess this night. She needed more time with the girl to gain her trust. Something was clearly wrong but the poor girl was too afraid to speak up.

She nodded to Sienna. “I understand. There are parts of my past that I would like to forget as well.” She gave the girl a soft smile. “Our time at your keep is almost up, but I’ve enjoyed your company tonight. I would like you to come back with me to court once our husbands have concluded their business.”

Sienna’s eyes widened further. “I-I-I cannot possibly . . .”

“Nonsense. I am the queen. Duke Keventin would never deny my request. Plus, I know humans have confinement, but you can’t possibly be close to that time yet.” Two birds, one stone. Mer could keep an eye on the duchess’s safety, and gain more information on what the duke was up to. There was something rotten about Laos Keep and its duke. Mer just needed to find more proof.

A little glimmer of hope filled Sienna’s eyes. “You really wish me t-to go with you?”

“I do.” She squeezed the girl’s hand. “It’s settled, I'll speak with your husband tonight.”

“Thank you, my queen.”