Page 87 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1

But that's a problem for later.

I finish my breakfast and get to my feet.

"Where are you going?" Bastian asks.

"I'm walking Pip before my meeting with our father."

His face takes on a strange expression. "You have a meeting with him?"

"Erm, yes. To talk about my ladies-in-waiting," I say quickly.

My brother doesn't look particularly pleased about that, but he doesn't say anything about it. Probably because there's nothing to say. It's a conversation Lord Fallmartin and I need to have, and it ultimately has nothing to do with him.

I take my leave of the dining room with Pip running after me. At least I'll be able to take a walk now to clear my head before sitting down with the man who changed my life forever when he brought me to Castle Sanulieon. And I'm still not sure whether that's going to turn out to be a good thing or not.

NINE

I pause in the doorway of Lord Fallmartin's study, not really sure if I'm brave enough to go inside. I know I need to, but it almost feels as if this meeting is important on a level I don't really understand.

"Come in, Beatrice," he calls.

I take a deep breath and step inside.

To my surprise, a tea tray has been laid out on his desk, along with several stacks of paper.

"Have a seat. Do you like tea?"

"Erm, yes." I sit down and smooth out my skirt while he pours me some, setting the cup down in front of me. It's strange to have him do something so casual like that in front of me. Probably because the two of us have spent no time together since I arrived at the castle. I've been thinking of him in terms of someone who has power over me as the head of House Rothorne, but I realise I actually know very little about him other than what happened on the first day.

My words to Linc ring through my head. I do still wish he hadn't sold me off, even if the person I'm marrying is one I would choose for myself, but Lord Fallmartin has never actually been cruel to me. And that's something I should remember.

"We should start simple," he says.

"Oh?"

"Are there any members of the current household staff you wish to take with you when you move to the royal apartments?" he asks. "Your lady's maid, perhaps?"

"I suppose it's out of the question to suggest that I choose my own lady's maid who doesn't report to you," I respond.

Lord Fallmartin gives me a curious look, perhaps he didn't think I'd work out why he'd want to keep Jemima in her position. "Better that she reports to me than to one of your enemies."

"I don't think I have any."

"Perhaps not now," he agrees. "But that will change. You're taking on a position of power, you'll make enemies just by breathing."

"Perhaps you'll make an enemy by putting me there," I mutter.

To my surprise, he laughs. "None that I can't handle. And none that you should worry yourself about."

"I'm the one who is going to be put in a position where people can kill me," I point out.

"True. But you'll also be joining House Soveguine. You'll likely be assigned your own bodyguard, or you'll be protected by Prince Lincoln's."

"Eric," I say.

"Who?"

"That's Prince Lincoln's bodyguard."