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.“Well, it has been one thing after another, you know — first she did not care for what the musicians were playing, and then she complained that her gown was too long to be walking about in this grass, and then the cooks did not make the meat pastries she wanted…even though she told no one of her preference.I expect she thought they should just pick the idea out of her mind, like one of those mages in the old days who were supposed to see your thoughts.Anyway, it has been rather trying, and…” She broke off then, and her gaze strayed to the tall form of Sorthannic Sedassa where he stood on the other side of the pavilion, speaking with Lord Hildar.Yes, I could see why my sister would be put out, when she finally had a chance to steal some time with the Duke of Marric’s Rest, only to be thwarted by the incessant complaints of our mother.I saw no sign of Lord Hildar’s daughter, the irrepressible Gabrinne, or of her quarry, Lord Senric.“Is the Duke of Gahm here? I thought he was supposed to attend.”As I had hoped, my question distracted Lyarris from her romantic woes, and she smiled.“Oh, yes, he’s here…pursued by a very determined Lady Gabrinne.I believe she led him over to that stand of oak yonder.Something about helping her determine if the leaves are about to turn.”“She couldn’t think of anything better than that?”A shrug.“It seems to have worked, because they went forth a quarter-hour earlier and have not returned.I have to say that he did not seem all that reluctant about going with her.”“No, I somehow doubt he would.There is something in her aspect that tells me she isn’t above stealing a kiss or two, as long as no one is looking.” Even more than that — the daughter of an earl was watched too closely to be truly wanton, but I had the feeling Gabrinne would have no problem allowing Lord Senric to compromise her just a little, if it meant a speedier trip to the altar.“And what about you?”I raised my eyebrows.“I am not sure I understand what you are asking.”She shook her head.“Oh, play the innocent if you must, but I know you better than that.Tell everyone that Lady Ashara’s horse bolted and you most chivalrously followed to see that she came to no harm…but I rather think there might have been some kiss-stealing involved there as well.”“And I rather think that perhaps you have been spending too much time writing down people’s stories, and so are inventing them when in fact there are none.”Being Lyarris, she did not take offense at my words, but only smiled somewhat.“You may tell yourself that, if it makes you feel better.But now I think you had better make your rounds, or the young ladies will be even more restless than they are already.You should have heard the chatter when news came back that you had disappeared into the woods to the gods only knew where!”Since I had a good idea of how raucous it must have been been, I was very glad I had not been around to hear it.But my sister was right — I needed to walk amongst the young women, smile upon a chosen few, and make it seem as if I had not a care in the world, and specifically no special regard for a certain Ashara Millende.As I stepped from the pavilion, two guards immediately fell in behind me.It appeared Renwell Blane was taking no chances.Smothering a grin, I went to the tent where roughly a third of the young women had gathered.At once they fell in around me, filling the air with their babbling: “Your Majesty, is all well with you?” “Your Majesty, you gave us all such a turn!” “Your Majesty, are you going to have another hunt, since this one ended so badly?”I turned to see who had asked that last question, and looked down into Brinda Aldrenne’s glinting dark eyes.It did not surprise me that she should be so forward; I had heard she was quite the horsewoman, and so of course she would be upset that her chance to shine should be set so awry.Raising a hand, I said, “Ladies, my deepest apologies if the afternoon has not gone quite the way we all expected.I am here now, and am quite well.And Lady Brinda,” I added, making sure to catch her gaze and hold it, “I do regret that the hunt did not turn out as planned, but unfortunately we have a strict schedule this week, and I cannot ask my seneschal to set up another hunt.”Her mouth turned down, making what I normally would have considered to be a rather pretty pout…if I did not know how much lovelier Ashara’s mouth was, or what a viper Brinda could be.“I understand, Your Majesty,” she replied, and although her tone was uncharacteristically meek, I saw a flash of anger in her eyes.I knew better than to acknowledge that anger, however.Still smiling, I said, “Be of good cheer, Brinda.Perhaps I can assuage your disappointment by asking you to sit by me at the musicale tomorrow evening?”The anger was gone immediately, replaced by a bright avaricious glint.“Oh, Your Majesty, I would be so honored!”“Excellent,” I told her, and went on to smile and even laugh as best I could as I made my way through the pavilion before moving on to the next.Gods, what a sacrifice I was making.To have to endure Brinda Aldrenne’s loathsome company all the next evening! But I could think of no better way to pacify her, and it was only for a few hours.Besides, I had already told Ashara I would find a way to slip off and be alone with her, so I did have something to look forward to.How precisely I was going to manage such a feat, I did not know.Ah, well, I had some hours in which to formulate a plan.In the meantime, I would just have to suffer the company of all these importunate young women, and hope none of them would notice how weary I already was of all of them.* * *Truly, the rest of the afternoon proved to be as tedious as I had expected, with two exceptions.As I returned to the royal pavilion after dutifully making my rounds, I spied Lord Senric and Gabrinne Nelandre standing very close to one another, their fingers entwined.Probably no one else noticed, or cared; he was not the prize all those girls sought.Well, save one.But I smiled a little as I entered the pavilion, a smile that only broadened as I saw my sister and Lord Sorthannic apparently deep in conversation, oblivious to the jaundiced stare my mother was sending their way.“You look displeased,” I said casually, signaling one of the servants for a goblet of wine.All that talking to all those young women had dried out my throat most uncomfortably.“I thought you did not disapprove of such a match.”She lifted her shoulders.“My daughter should be marrying a prince.But since there are none to be had, I suppose she must settle for a mere duke.I just wish the duke in question were someone else [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.“Well, it has been one thing after another, you know — first she did not care for what the musicians were playing, and then she complained that her gown was too long to be walking about in this grass, and then the cooks did not make the meat pastries she wanted…even though she told no one of her preference.I expect she thought they should just pick the idea out of her mind, like one of those mages in the old days who were supposed to see your thoughts.Anyway, it has been rather trying, and…” She broke off then, and her gaze strayed to the tall form of Sorthannic Sedassa where he stood on the other side of the pavilion, speaking with Lord Hildar.Yes, I could see why my sister would be put out, when she finally had a chance to steal some time with the Duke of Marric’s Rest, only to be thwarted by the incessant complaints of our mother.I saw no sign of Lord Hildar’s daughter, the irrepressible Gabrinne, or of her quarry, Lord Senric.“Is the Duke of Gahm here? I thought he was supposed to attend.”As I had hoped, my question distracted Lyarris from her romantic woes, and she smiled.“Oh, yes, he’s here…pursued by a very determined Lady Gabrinne.I believe she led him over to that stand of oak yonder.Something about helping her determine if the leaves are about to turn.”“She couldn’t think of anything better than that?”A shrug.“It seems to have worked, because they went forth a quarter-hour earlier and have not returned.I have to say that he did not seem all that reluctant about going with her.”“No, I somehow doubt he would.There is something in her aspect that tells me she isn’t above stealing a kiss or two, as long as no one is looking.” Even more than that — the daughter of an earl was watched too closely to be truly wanton, but I had the feeling Gabrinne would have no problem allowing Lord Senric to compromise her just a little, if it meant a speedier trip to the altar.“And what about you?”I raised my eyebrows.“I am not sure I understand what you are asking.”She shook her head.“Oh, play the innocent if you must, but I know you better than that.Tell everyone that Lady Ashara’s horse bolted and you most chivalrously followed to see that she came to no harm…but I rather think there might have been some kiss-stealing involved there as well.”“And I rather think that perhaps you have been spending too much time writing down people’s stories, and so are inventing them when in fact there are none.”Being Lyarris, she did not take offense at my words, but only smiled somewhat.“You may tell yourself that, if it makes you feel better.But now I think you had better make your rounds, or the young ladies will be even more restless than they are already.You should have heard the chatter when news came back that you had disappeared into the woods to the gods only knew where!”Since I had a good idea of how raucous it must have been been, I was very glad I had not been around to hear it.But my sister was right — I needed to walk amongst the young women, smile upon a chosen few, and make it seem as if I had not a care in the world, and specifically no special regard for a certain Ashara Millende.As I stepped from the pavilion, two guards immediately fell in behind me.It appeared Renwell Blane was taking no chances.Smothering a grin, I went to the tent where roughly a third of the young women had gathered.At once they fell in around me, filling the air with their babbling: “Your Majesty, is all well with you?” “Your Majesty, you gave us all such a turn!” “Your Majesty, are you going to have another hunt, since this one ended so badly?”I turned to see who had asked that last question, and looked down into Brinda Aldrenne’s glinting dark eyes.It did not surprise me that she should be so forward; I had heard she was quite the horsewoman, and so of course she would be upset that her chance to shine should be set so awry.Raising a hand, I said, “Ladies, my deepest apologies if the afternoon has not gone quite the way we all expected.I am here now, and am quite well.And Lady Brinda,” I added, making sure to catch her gaze and hold it, “I do regret that the hunt did not turn out as planned, but unfortunately we have a strict schedule this week, and I cannot ask my seneschal to set up another hunt.”Her mouth turned down, making what I normally would have considered to be a rather pretty pout…if I did not know how much lovelier Ashara’s mouth was, or what a viper Brinda could be.“I understand, Your Majesty,” she replied, and although her tone was uncharacteristically meek, I saw a flash of anger in her eyes.I knew better than to acknowledge that anger, however.Still smiling, I said, “Be of good cheer, Brinda.Perhaps I can assuage your disappointment by asking you to sit by me at the musicale tomorrow evening?”The anger was gone immediately, replaced by a bright avaricious glint.“Oh, Your Majesty, I would be so honored!”“Excellent,” I told her, and went on to smile and even laugh as best I could as I made my way through the pavilion before moving on to the next.Gods, what a sacrifice I was making.To have to endure Brinda Aldrenne’s loathsome company all the next evening! But I could think of no better way to pacify her, and it was only for a few hours.Besides, I had already told Ashara I would find a way to slip off and be alone with her, so I did have something to look forward to.How precisely I was going to manage such a feat, I did not know.Ah, well, I had some hours in which to formulate a plan.In the meantime, I would just have to suffer the company of all these importunate young women, and hope none of them would notice how weary I already was of all of them.* * *Truly, the rest of the afternoon proved to be as tedious as I had expected, with two exceptions.As I returned to the royal pavilion after dutifully making my rounds, I spied Lord Senric and Gabrinne Nelandre standing very close to one another, their fingers entwined.Probably no one else noticed, or cared; he was not the prize all those girls sought.Well, save one.But I smiled a little as I entered the pavilion, a smile that only broadened as I saw my sister and Lord Sorthannic apparently deep in conversation, oblivious to the jaundiced stare my mother was sending their way.“You look displeased,” I said casually, signaling one of the servants for a goblet of wine.All that talking to all those young women had dried out my throat most uncomfortably.“I thought you did not disapprove of such a match.”She lifted her shoulders.“My daughter should be marrying a prince.But since there are none to be had, I suppose she must settle for a mere duke.I just wish the duke in question were someone else [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]