Perry answered with a splash that hit her square in the face.
She retaliated by running into the spring with plans to soak him in return, but his strong arms were around her before she could make her move.
“This is refreshing,” she murmured as she leaned into his bare chest, enjoying the view of the sun glistening on his sculpted muscles.
When Perry did not immediately agree with her, she looked up and saw his gaze trailing across the pool.
“What do you think Tarek meant about the Oasis not remaining open much longer?” he asked in a hushed tone, despite their being alone in the water.
Jax eased herself out of his arms. “I wonder if he thinks the Oasis won’t be able to operate without Samira here.”
Perry’s brow furrowed. “I don’t get it. Where is Samira going?”
“She’s engaged to Tarek, and he’s planning on taking her away from the estate once they are married.”
“Samira?” Perry’s eyes grew large. “She’s going to marry that man? She seems so nice.”
“It’s an arranged marriage. One she’s not happy about.” Jax met her husband’s understanding gaze. “It reminds me how lucky I am to have you.”
He kissed her forehead. “The feeling is mutual, my love.”
They relaxed in the water until the sun’s penetrating rays got the better of them, at which time they joined their friends in the shade of the lounge chairs.
“This is certainly a beautiful place,” Uma said as she fanned herself with a large palm leaf. “Strange there aren’t more people about.”
Jax sipped the iced tea Samira had delivered to the group earlier before her arrival. “Well, visiting the Kwatalar desert in the middle of summer isn’t exactly a top priority for most people. The villa sees most of its tourism during the winter months.”
Uma shook her head. “No, I meant more staff. Besides Samira and her parents, I haven’t seen anyone. It strikes me as odd. You’d think this place would be crawling with servants.”
“Perhaps they have reduced staffing in the summer,” Hendrie said, wiping the last of the sleep from his eyes.
Jax agreed with the straw-haired valet. “It wouldn’t make sense to have an army of workers for a handful of guests.”
“I know.” Uma pursed her lips. “Still, I would have thought there would be at least a couple more people running around. I mean, Ferran brought our trunks upstairs himself when we arrived.”
Jax remembered how her luggage had been deposited in front of their suite door. “That does seem a bit odd,” she mused. “As master of an estate, you’d think he’d have someone else fetch the bags. In fact, didn’t he say he’d send someone for ours?” She looked at Perry.
“Maybe he sent himself. Perhaps he does it to connect more with the guests.” Perry sank into the cushions beside her, stroking her hand with his fingers.
Jax rolled her eyes. “He hardly gave us the time of day when we arrived, and I haven’t seen him since. His wife seems to be everywhere, though.”
Vita’s eyes narrowed. “She’s quite horrible toward her daughter. I overheard her chastising Samira for how she folded the blankets while I was upstairs in the guest chambers. I can’t imagine speaking to your own blood like that.”
Jax was just about to recount for the group the conversation she’d overheard between mother and daughter when George appeared, carrying a platter of dried fruits.
“Samira said these would pair well with the tea she served,” he said, placing the golden tray on a table.
Having missed her opportunity to snack on the Soveignets, Jax quickly snatched a dried apricot and stuffed it into her mouth. “What have you been up to all this time?”
“Scouting,” he replied in a hush, his dark eyes glittering. “I find it odd that even in the dead heat of summer, an established estate such as this one has so few workers on staff.”
“We were just talking about that,” Uma said, matching George’s whisper as she reached for a dried mango.
“You think there’s something we need to be concerned about?” Perry asked, his features etched with alarm.
“I just want to be on alert.” George settled into an empty seat. “Between the Tandorians, the Zaltorians, a Savantian merchant, and a Beautraudian hunter, we’re not exactly among friends.”
The shadow in George’s eyes sent a chill through Jax, despite the heat. “Perhaps we can find out more about our companions at dinner tonight.”
“I think that would be wise.”
She found no reassurance in his cautious tone.
Chapter Nine
“Something smells divine,” Jax commented as Perry escorted her into the modest, but comfortable dining hall. The table stretching before them had fewer place settings than the outdoor setup for the luncheon. There would be no escaping the attentions of the other guests tonight sitting in such close quarters.
Jax had arranged to sit in the middle of her group of friends, preventing anyone else from getting too close to her. Uma, Hendrie and Vita sat directly across from her, and with Perry to her left and George to her right, she had a human fortress around her.
As Jax settled in her seat, she watched out of the corner of her eye as Edrice and Ammon entered the hall. They appeared to be lost in conversation as they absently sat beside Perry. Not until after Alasdair and Monsieur Louis took seats across from the couple did they stop their muted chatter and smile in greeting to the rest of the gathered guests.
Ines entered the room alone, claiming one of the few remaining empty chairs. “My apologies to you all, again, for my brother’s behavior this afternoon,” she muttered meekly as she placed her napkin on her lap.
“For Virtues’ sake, Ines, I told you that you have no right to apologize on my behalf,” Olavo thundered as he arrived, taking a seat opposite his sister. “I only apologize when I am in the wrong, and that tea was too strong.”
Jax glanced at Uma, whose lips were pressed in a thin line. Curious about the two Tandorians and their story, Jax, unable to restrain herself, decided to make a bold move. “I didn’t take you for a weak man, Sir Olavo.”
The table went deathly silent.
“When it comes to the strength of his drink, that is,” she declared after a beat.
Olavo looked past the stunned faces of Ammon, Edrice, and Perry until his wild amber eyes fell on Jax. She steeled herself for the current of rage churning in his expression, but to her surprise it all melted away into roaring laughter. “A clever barb, if I’ve ever heard one.”
A tentative smile grew on her lips at his boisterous response. “I don’t believe my husband and I were able to introduce ourselves before you left the luncheon this afternoon.”
“And for that I am truly sorry.” Olavo bowed his head. “I have heard through the grapevine we are in the presence of a Mensina family, are we not?”
Jax poked Perry with her elbow, encouraging him to take the lead. “Ah, yes. Baron Rapaste is my father,” Perry said before bending his arm to rub his side.
“I didn’t realize the good Baron had a son.” Olavo’s gaze turned curious. “I thought his estate passed on to some cousin because he had only daughters.”
Jax’s insides tightened. Olavo seemed very well-versed on the noble families of the realm, even the ones who were more obscure. What role did he play in Duchess Tandora’s court?
Seeing the panic flourishing in Perry’s eyes, Jax rushed to his rescue. “It’s one of the most well-kept secrets in the duchy, sir. Baron Rapaste is notoriously paranoid about his rivals wanting to undermine his rule and usurp his barony for their own. When his son was born, he vowed to keep him hidden from society, for fear someone would attack or harm his legacy.”
Olavo seemed intrigued by this information. “So, I am dining with a reclusive heir. How fascinating.” He looked to his sister. “The Duchess will never believe it when I tell her.”
“Duchess Tandora?” Jax was eager to hear more about the goings on of the foreign court.
Nodding, Olavo reached for his goblet and took a long sip. “Yes, I have been with Her Grace for many years. I took over as her private secretary when my father passed away. My family has served the royal house for generations.”
A private secretary. Jax lowered her gaze so Olavo wouldn’t see the interest written all over her face. It was rare for a ducal ruler to have a private secretary these days. Often, the High Courtier took on the duties, such as writing missives or decrees on the sovereign’s behalf. What Jax didn’t write herself came from Jaquobie. For personal matters, a lady-in-waiting often stepped in when the need was required.
As a private secretary, however, Olavo’s role was not of a political advisor, but simply as a scribe for Duchess Tandora’s dictations, personal and political. Not that this made him harmless. He no doubt knew many secrets, but possessed neither the formal training nor background to understand the arena. A dangerous combination, which was why most rulers had dismissed their private secretaries over the last fifty years.
Collecting herself, Jax responded with reverence. “What a fascinating position you hold.” Any member of a royal court was second only to that of his or her sovereign in standing, and considering the company she pretended to keep, that made Sir Olavo the most influential person at this table.
Olavo flushed, seemingly flattered by her show of respect. “It does keep me on my toes,” he said.
“Are you here on business, then, Sir?” Perry asked, taking over.
“No, the Duchess is away from the palace, visiting her seaside estate.” At the confusion that flickered on the faces around the table, Olavo explained, “When she travels, her lady-in-waiting takes care of any correspondence, and my services will not be required until the Duchess’s return to court.”
The visible tension in Ines’s posture melted as her brother cheerfully spoke about his important role. “Olavo and I have longed to visit the Duchies of Kwatalar and Zaltor for many years now,” she said, “and since he rarely gets time away from the palace, we figured if not now, then when? We head for the Zaltorian coast tomorrow morning.” She shot a grateful look Jax and Perry’s way in silent thanks for calming her brother down before he caused another scene.
Jax tipped her head in acknowledgement as the last of the dinner guests arrived.
Ferran, with Abra on his arm, entered the room, followed by Tarek. The three were dressed in finery, each in a robe trimmed with gold. Abra’s was a beautiful teal gown that highlighted her sensual figure, while both Ferran and Tarek’s dress robes were midnight black, although Jax’s keen eyes noticed the hem of Ferran’s to be a bit frayed. Samira was nowhere to be found.
“Greetings, my honored guests. We are delighted to have you at our table.” Ferran escorted his wife to her seat, pulling out her chair and tucking it in before taking his place at the head of the table.
Tarek took the last open spot on Ferran’s left, giving everyone a beaming greeting. Gone was the hubris he displayed earlier in the day. Tonight, he seemed all charm and grace as he struck up an animated conversation with Ines and Alasdair.
With everyone settled in, Ferran flicked his hand and the staff doors swung open. A huge cart laden with roasted figs and dates wrapped in thinly sliced ham rolled across the floor, propelled by none other than Samira. Her hair was pulled back, and though her serving coat was bulky and plain, she still radiated an effortless beauty.
Jax fiddled with her napkin as she waited for Samira to serve the savory appetizer, as she was the sole attendant of tonight’s dinner. She considered that Tarek might have been correct about the future of the Oasis. If Samira was forced to leave her role here, how would the family-run resort manage without her?
“This looks heavenly,” Ammon complimented Samira as she dished food onto his plate. “You are a lucky man, Tarek. Take it from one who knows.” He eyed his own wife’s refined beauty.
Tarek’s eyes lingered on the couple a moment before responding. “Samira’s talents in the kitchen will be highly valued at my father’s manor.”
Jax’s stomach curdled at the sour comment.
“How long have your two families been linked?” Perry asked.
Ferran opened his mouth to respond, but Tarek cut him off. “I’ve known the Ogdams for many, many years. Their son came to my father’s home for tutoring, and we became fast friends.” As if lost in a recollection, his prideful exterior melted, and a genuine smile situated on his lips.
Ferran resumed his aborted reply. “Yes, and Earl Killiam has always enjoyed a dip in the springs every now and then. A union between our two families just made sense.”
The serving spoon in Samira’s hands clattered against George’s plate. “Goodness, I’m sorry,” she mumbled in apology.
“No harm done,” George reassured her with a chuckle.
Abra’s eyes looked murderous as she bore into her daughter’s back. Jax had half a mind to suggest Abra serve them all herself if she was so unsatisfied with the way Samira went about it.
Sir Olavo, ignoring the disturbance, turned his gaze to the burly woodsman shoveling figs into his gaping mouth. “Any luck with the beast that’s afoot, Alasdair?”
“I checked meh traps before dinner. The ol’ bugger is still on the loose. I plan to head into the village tomorrow to scout around.” His words were marred by the food still in his mouth. “There’s a sandstorm brewin’ tonight, though, so it might drive the beast underground for a day or two.”
“Sandstorm?” Hendrie paled, shifting in his seat.
Ferran waved a dismissive hand. “Rather common out here in the desert, Lord Barnaby. They don’t last for very long, and the villa is well fortified against sand blowing in.”
“And afterward,” Edrice said, reaching for her husband’s hand, “it’s as if the world has been set anew. It’s stunning, the first time you see it. All traces of the day vanished with the wind. Why, you might even notice a different scene out your window in the morning.”
‡
“Is everything all right?” Perry asked. “You’ve been tossing and turning for hours.”
Jax, her head on her pillow, glanced over her shoulder and sighed. “I’m sorry if I’ve been keeping you awake. I can’t seem to fall asleep. I had hoped the winds would eventually lull me to sleep, but it sounds like the sandstorm dwindled out a while ago.”
Perry rubbed her back, his hands cool against her skin. “You’re not the only one. I can’t seem to shut my mind off, either.”
“What’s troubling you?” Jax sat up, eager to learn what weighed on his mind.
“I keep thinking about your answer to Olavo’s question about Baron Rapaste. While it satisfied him tonight, what if he digs into our story a little more? It only takes one mistake for this whole charade to fall apart, and I’m afraid I’m the weak link. I’m not as calculated as you are, Jax. I’m not skilled at lying.”
She bent to kiss his forehead, pushing back his curls. “And I love you for that. His question was unexpected, but we got through it. Besides, during the various conversations at dinner, Ines said they are leaving for Zaltor after breakfast, so we hardly have to worry about the Tandorians much longer.”
“I just feel like we’re inching closer and closer to danger the longer we are away from home.”
She tried to massage out the worry in his tight shoulders. “We’ll be fine, dearest. Everyone seems quite taken with the newlyweds Lord and Lady Rapaste.”
“What’s keeping sleep from you, then?” His lavender eyes shone in the moonlight, the dye having worn off mere minutes after they retired for the evening.
“I don’t know. A great many things are fighting for prominence in my mind.” Jax lay down and snuggled against his chest. “Perhaps what bothers me most is Samira’s situation. I’ve been so focused on undoing all the societal restraints for the common-born people in the realm, that I’ve completely overlooked how much needs to change among the noble families themselves.”
“It does seem like a rather imp
ossible task.” Perry traced his fingers down her arm. “You’d think a woman born into nobility would have an enjoyable life, but her parents seem to treat her like a slave, and now they’re selling her off like cattle.”
“It would almost be easier to do away with the whole system,” Jax mumbled, more to herself than to her husband.
Perry’s eyes danced with intrigue. “Now, that would be something.”
“I was joking,” she said, looking at him warily. “But I know that look. What do you have in mind?”
He sat up straight, his back against the pillows. “Just hear me out on this. I know your plan is to allow common-born people the chance to work their way up in rank, assuming positions of nobility once they earn it. But what if…” he paused for effect, “what if you just did away with it all? Make everyone inherently equal in standing and in influence, with no titles or ranks to lord over each other.”
“Relieve the nobles of their titles?” Jax wanted to make sure she understood him correctly.
“Yes! What use are they now, really? Nobles haven’t properly ruled their territories for hundreds of years. It’s all been done by courtiers, carrying out the decrees of the sovereign. And now, with the village and town premiers, what are they but just tax collectors for the people who live on their inherited land?”
Jax’s brow furrowed as she began unraveling the proposal before her. While it was naive of Perry to think she could just do away with nobility, it wasn’t entirely impossible. He was right to say that the barons, marquesses, earls, and so forth all collected taxes from the commoners living on their land, sending it on to the ducal treasury after they’d taken their negotiated cut. Those funds were critical to each duchy’s financial income. But did they have to be?
“Did I say something that actually made sense?” Perry asked, the grin barely visible on his face in the dark.
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