“Why?” Perry asked, genuinely interested. “Why did you stay away from home so much?”
Jax gnawed on her lip considerately, trying to voice her thoughts. “I suppose that I didn’t want much to do with the life of a ducal daughter. All the balls and public appearances, it got rather old. I convinced my father that I wanted to be a scholar, that going to the Academy would help me grow into a more just and fair ruler. He agreed, and off I went. When I excelled in political science and duchy relations, my father thought that my work as an ambassador would strengthen our nation. And it did. I’m very proud of the work I have accomplished for my duchy, even before I became Duchess.”
Perry watched her intently. “Do you regret it?”
She looked at him, her façade beginning to crumble. “I don’t know, honestly. If I had known what little time I would have with my parents, I might have gone a different route. But I was a difficult child, too, lashing out at my mother, and sending me to the Academy mended our relationship in many ways because we were no longer at each other’s throats. And I’ve learned so much and have the confidence to be sovereign. Without my training, I’m not sure I would have been suitable for the position.” The callous nature of her honesty shocked her, but Perry did not flinch.
“You will be a great ruler,” he reached out and took her hand in his. “Of that, I am certain.”
Blushing, Jax turned away and noticed Arnie approaching. “Lord Pettraud, I’d like to officially introduce you to my lady-in-waiting, Aranelda of Sephretta.”
Arnie bowed low, Perry taking her hand and bringing it to his lips. “It is most excellent to meet you, Lady Aranelda.”
“Please, call me Arnie. Aranelda makes me sound like a wicked old witch,” her friend chuckled, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Lady Jacqueline tells me you are an artist. I hope my paint collection will suffice until more can be brought up from the market.”
“I’m sure your assortment will put mine to shame. My father was never one to approve of this little hobby, and thus, I had to make due with creating my own dyes in secret.” Perry winked at his companions.
“Arnie, why don’t you get Lord Pettraud set up whilst I attend to some rather boring business,” Jax suggested lightly, giving both their cue to leave. She’d dallied with her future consort long enough for today. “I shall see you at supper.”
Perry looked moderately discouraged to be dismissed, but took it in stride. “Until then, my lady.” With a tender kiss on the cheek, he backed away, his eyes yearning for more.
She watched them bounce away, pleased that their temperaments were compatible. She had yet to have quality time with Arnie to discuss all the goings on, but at least her two friends were getting along well. Taking a separate corridor from the gardens that led to her father’s study, Jax sat down wearily behind the grand mahogany desk. How was she going to conduct a proper investigation into her parents’ murders if she was being watched by Duke Pettraud’s spies the entire time. She wondered if she had just accepted the marriage proposal upfront if this would still have been a result. Shuffling through a pile of paperwork, Jax absentmindedly went about her work, only to be interrupted by a knock on her door. Frowning, she looked up at the intruder, but changed her demeanor when her eyes found the elderly figure.
“Master Vyanti! What news do you have?” She had not been expecting the physician to appear until later that night.
He scurried to her side, his eyes wild. “I know I said I would come to you in the evening, Your Grace, but I have learned much this day.”
“As have I,” Jax twisted herself in her chair, clasping her hands eagerly. “I spoke with Captain Solomon and one of the kitchen maids, both who spent the morning of the accident with my parents. The captain said my father ate no food in his presence and they were together two hours prior to his immediate departure. Soren, the maid, said my mother had eggs, toast, and juice from the kitchen and was in the best of spirits.”
The old man’s eyes piqued with interest. “I think I know where you are going with this line of questioning. Your mother displayed no obvious symptoms that she had been poisoned during her morning routine.”
“Exactly,” Jax exclaimed.
“And you are correct, there would have been symptoms once the poison entered the bloodstream. Your parents would have started to complain of a headache and immense fatigue about an hour in. Then vomiting would occur, followed by a coma that leads to death. After further analysis of their bodies, I think I can conclusively say that they died around the same time.”
At the master’s description, Jax closed her eyes, not wanting to think about her parents falling victim to the bloodsleaf. It made her blood boil that they were forced to endure such pain before their lives were taken. “Between the two stories, I feel they must have been poisoned once entering the carriage. If only their guards had survived, we could have asked them when the duke and duchess started falling ill.”
Master Vyanti folded his arms. “Well, on that front, I do have some good news. I autopsied the bodies of the quad that was assigned to escort them, and all four men were also poisoned.”
“Why is that good news?” Jax’s stomach flipped at the notion.
“Because I stopped by a tavern that was on their route that morning. Your parents did not get off their carriage, but the innkeeper remembered two of the guards coming in to use their washroom. The innkeeper said they looked absolutely dreadful, like they had the plague. He made them use the basins outside.” Master Vyanti’s lips curled triumphantly.
“Where was this tavern located?” Jax’s question was barely audible.
“It took me about an hour on horseback, meaning that the carriage would have passed by nearly two hours after departing the castle.” The physician explained his calculations to her.
“So, by that time, at least two of the guards had been poisoned.” Jax deduced.
Vyanti nodded. “We can assume that they would have fallen within the hour of leaving the tavern. Considering that all four bodies of the guards were found under or around the crashed carriage, it’s likely that the group was ambushed and dragged to the drop site, which is over two hours away from where they were last seen at the tavern.”
Jax opened the lowest desk drawer and pulled out a map. “Could you mark for me where this tavern is and where the carriage was found, please?”
Dutifully nodding, the physician took a quill pen and scratched two X’s on the map. Jax looked at their locations relative to one another. “I think I have an idea.” She mumbled, measuring the site. “I think I’ll take a ride out to this tavern and continue on the route my parents would have taken. Perhaps I can find the place where they were ambushed, since we only sent the ducal guard to the actual scene of the accident. It’s possible our assassins may have left some clues.”
At this, Master Vyanti’s brow furrowed. “I know we said to keep this between us, Your Grace, but it’s highly imprudent for you to go out there on your own.”
Jax raked her brain for an excuse, one finally coming to mind. “I won’t go alone, then.”
Dinner that night was much more enjoyable than the feast the previous night. Perry was her only dining companion, with Arnie stating coyly that she preferred dinner in her room that night. The obnoxious wink she gave Jax made the duchess laugh at her friend’s matchmaking instincts.
“So, day one. How did you fair? Was it pure torture?” Jax prodded jokingly as Perry stuffed his mouth with duck breast.
“Horrible,” he grinned through his food. Swallowing, he chuckled. “I won’t say it was complete torture. I got to spend my morning strolling around with a gorgeous woman and my afternoon painting with another beautiful lady.”
Jax smiled, shaking her finger at him. “Now, now, now, don’t go getting eyes for another woman, Pettraud. Especially one who is taken.”
Perry looked surprised. “Arnie is engaged?”
The duchess waved her hand flippantly. “Not officially, but I’m expecting D
uke Crepsta to make the offer on behalf of his nephew soon.”
“Hmm, Arnie didn’t mention that,” and for some reason, Jax felt a stab of jealously at Perry’s concern. He must have sensed it, for he held his arms up in protest. “No, goodness, not what I meant. I thought she might get along with my brother Kaul. He’s sixth in line for the ducal throne, so if they married and he was bequeathed some Saphire lands, he could make his home here, so Arnie wouldn’t have to leave you.”
Touched by his considerate planning, Jax reached across her place setting and took his hand. “I appreciate you brokering my friend’s marriage options, I will not let my desires get in the way of her having true love. She and the earl fell for each other the moment they met at the Academy. I could never ask her to give that up for me.” She didn’t mean to sound so upset, but she just couldn’t contain her building grief.
“I didn’t realize it was true love, Your Grace. Of course, nothing should stand in its way,” Perry commented, smiling softly into her eyes. He squeezed her hand and kissed it affectionately before letting her return to her supper.
They were silent for the next few moments, each thinking about what they had given up as members of ducal families. In that moment, Jax realized that she would never have the luxury of finding her true love. Her partner sat before her, and while she was growing rather fond of him by the minute, true love was just a dream. “Perry, I have an idea,” she said suddenly, shaking her head of romantic delusions, “why don’t you and I go for a ride tomorrow morning? I can show you some of Saphire up close.” She popped a small grape into her mouth.
“That sounds absolutely delightful! I couldn’t think of anything I’d enjoy more,” Perry proclaimed warmly, sipping his wine with enthusiasm.
“Wonderful, we shall depart after breakfast,” Jax bit into a piece of chocolate cake with triumph.
Chapter Seven
Vyanti barely had time to knock on the door before she opened it, ushering the man in. Clad in her sleeping gown, Jax motioned to the chairs next to the fireplace, fearing that lighting any candles would alert the staff she was awake and moving about. “Any luck finding the source of the bloodsleaf?”
Vyanti, looking incredibly tired from his day of investigation, shook his head discouragingly. “Not a single herbalist or merchant claims to have ever sold it. The only lead I have is that there is a Cetachi tradesman who comes to Sephretta once a week who may sell it. The merchants suspect he’ll be arriving either tomorrow or the day after.”
“Cetachi? Does bloodsleaf come from that region?” Jax resisted the chill running through her veins. Cetachi was a land of wild men and rebels, refusing to bend to the rule of duchies that had in the past, tried to take over the rogue nation.
“I don’t have an official register regarding Cetachi’s natural resources, but the swampy environment would most certainly allow for the plant to flourish.” Vyanti clutched his hands together, in contemplation. “I will go down to the market tomorrow and wait for this man.”
Jax stood up abruptly and marched to her bureau, lifting the top off of a gold colander. “Take these with you, Master, and get yourself a room for the evening. I can see that all this traveling is taking its toll on you. You’re not as young as you were when you chased me around the west wing for my vaccines.” She dropped ten nuggets of gold into his hand, confident that the currency would buy him a comfortable room.
Looking at her gift to him, he snorted. “I remember the day you and your father proposed using “gems” of gold, rather than our precious sapphires. We all thought you were crazy, considering our forges learned to make gold a long time ago. But just as you predicted, the sapphires became scarce and these gems saved the day.”
Jax rolled her eyes, thinking back at the first real ducal crisis her father had asked for her opinion on. “No, Beautraud saved the day. They’ve been using man-made gold as currency for over a decade. I simply visited the right duchy at the opportune time.” She sank into her chair by the fire, the light flickering on her face. “You will be all right, won’t you, Vyanti? You’re my only ally and I cannot afford to lose you.” She assessed the man’s sallow face.
“Just a bit winded from the tavern and market visit. I shall take it easy tomorrow in the town’s square.” The old man waved her worries aside, stubborn in his old age.
“But what about the Cetachi merchant? He won’t be dangerous, will he?” The thought of a wild man within her city walls did make her uneasy.
Vyanti sputtered in retort. “The Cetachi are harmless. All they want to do is live on their own land, with their own beliefs, in peace.”
Jax couldn’t help but think Vyanti was speaking about the struggles of the Ancient Faith. In many duchies, the religion had been outlawed, and only Saphire proclaimed tolerance for those who believed in the old gods. The Cetachi region had become a refuge to those who had been run out of their homelands, a place where they could live free without ducal interference. “Still, why don’t you take an escort with you? Just in case.”
Vyanti eyed her, almost perturbed she was showing such concern for him after all this time. “Very well, I’ll agree to an escort, in case someone suspects I’ve figured out the Duke and Duchess were poisoned.”
Jax jumped in her chair at the thought. “But we’ve been so careful.”
Vyanti looked poignantly at her. “Your questions, while discreet and well-veiled, have been flying around the gossip chains within the castle. Yes, everyone thinks you’re the grieving daughter, but if our culprit knows you are asking questions about the morning before their death, they might be able to put two and two together, Your Grace.”
Jax growled, flinging herself back against the chair’s embrace. “You’d think they’d be chattering about our new guest from Pettraud or something. Why is everyone on about those silly questions?”
“You came down to the kitchens, Your Grace. That will fuel their conversations for the next week or so.” The master smiled sadly, sympathizing with her scrutinized life.
The duchess sat up, flicking her braid over her shoulder. “I guess I’ll just have to do something that forces them to talk about something else.” She quickly revealed her plan to go horseback riding with Lord Pettraud as an excuse to visit the tavern where their escorts were last seen. “If time allows, I’ll see if I can track down where the ambush happened.”
Vyanti stood up slowly, taking his leave. “Be careful, Your Grace. Take Captain Solomon with you, as well. I know this young lord appears innocent and good, but if your parents were killed by another duchy, who is to say the extent of the ducal lines involved.”
Jax did not respond as the elderly man shuffled from the room. She prided herself in her intellect, but the thought that Pettraud could possibly be behind this crime completely shocked her. As much as it scared her, she supposed any duchy could be a part of the plot. Curling up into her welcoming bed, Jax trembled at the lonely hurt that prodded her heart.
Chapter Eight
Clad in her most attractive riding gown, Jax smiled primly as she entered the banquet hall the next morning. Perry jumped from his chair, bowing, his eyes appraising her emerald and gold ensemble with delight. “You look simply stunning, Jax. I didn’t realize that this was such a formal event.”
She laughed casually at the compliment. “Maybe not for you, Perry, but this will be the first time I’ve been out of the castle since my coronation. I have to make sure my people are impressed by their new duchess.” She patted her hair, pinned back in a bun, away from her face.
“They’d have to be blind not to bask in your radiance,” he murmured, a longing look in his eye. Jax watched him for a moment, pleased she’d had such an effect on him this early in their courtship. There was no denying their flirtatious chemistry.
“Captain Solomon will be accompanying us for protection, but he has assured me he will keep his distance so that you and I can continue our conversations from yesterday.” Jax waited while her servants prepared a plate of candi
ed toast and ham.
Perry’s face fell, but he quickly recovered. “I suppose not having seen my skills as a knight, you would be hesitant having only me to defend you.” He raised an eye, cockily.
Jax smiled, but kept her thoughts to herself. If Pettraud was a part of this plot, being around Perry alone posed a significant risk to her safety. And even if he was innocent, she’d long ago learned that ducal men were not fighters.
Captain Solomon joined them shortly after they finished eating, ready to escort them down to the stables. He gave Jax a wink, and she wished ever so dearly she could involve him in her scheme. Keeping this secret was beginning to eat away at her.
The captain led his charges outside, towards the stables, allowing Perry the chance to admire more of the palace gardens. The ducal stables were the home to over fifty thoroughbred horses, each more beautiful and able than the last. Jax preferred to ride a midnight black stallion named Mortimer, while Perry selected a dapple mare called Babette. The stablemaster and his men quickly tacked up the horses, helping Jax swing her leg over her mount. Perry bounded up onto his horse without any assistance, looking completely at ease in the intricately stitched saddle.
“What a fine beast you’ve got there,” he nodded to Jax’s stallion.
“He was a gift from the Crepstian duke for my eighteenth birthday,” Jax fondly rubbed Mortimer’s mane, admiring the glistening black horse.
“Crepstian stallions are favored amongst many a knight. I, myself, have one in the stables back home.” At the mention of his estate, Perry’s face grew reflectively somber.
“You must send for him then. We cannot have you without your favorite horse.” Jax demanded, urging her mount forward towards the gates where Captain Solomon already waited.
“Thank you, Jax. I will,” Perry sounded genuinely touched at her request. “In the meantime, I’m sure Babette here will be just fine.”
The Ducal Detective (Ducal Detective Mysteries Book 1) Page 6