“Well, I don’t want to wait until tomorrow. I’m going to get it straight from the horse’s mouth. Please excuse me.” Jax snatched one last cherry tart from the nearby tray before strolling toward Perry and Darian.
“Incoming, Jax.” Appearing out of thin air at her shoulder, George’s warning whisper barely registered quickly enough for her to prepare for Jaquobie’s advances.
“Duchess, might we take this moment to become acquainted with Lady Lysette?” Jaquobie wrapped spindle-like fingers around her arm and led her to the front of the room, where Duke Lysandeir and his children congregated around a massive fireplace.
Jax knew there was no sense in protesting; it would come across as childish, and truthfully, she just wanted this whole charade to be over with. “Where did you disappear to this afternoon?” she asked with a snap as they approached the redheaded group.
“I was taking care of some business,” Jaquobie replied rather vaguely, his words making Jax shiver with slight unease. “I’ll inform you later.”
Then, Jaquobie did something she did not expect. He turned on the charm. Bowing low before Lysette, Jaquobie waved a hand in Jax’s direction. “Her Illustrious Highness, Duchess Jacqueline Arienta Xavier has been eager to make your acquaintance, Lady Lysette.” He gave the striking young woman a smile that actually reached his eyes.
Jax’s gaze flickered from Jaquobie to Lysette for a brief moment, trying to shake off the feeling that these two somehow knew each other. “Lady Lysette. High Courtier Jaquobie has praised many fine things about you. I am delighted to meet you in person.” She extended a hand in warm greeting, not bothering with the formal curtsies.
Lysette turned her attention to Jax, a mixture of awe and wariness dancing across her porcelain face. “Duchess Jacqueline, it is I who have heard wonderful tales about you. My brothers and I find your adventurous exploits to be truly entertaining. Why, we recently saw Michelangelo Montivarius’s newest show. Lady Giovanna made you come alive onstage!” she trilled with delight.
Jax concealed her embarrassment at being the subject of the renowned playwright’s latest production, although she was pleased to be portrayed by the talented actress. “I haven’t had the time to see it myself, but I’ve heard rave reviews about it. Lord Pettraud certainly is eager to see it.”
Lysette’s head bobbed up and down in a comical manner. “Indeed. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I can’t believe you lived through it!”
“I’m sure Montivarius took some artistic liberties along the way.” Jax could only imagine how the playwright had decided to craft her journey on Rose of the Sea the previous spring. “Although I can say I have stayed away from sea travel since sailing back from Isla DeLacqua.”
“I’m sure. Goodness, it would take me years to recover from seeing someone murdered!” Lysette’s hand flew to her heart.
Well, with my record, my lady-in-waiting needs to have a stronger stomach than that, Jax thought. Amused by her own thoughts, she smiled at Lysette. “I take it you saw the show in Hestes?”
“Oh yes, it’s one of my favorite duchies to visit when we’re not trapped in this fortress by snow.” She demonstrated her displeasure with a slight shudder. “Father enjoys going to Savant, as he spent much of his youth there, but I always try to arrange a stop in Hestes. I am a fan of their vineyards.” In an action that Jax found to be rather tacky, Lysette winked.
“Would you introduce me to your brothers?” Jax changed the subject in hopes of expanding her circle of companions. Despite George trailing her like a shadow, he had remained quiet, although his face reflected what he thought of Lysette’s birdbrained personality.
“Oh, sure thing!” Lysette whipped her head around and summoned her brothers with a terse exchange of looks. Jax wondered for a moment if the triplets had some uncanny ability to communicate without words.
Leaving their father’s side, the identical young men came to flank their sister. With the Lysandeir siblings standing directly in front of her, Jax felt her unease grow stronger. As a united front, their similar appearance was quite unsettling.
Lysette waved a hand first toward the brother on the right, then the left. “This is Lawrence…and Landon.”
They bowed in greeting, and Jax forced a smile. “You must get this question all the time, but how in the name of the Virtues are we to tell you apart from one another?”
The boys looked at each other, likely sharing some inside joke. “Why don’t you take another look at us, Duchess?” Lawrence—at least she believed it was Lawrence—challenged.
Jax bristled at the dare, but consented. She studied them carefully, feeling no shame in scanning every inch of their appearance. Apparently, they were no strangers to her reputation for solving mysteries; she wanted to prove that her observational skills were indeed real. Her gaze heated as she took in their faces once more.
Frowning, she was just about to accept defeat and ask them again, when a wink from Landon made everything fall into place. “Your eyes!” she said in amazement. “Landon has purple eyes, and Lawrence has amber.”
“And you’ll also notice I have one of each,” Lysette gushed with inflated pride.
Jax returned her gaze to the young woman she’d been conversing with and indeed realized that while one eye was lavender like her father’s, the other was amber-colored. “Incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
“It’s a rare occurrence, but it’s been known to happen before,” tawny-eyed Lawrence explained. “With our mother being noble-born and all.”
Now that she saw the difference in their appearances, Jax knew she would always be able to tell them apart. “It must be a nice reminder for your father to see your mother’s eyes.”
Jax hadn’t meant her words to be hurtful, but she immediately saw a tragic reaction to her statement. Landon and Lawrence’s expressions hardened and Lysette’s eyes rimmed with tears. “Oh Virtues, I meant no offense,” she said in dismay, wishing she could retract her words.
Without explanation, Landon and Lawrence dutifully retreated to their father’s side. Duke Lysandeir seemed to take notice, as he shot a threatening look in Jax’s direction.
“Of course you didn’t, Duchess.” Lysette collected herself before any tears fell from her eyes. “It’s just a sensitive subject.”
Jax was no stranger to mourning a mother’s absence, but the triplets were only a year or two younger than she and had never known their mother. Why was their grief still so raw?
Jaquobie, who had stepped back a respectful distance while Jax spoke with the siblings, appeared at her side, as if eager to repair the damage she’d done. “Lady Lysette, might I escort you to your seat? It appears we will be sitting down to dine soon.” He threw a chastising look at Jax, and she knew she’d hear about this incident later.
“Why, thank you, High Courtier.” Lysette curtsied to Jax. “It was a pleasure speaking with you, Your Grace,” Lysette said before lacing her arm through Jaquobie’s and gliding away from a puzzled Jax.
“Well, that turned sour fast,” George murmured as he moved from behind her.
Jax turned to him, her eyebrows raised. “I haven’t put my foot in my mouth that badly since my first year at the Academy.” She felt a rush of guilt bubbling up inside her. She hadn’t been particularly impressed with Lysette, but she certainly hadn’t meant to upset her.
“Let’s chalk it up to everyone being hungry.” George could clearly see she was at war with herself. “Why don’t we get our seats, as well?”
Nodding, Jax followed the captain to the dining table that stretched nearly the entire length of the grand banquet room. The high stone walls were void of decoration, a common theme she had noticed throughout the imposing citadel. The real beauty came from massive iron chandeliers dangling from the arched ceiling, long arms supporting nearly a hundred candles per fixture. As she approached the table, she took a moment to admire the rigid exquisiteness of the room. When she entered earlier, she had been too focused on the g
uests to notice.
The attendees of the summit began to shuffle around, courtiers escorting royalty to their seats and then finding their own. Roust, however, was nowhere to be seen. I hope he’s all right, Jax thought as she found her seat without assistance. She looked at the placards of her neighbors. Duchess Crepsta was to her left, which Jax was perfectly fine with. She got along well with the Duke’s wife; she enjoyed her desserts nearly as much as Jax did.
As Jax looked at the name card to her right, her heart sank. Maegus Welles. She doubted the brooding man would be an enjoyable dinner companion, but it might be a good opportunity to try and coax some information out of him. As to why Duke Lysandeir personally rode out to bring the Warden to the summit, she still had no idea.
Duchess Crepsta reached the table shortly after Jax, thanking her courtier and kissing Jax warmly on both cheeks. “Duchess, it is wonderful to be in your company. Did you get a chance to try the peach tarts they were passing around?” The refined woman discreetly raised her chin in the direction of the hors d'oeuvre trays the servants were now carrying out of the room as they prepared to serve the main meal.
Jax grinned. “I went for the cherry ones. Now that I’ve gotten my serving of fruit out of the way, I can ask the Virtues for a chocolate-themed dessert.”
A hopeful grin slid across Duchess Crepsta’s features. “I’ve been praying for something dripping in caramel, myself. We’ll soon see which of us the Virtues favor,” she said with a giggle before turning to her neighbor, a High Courtier from Kwatalar, to make the proper introductions.
“I’m surprised that captain of yours hasn’t searched me over for any daggers I might be hiding up my sleeves,” sounded a gravel-laced voice from behind Jax.
Her head snapped to attention. She turned to see Maegus Welles place a weathered hand on the back of his chair, sliding it out from under the table. “I’m sure that could be arranged. Should I call him over?” One eyebrow cocked as she issued the challenge.
“No need, Your Grace. I would not dream of marring such breathtaking beauty,” Maegus said with a snicker, his gruff exterior cracking ever so slightly.
“I’m amazed you’re being forced to sit beside the likes of me. From what I’ve heard, you’re extremely close to our host.” Jax’s eyes slid to the head of the table where Lucien sat conversing with Darian, seated to his left as the guest of honor. “Shouldn’t a Warden be with his governor?”
Maegus picked up his napkin and placed it over his lap. “Scoff as much as you’d like about our plans, Duchess, but Darian’s vision will lead Cetachi to a bright future.”
Jax pressed her lips together. It may lead them there, but what exactly did that future hold?
“I take it from your silence that you are astonished by my knowledge of ducal table etiquette,” Maegus said with a slightly teasing tone.
Although Jax hadn’t even taken notice, she allowed herself to be baited. “Where did you learn such graces in the wilds of Cetachi?” She smirked with unveiled condescension.
Maegus grunted. “I am the leader of the western region, Your Grace.”
“A tribe in the western region, I heard.” Now Jax provided the bait, hoping to learn more.
“The way you say ‘tribe’ makes me think you believe we live in huts and tents. I think you’d find that our ‘tribes’ are just as civilized as your villages and cities. Our architecture might not be quite as advanced, but we certainly are able to put secure roofs over our peoples’ heads.”
That tidbit of information did surprise Jax. From the tales she’d heard throughout her whole life, she pictured nomadic people roaming across Cetachi, having no place to call home. “And how does a leader of a tribe come to be the first elected Warden?”
“Once I heard the work Darian was doing to help people in his own tribe, I knew he was a leader the whole nation could flourish under. So, I set out to meet him. He talked about his plans for all of five minutes before I dedicated myself to his cause.”
Jax paused to watch Duke Lysandeir rise from his seat, the simple action bringing the room to silence. As much as she wanted to learn more about Maegus and Darian’s rise to power, she had to turn her attentions to their smirking host.
“Greetings, sovereigns of the realm! It is an honor to host such a monumental summit. Not since the Rebirth has such progressive change been thrust upon this land. For centuries, our neighbors in Cetachi have struggled, their people suffering while their land remained fractured and split. Now, we have the chance to offer salvation at the hands of Darian Fangard, the first elected official in the Realm of Virtues, whether some of you recognize him or not.” Lysandeir paused, not bothering to hide blatant stares at those who opposed the Accord. “But let us put aside our differences tonight and enjoy the grand company around our table. To the Virtues!” He raised a silver goblet high, watching like a hawk to see that everyone followed suit.
Jax delicately sipped her mead, promising herself no more would pass her lips for the rest of the evening. She needed her mind to be sharp as ever if she was going to unearth any foul plots. “I almost wished your Darian was the one giving tonight’s toast. I’m sure it would have been more well-spoken than that.” Jax risked a jab at Lysandeir to see Maegus’s reaction.
His face, however, remained stony and unyielding. “Darian has been blessed by the Virtues to receive such staunch support from Duke Lysandeir.”
“The fact that Cetachi raids have been terrorizing his duchy for decades doesn’t have anything to do with it?” Jax asked, her words clipped and pointed.
“Darian put an end to the raids as soon as he was elected. That was months before Lysandeir approached him with the offer to support his claim for statehood.” A note of pride crept into Maegus’s reply.
Jax resisted a triumphant smile as she stewed over the information. So, Lysandeir was indeed the one to put the pieces into motion regarding Cetachi’s formal position in the realm. Maegus clearly didn’t understand the prize he had let slip, for he busied himself eating his salad as if nothing was amiss. As much as she wanted to ask him right here and now, Jax withheld her question. She would ask Darian himself if plans to become recognized by the duchies had been on his mind before Lysandeir entered the picture.
“I understand that we almost didn’t have the pleasure of your company,” Jax asked with mock regret as she tore apart a butter-drenched roll.
Maegus scowled. “My, word travels around here fast.”
Jax studied his face as he put his thoughts together, waiting for his response.
“Once Duke Lysandeir found out Darian was traveling alone, he sent for me to accompany the Governor, in case he needed my support during the summit,” Maegus nonchalantly explained.
“Being sent for is quite different than the Duke riding out to meet you himself,” Jax pointed out.
The Warden’s voice held a hint of annoyance, as though he was beginning to tire of Jax’s peppering questions. “As I said before, Darian has been blessed to receive Lysandeir’s support through this entire matter.”
“It sure does seem that way,” Jax answered as she thoughtfully chewed on lemon oil-seasoned salad.
Without another word, Maegus turned his attention to the Kwatalar courtiers on his right, ignoring any further questions Jax may have wanted to ask.
For the rest of the meal, she dabbled in conversations with Duchess Crepsta and the High Courtiers sitting across from her, although the table was so wide, it was hard to keep steady chatter with those on the other side. In absence of conversation, she busied herself with her roasted partridge, grilled asparagus, and glazed potatoes. As much as she wanted to find fault with Lysandeir, the palace cook was indeed talented.
Placing her fork down on her empty dessert plate, Jax swiped her napkin across her lips for any remnants of chocolate soufflé, determined not to leave so much as a morsel behind. She watched Perry and Annette, seated toward the opposite end of the table from Lysandeir, in animated conversation with a few of the Mens
ina courtiers. Her grandfather, a few seats up to her left, was chatting with Landon and Duke Crepsta. She recalled that Landon was the firstborn of the triplets, and, with his wholly lavender eyes, would inherit the throne one day from his father.
Her gaze landed last on Darian, who appeared to be staring off at nothing. In a booming voice, Lysandeir told the guests sitting closest to him of some hunting tale, but Darian seemed completely disinterested in the conversation. She saw a deepening sadness in his eyes as his thoughts seemed to drift further and further away from the goings-on at the table.
“Likely thinking about his father.” Maegus, apparently having noticed her staring, broke into her thoughts. “There’s nothing more that young man wants than to build a Cetachi where hardworking people like his father don’t have to suffer in silence.”
Maegus’s claims haunted Jax as everyone began to disperse for the night. In order to bring Darian to their side, she had to be able to convince him that his people wouldn’t suffer under a dukedom. It shouldn’t be hard, she thought. My people are happy and well-cared for. But she couldn’t help but remember the venom in Hendrie’s eyes. Was she so blind to suffering that she did not see? Her appointed courtiers were meant to report on the well-being of her people. She couldn’t very well be everywhere at once. She trusted them to inform her of any problems. Perhaps there were things that had gotten lost along the way.
“Jax, everything all right?” Perry whispered as he reached her side to escort her out of the banquet room. “You look a bit dazed.”
“I’m fine,” she said, chiding herself for being so transparent. “I have a lot on my mind, that’s all.” She doubted she fooled Perry, but if he knew she was hiding something from him, he didn’t press the matter.
“Shall we go find Sir Roust?” he suggested.
Jax had almost forgotten about their plans to meet the courtier in the library. “Yes, let’s see what secrets he’s keeping.”
Chapter Nine
George joined them a moment later, shirking away from the swooning clutches of Duchess Tandora’s lady-in-waiting. “Lady Gwendolyn was quite attentive this evening,” he said with a beet-red glower as Jax and Perry chuckled at the woman’s acid expression as she headed back to her room alone.
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