“The Duchess would not hear of anything else. You are family, after all.” Perry’s father dismissed the girl’s gratitude with a wave of his hand, simultaneously summoning servants from the shadows, bearing platters piled with seared lamb and beetroot salad.
The earthy scent of the food made Jax’s stomach flip. She wasn’t normally a fan of lamb, but hunger urged her to dig into the meal placed before her. She had almost cleared her plate when Philippe sliced through the side conversations around the table, his lavender stare scrutinizing her.
“So, are we all just going to pretend the Duchess hasn’t thrown the realm into utter chaos with her brazen actions?”
His snide remark caused Perry to drop his silverware in a stunned clatter. “Really, Philippe? You couldn’t even make it to dessert?”
Jax met the brute’s gaze with confidence. “I’d be delighted to hear what you have to say on the matter, Philippe.”
He scoffed in reply. “Does it even faze you, what turmoil you are causing for your allies?”
“That’s enough,” the Duke growled, his knuckles white from clutching his goblet of ale too fiercely.
“No, Father, she needs to know the damage she’s doing.” Philippe threw his napkin on the table with childish force. “Did it ever occur to you, Duchess, that because of the failed attempt on your life, your enemies might target your allies instead?”
The mask she’d been trained to wear in such heated situations strained under her roiling anger as she struggled to remain silent.
Philippe was now out of his chair, pacing up and down his side of the table. “What are we even fighting for? I want to hear it from your own lips, Duchess, because my father can’t seem to find the words to justify the chaos you are causing.”
Jax resisted shooting a chastising glance at Duke Pettraud. He couldn’t explain to his son the reason war was upon them? Did he really believe in her cause, or was he simply marching in line? “I believe everyone in the realm deserves a fair and equal chance to live the life they are worthy of, determined by their deeds and actions, not their bloodline.”
“And what makes you think a mud puddle merits such a chance?”
Jax said a silent prayer, thanking the Virtues that Uma and Hendrie were not at the dinner table to hear such cruel words, but her heart broke for George. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his shoulders shaking with the same rage that rumbled inside her chest.
“You will not speak to my wife with such vulgar language.” Perry jumped to his feet, his fists clenched at his side. She wished he had remained quiet, as she was capable of handling this herself, but she did not move to stop him. Perry was usually very good about letting her take the lead, but his tumultuous history with Philippe likely clouded his judgment.
“If she gets in the way of Father’s crown resting on my head,” Philippe seethed, an accusing finger jabbing in Jax’s direction, “I will make sure she regrets ever thinking the mud puddles deserve anything more than what they were born with.”
George rose from his seat with lethal grace, his frame towering over Philippe. “You would be dead before you could even think to give that order.”
“Captain Solomon,” Jax snapped, her eyes a fiery blaze, “sit down, sir.”
A tense moment passed before he obeyed her.
“How dare you threaten her!” Duke Pettraud’s angry voice sizzled in the air, his eyes blazing a hole in his oldest son’s arrogant façade. “Saphire is the strongest ally Pettraud could ever possibly hope for. Our duchy would be nothing without the Xavier family’s protection and assistance.”
Philippe finally had the sense to pale. “But Father, she’s driving the world mad. She’s driving you mad—”
“Enough!” The Duke’s command reverberated through the shadowy room. “If you cannot dine with civility, you are dismissed.”
Philippe pressed his lips firmly together, as if struggling to keep his thoughts to himself. “Very well, Father. It’s clear which side you’re on. I would have thought you could see the Duchess is blinded by her love of mud.”
George got to his feet once more, his face the shade of a blooming rose, but Philippe turned and marched out of the dining hall, leaving behind horrified silence. Only then did George reclaim his chair.
“How could you let him speak to her like that?” Perry’s even tone sent a shiver up Jax’s spine as he addressed his cowering father.
The Duke rubbed his temples. “I didn’t think he would go that far. As the future leader of this duchy, Philippe deserves to have a say in how this drama unfolds, but I never thought…” His shoulders sagged, and he appeared to have aged ten years since Philippe’s initial outburst.
“Do I take it, then, that you share your son’s concerns?” Jax placed a reassuring hand on Perry’s clenched fist as her husband returned to his seat, indicating she would take it from there.
Her father-in-law’s gaze wandered down the length of the table. “I honestly don’t know what to think anymore, Jacqueline. Savant and Beautraud are gnats on the wind, but Tandora…we have many crucial trade agreements with Delphinia that would cripple our economy, should war break out.” His weary lavender eyes met hers. “And the messenger you sent from the Oasis…Nadir, was it? He said the Duchess of Zaltor was precariously close to siding with their alliance.”
“Yes, I have it on good authority that she will stand behind them, unless I back down from my stance.”
His peppery eyebrows drew together in question. “And will you?”
“When the Realm of Virtues was first formed, its goal was to ensure all people were safe from oppression and suffering,” Jax began, her words carefully chosen for her audience. “By the hand of the Virtues, our ancestors were tasked with securing the realm and its people. That meant establishing the duchies and the hierarchical system in which they are governed. The nobles of the land were meant to shelter their flock and provide them with a good life, funding a treasury that the sovereign watched over and guarded with care.” She paused, summoning a layer of thorns to coat her words. “When was the last time a nobleman did something in service of the people he shelters? The common-born people of the realm have been beaten down into servitude without the chance or opportunity to experience the free and unencumbered life the founders of the realm wanted for all. I cannot in good conscience watch the Realm of Virtues fall from grace any longer. Something must be done, and as a ruling Duchess, I believe we are the ones with the power to do it.” The sincerity of her speech rang throughout the hall.
Tears pooled in the Duke’s eyes. “It’s encouraging to see that your heart is still in the fight, Jacqueline.”
Chapter Seven
Startled, she sat back. “You were testing me?”
His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I’ll admit, I wanted to see if you would continue down this path you have laid out if you thought that even your staunchest allies might abandon you.” He reached out and took her hand, bestowing a light kiss upon it. “Please forgive me, daughter, but I had to be sure I was putting my faith in the right person to lead us into this new era.”
Perry balked at her side. “You mean, you made Philippe say those horrible things just to test Jacqueline’s resolve?”
At that, Duke Pettraud scowled. “I wish that were the case. Philippe’s view of the world has soured of late. He should have been here to listen to your words, Duchess. He needs some sense knocked into his daft head.”
Still miffed that the Duke felt the need to trick her, Jax smoothed out the ruffles of her gown before speaking. “It is concerning to hear your heir speak in such a disapproving manner.” His remarks still haunted her mind. “I would have thought you could see the Duchess is blinded by her love of mud.” What had he meant by that? It was well-known how much she treasured Uma as a friend, but Philippe’s words felt more charged than her warm relationship with her lady-in-waiting would indicate.
Whether it was the Virtues that pulled her gaze to George or her own rapidly firing
thoughts, she did not know. Had Philippe been alluding to her relationship with the Captain of the Ducal Guard? George had been by her side since she was a young girl; they had practically grown up together, but it was not common knowledge just how intensely they respected one another. And of course, no one knew of the deeper feelings they’d shared in their youth.
Or did they?
“I’ll have a word with Philippe later, Father,” Galahad volunteered.
The Duke nodded his approval, leaving Jax to wonder how successful the High Courtier-in-training would be. Philippe’s views were rooted in the rampant prejudices the privileged of the realm had been raised with. She doubted a simple cajoling from one of his younger brothers, no matter how skilled an orator, would erase those hardened beliefs.
“Perhaps it is time we focus on the more pressing matter at hand,” Shavon said, speaking up for the first time since Philippe’s outburst. An annoyed expression remained plastered onto his face. Jax doubted the High Courtier approved of the Duke testing another sovereign in such a callous manner. It did not make for good political relations. “Duchess Jacqueline, what aid can we provide you?”
It was foolish for her to ever think this would just be a family dinner. “Before we begin, do Mistress Lenora and Lady Sabine need to be present?” She hated the superiority in her voice, for she meant no offense to the two other women at the table, but having just met them, they had not gained her trust.
Duke Pettraud steepled his fingers together. “We’re here to speak of war, Duchess. My court physician needs to be prepared to dispatch our healers to tend to the wounded. Lady Sabine, during her time here in the castle, has been apprenticing at Lenora’s side and will take over her duties in court should Lenora be deployed to the battlefield.” He sized up both the women with grim satisfaction. “Both have served my family faithfully and devotedly. I would appreciate their opinions on the health and welfare of something of this nature.”
While Jax wasn’t entirely convinced these two relative strangers could be trusted, she saw the value in the Duke’s point.
“If it makes you feel any better,” Perry whispered covertly into her ear, “Lenora nursed me and my brothers back to health more than once, and I’ve known Sabine since she was in diapers.”
Taking a deep breath to prepare herself, Jax nodded. “Very well, then. I welcome their expertise about medical needs on the battlefield.” She folded her hands in her lap. “But I hope it will not be necessary.”
The Duke’s eyebrows rose. “You honestly think the War Council will go in our favor?”
“I’d like to think our counterparts still have moderate use of their mental faculties and will see it is futile for them to go up against our armies.” A wry smile inched across her lips as she counted off the duchies on her fingers as she named them. “Beautraud, Savant, Tandora, and Zaltor. Ivan, what would your guess be as to the size of their combined army?”
Ivan stiffened, apparently surprised to be singled out by her, having spent most of the meal pushing his lamb and salad around his silver plate. “Well, our last reports for Beautraud and Savant put their numbers at two thousand. With Tandora and Zaltor joining, I’d say no more than forty-eight hundred bodies.”
A snort escaped Jax’s throat before she could stop it. “Forty-eight hundred? George, how large is the Saphire army, even without our allies?”
As Captain of the Ducal Guard, George was also the Commander General of the duchy’s armed forces. “Ten thousand.”
Galahad and Kaul choked on the ale they’d been sipping. “Virtues!” Galahad’s shock melted into admiration. “Ten thousand? Are you pulling our leg?”
Ivan gave his brother a reproachful glare from across the table. “No, the Duchess speaks the truth.” He cocked his head at Jax. “We’re very much aware of your numbers, Your Grace.”
Jax unleashed her most confident glower on the Duke. “I just want it to be clear that Saphire does not require Pettraud’s assistance to win a war you are not fully committed to.”
The Duke grunted. “I take it you want a better apology for my earlier stunt?”
“No.” Jax shook her head. “I am not given to flights of pettiness, Duke Pettraud. I do not want you to enter into a fight you don’t believe in. Saphire can weather this on her own.” She straightened, holding her head high and proud. “But should you truly believe in the ideals I am seeking, I welcome your support. I do not want this to come to bloodshed, but I will commit my forces to a fight, if that is the only option. However, I truly believe we can persuade the War Council to our side. My armies can and will win any battle they are thrust into. But I am not so naive to think I can win over the War Council without you or my other allies.”
Tapping his finger on the table, Duke Pettraud processed her remarks. “You’re right. The real war will be with words, not swords. Savant and Beautraud would be foolish to think they have a fighting chance against Saphire, with or without her allies.”
“Then why engage in such a polarizing way?” Galahad asked. “Attempting to end the Duchess’s life? They should have known where it would lead.” His words revealed he still had a lot to learn about the political arena.
“To them, it wasn’t an attempt.” George crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t think for a second they thought their plan would fail. Otherwise, Duchess Delphinia wouldn’t have sent her private secretary Olavo to see it through. He was a dangerous loose end to leave dangling.”
Shavon shuddered, leaning forward in his chair. “Clearly, they see Duchess Jacqueline as the only obstacle to stopping this movement…” The way his words trailed off suggested he knew that not to be the case.
Impressed with his deduction, Jax said, “They are overlooking that Darian Fangard is really the one who started this whole endeavor.”
“Darian?” The Duke did a doubletake. “Is the Duke of Cetachi prepared to take up the mantle, should something happen to you?”
“We’ve discussed it at great length,” Jax said. “Had Cetachi not been in the early stages of development, I think Darian would have led the charge right out of the gate. I only took the helm because Saphire’s military power dwarfs that of the rest of the realm.”
“Duke Cetachi can’t have had enough time to stabilize his own forces. The duchy hasn’t even existed a year,” Ivan pointed out.
Jax nodded. “As much as he wishes he can help, Darian has incredibly few resources to send our way at the moment, and unfortunately, his support at the War Council will be next to meaningless.” She locked royal gazes with her host. “That is why I need to be certain Pettraud is committed to this cause and the war of words ahead of us. If you slip up, dear Duke, and reveal that you do not fully support the world I envision, blood will be on your hands.”
Duke Pettraud’s expression soured. “Jacqueline, what proof do you need that I haven’t already given you? I am on your side!”
“Your word will suffice for now.” Jax dipped her head with reverence. “And tomorrow, I will require your assistance in sending out missives to summon the leaders together.”
The Duke scooped up the last forkful of the custard that had been served for dessert. “I’ll send for you after breakfast and we can begin preparations.” He placed his napkin on the table, glancing around at his assembled guests. “I need to retire for the evening.”
Lenora’s forehead wrinkled. “Are you feeling all right, Your Excellency?”
“I’m fine. Just tired, that’s all.”
Jax detected bruised circles forming under the man’s eyes. For a man in his sixtieth year, he did look awfully old in the dim candlelight. “Rest well, Duke. We shall reconvene in the morning.”
He shuffled out of the room without another word with High Courtier Shavon at his heels, the large door snapping shut behind them violently in the silence.
“Lennie, I thought you said he was feeling better?” Galahad was the first to shoot an accusing stare at the court physician.
Her expression re
mained impassive. “Your father is regaining his strength little by little. It takes time.”
Perry leaned an elbow on the table, the formal atmosphere of the dinner evaporating. “Will someone tell me what’s been going on? Is Father really all right?”
Lenora glanced around the room, likely confirming the dining hall was devoid of staff. “I can’t quite diagnose what is bringing these spells on. One day he seems to be himself, then the next he’s an empty shell, muttering into thin air. I thought it was exhaustion from his travels, but even after ample rest, he only seemed to worsen.” She clenched her fists on the table, clearly distressed by the Duke’s suffering. “Things changed, though, after he endured a nasty stomach virus. He actually seemed more clearheaded than he had since this all started. However, it wasn’t long before we found him wandering the corridors again.”
“When I left for Kwatalar,” Ivan interrupted, “you were also concerned he wasn’t eating enough. What was that about?”
“He complained he was too busy to eat and sent most of his food away,” Lenora explained. “I finally coaxed him back into joining us for meals only a few days ago. I was worried he’d lose his physical strength, and thank the Virtues, he listened.”
“What about the other symptoms? Are they still afflicting him?” Perry asked, reaching for Jax’s hand. She squeezed his in reassurance.
“It’s hard to tell, really. The sleepwalking and memory loss…it all seems so random,” Lenora admitted. “He did seem out of sorts earlier in the day, but news of your arrival this afternoon lifted his spirits considerably.”
Perry winced. “Out of sorts how?”
“He couldn’t remember what month it was and got a bit angry that he couldn’t figure it out.” Lenora twisted her napkin in her hands, her gaze on her lap.
Kaul slumped against his seat. “He seemed fine until just now. Maybe Philippe’s antics wore him out.”
Perry’s eyes narrowed, resting on Elias, who’d been quiet much of the evening. “Has Philippe been acting out like that often?”
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