“Jax, darling, is everything all right?” Perry’s shadow fell over them, fueled by the bright lanterns twinkling throughout the conservatory. “Even from across the room you looked distressed. What’s going on?” His eyes darkened with an accusatory glint directed at George.
The Captain of the Ducal Guard scooted away from Jax, creating a gaping chasm between them on the bench.
“We were just talking about battlefield logistics, should the need arise,” Jax said, clearing her throat, her fears locked safely away, “and, well, just the thought of our men and women being hurt in the fight got to me. I must be tired from the long day.”
For a long moment, Perry looked as if he wasn’t sure whether or not to believe her lie. “It has been an arduous journey, and dinner wasn’t exactly relaxing,” he conceded, running a hand through his curls. “It was thoughtless of me to keep you here so long.”
She waved his worries away, standing and threading her arm through his. “Nonsense. It fills my heart to see you and your brothers together. It’s been a long time since I’ve witnessed a happy family unit.” The memory of her loving parents flooded her mind, claiming her breath for a second.
Perry glanced over his shoulder, where Galahad, Ivan, and Kaul all sat around a goblet-laden table, laughing and chatting away. “I must say, I’m surprised by it myself. Ivan, not so much. He always treated me fairly, but Kaul and Galahad certainly have smoothed their rough edges since Mother died. It makes me wonder whether there’s hope for Philippe and Elias yet.”
Not wanting to dampen his optimism, Jax kept quiet. While she was grateful to hear that some of Perry’s brothers had matured during their years apart, she doubted Philippe could change his ways. But perhaps he’d prove her wrong. Maybe if I provide him with an advantageous match, he’ll come around. Jax puzzled over who she could introduce him to as Perry escorted her to the center of the room to bid everyone goodnight.
“Oh, you’re leaving?” Sabine’s breathless voice floated from the glass-paned entrance of the conservatory. “I had hoped to enjoy your company earlier, but Mother was in a great deal of pain this evening and had difficulty falling asleep.” She floated to Perry’s free arm and tugged on it like a small child. “Please, stay up a little later. I’d love to get to know your beautiful new wife.”
“Sabine, we’ve covered a great deal of ground in a short time and are exhausted.” Perry yawned for emphasis. “Perhaps tomorrow?”
The young woman’s angelic face clouded over for an instant before giving him a resigned smile. “Of course. How silly of me to overlook the fact you’ve galloped nearly across the entire realm to get here.”
Jax smiled down at her. “I look forward to getting better acquainted with you, Lady Sabine. Perhaps over breakfast? I’m afraid that afterward, I’ll be in session with Duke Pettraud for most of the day.”
“I shall rise with the sun to wait for you,” Sabine said with a well-practiced curtsy.
How could this ray of sunshine honestly want to marry Philippe? Jax caught Kaul pursing his lips, as if he were thinking the very same thing. His warning, once again, echoed in her ears. Was there really a darker, more ambitious side to Sabine? How far would she go to prove her loyalty to Philippe?
Shaking the thoughts free from her head, she turned a beaming smile to Perry’s brothers. “It was a pleasure spending time with you all.”
“Your Grace.” Galahad, Ivan, and Kaul bowed in unison.
Jax and Perry took their leave, the doors of the conservatory swinging closed behind them. Jax had expected George to follow, but Ivan had pulled him aside. He motioned to her that he’d be fine on his own, but worry plagued her thoughts as Perry led her through the maze of hallways back to their suite. She didn’t like being separated from her protector in a house full of relative strangers, but she didn’t dare voice her concerns out loud to her husband, for fear he’d take offense.
Back in the confines of their suite, Jax sank into the mountain of pillows piled high at the head of the canopied bed. “I hope Uma and the others are all right. Do you think Ivan assigned them enough protection?”
Perry massaged her worries away, his strong hands digging into her shoulders. “They’ll be fine. With any luck, they’ll be here in two days’ time.”
Relaxing into his arms, she drifted off into a wary, but deep slumber.
‡
Jax entered the dining hall the next morning, stifling a yawn as she spotted Sabine and George chatting at the breakfast table.
“Did you have a pleasant night, Duchess?” Sabine asked brightly, her shimmering hair glinting in the rising sun that seeped in through the windows.
Nodding, Jax sat in a chair directly across from the young woman, next to George. “I certainly had a breathtaking view of the lake from my rooms this morning. How delightful that the fog has cleared.”
Sabine’s expression dimmed. “Oh, it will be back before you know it. Dawn is usually the only time the sun makes an appearance in these lands, which is why I try to be up early to see it.”
“Have you traveled outside of Pettraud much?” George propped an elbow on the table, leaning casually in his chair. “You know, there are some duchies where the sun shines all day.” He teased the young woman with a familiarity that made Jax’s nose involuntarily wrinkle.
Sabine’s cheeks flushed a rosy peach. “I have not been so fortunate to explore the realm. Mother had me remain at the palace while she accompanied Duchess Penelope abroad.”
“These castle walls have a hard time letting go of its inhabitants,” Perry said with a chuckle, claiming a seat next to Sabine. “It took Father nearly thirty years to let me loose on the world.” His eyes twinkled with reminiscence. His first official trip outside the borders of Pettraud had been to a knights’ tournament in the Duchy of Mensina, which in turn had led him on a detour to Saphire, where he and Jax met.
Sabine sighed with longing. “I’d love to be able to see more of the world, but sadly, Mother’s condition keeps me here.”
Perry waited for his goblet to be filled with fresh cranberry juice before taking a sip. “How long has she been ill?”
“Since the winter solstice,” Sabine replied, taking a prim bite of toast. “One day she was fine, then the next…”
Perry patted the young woman on the arm. “I’m sorry, Sabine. I know how blindsided I was by my mother’s illness. It claimed her so quickly.”
“That’s why I keep asking Mistress Lenora for a second opinion about Mother. Her symptoms are similar but have lasted so much longer than Duchess Penelope’s.”
Jax placed her napkin on her lap before reaching for a sugar-crusted blackberry tart. “Why won’t Lenora agree to it?”
Sabine blew a stray lock of hair out of her face. “She says my mind is addled by grief, and that I’m not thinking clinically, like a physician.”
“Asking for a second opinion doesn’t seem absurdly illogical to me,” George said, sharing a concerned look with Jax.
“Agreed.” Jax nodded.
Sabine glanced at her plate. “I doubt there’s much use in doing anything about it now. Mistress Lenora says my mother has but a few weeks left.” Her words caught in her throat.
George, Jax, and Perry, all at a loss for words, each uttered a variance of, “I’m so sorry.”
Sabine quickly composed herself. “Goodness! I was hoping to get to know you better, Duchess, and here I am, ruining the meal with things that cannot be changed.” She took a deep sip of her beverage. “How long do you plan to stay in Pettraud?”
Caught off guard by another sporadic change in the young woman’s demeanor, Jax sat back in her chair. “My hope is no more than a week. I’d like to return home to prepare for what’s to come.”
George thrummed his fingers on the table. “I just came from speaking with Ivan when I ran into Sabine on the way to breakfast. This morning he dispatched riders to Saphire to summon our guarded envoy.”
“Excellent news,” Perry said. “With an
y luck, our escort home will be here before you know it.”
Sabine’s forehead scrunched. “It’s so weird to hear you call anything other than this castle ‘home’.”
“Home is where the heart is, so they say.” Perry’s lavender eyes met Jax’s for a tender moment.
Sabine chuckled. “Whatever you have done to Percival, Duchess Jacqueline, please, you must tell me your secret.”
So you can use it to seduce Philippe? Jax chastised herself for the nasty thought as soon as it sprang up. “Perhaps we can arrange for you to visit Saphire in the near future. I will show you how to use your feminine wiles on my unsuspecting court.”
Sabine’s eyes flitted to George, her lingering gaze taking in his handsome profile once more. “I would very much enjoy seeing all that Saphire has to offer.”
Jax wondered if either of her male companions understood the true meaning behind her words.
Perry beamed across the table. “What a wonderful idea, darling! Sabine could use your guiding hand. The poor kid grew up in a household of wild boys. I’m sure we weren’t any help navigating those tricky waters.”
“Certainly not.” Galahad snorted as he sauntered into the room, followed by Kaul. “What’s this? You’re plotting to take away the only ray of sunshine we have left here?” He rustled Perry’s hair as he walked behind his brother’s chair, snagging the open seat on the other side of Sabine.
“Good morning to you, too,” Perry grumbled as he smoothed his curls.
Sighing, Kaul collapsed in the chair next to Jax. “It might not be a good morning for much longer. Philippe is on his way, and he does not look not happy.”
Galahad groaned. “The day has barely started. What could he possibly have to complain about already?”
Philippe burst into the room, his footsteps pounding against the stone. “How am I ever supposed to run this duchy effectively if Father won’t include me!” He unceremoniously claimed the chair at the head of the table, throwing a look of daggers to the gathered group.
“Include you in what, Philippe?” Sabine asked, her face the picture of doting concern.
He motioned a sharp wave toward Jax. “The strategic session. I should have a say in what Pettraud commits to, should I need to take over for Father.”
“And why would you need to take over?” Perry’s tone was steel.
Philippe met Perry’s stare head-on. “Old age is getting the better of Father. The others must have told you by now, baby brother.” He grabbed a breakfast roll and ripped a chunk off with his teeth. “The tower guards caught him sleepwalking again last night. Didn’t have a clue who he was when they roused him.” Even with his mouth full, Philippe sounded almost triumphant.
“What? No!” Objections from the Pettraud brothers sprouted around the table.
Philippe sneered. “Obviously, any hopes we had about him getting better are rapidly diminishing. But of course, he won’t hear of it. He says he’s perfectly fine.”
Jax’s insides tightened with worry. I hope Philippe is merely embellishing things. While she would never want to desert an ally and did not intend to, she feared the Duke might weaken her position amongst the War Council if word got out that he was losing his mental faculties. She shuddered at the very thought of having to justify to Perry her decision to abandon Pettraud, should the alliance become a detriment.
Philippe’s index finger pointed accusingly at her. “You might have my father fooled, Duchess, but the moment the crown rests of my head, you’d better be ready to look elsewhere for help.”
“Philippe!” Galahad snarled. “How daft can you be? Duchess,” he pleaded, turning his focus to Jax, “my brother’s emotions are getting the better of him. He has no idea of the importance of the Pettraud-Saphire alliance.”
“Then why don’t you go be a courtier for her?” Philippe sounded like a raging child. “Traitors, the lot of you. When did the world beyond our borders become more important to all of you than our own homeland?”
“When we realized we’d be nothing without the other duchies,” Kaul said through gritted teeth. “How many times does Father have to explain to you, Philippe, the importance of our imports?”
The oldest Pettraud swatted his brother’s comments away. “I’ve looked at our trade agreements enough to know what we can and cannot do without.”
“Really?” It was Jax’s turn to sneer. “You think your people will be able to make do without the produce Saphire supplies? Half the food on this table wouldn’t be here without Saphire. How will your soldiers be able to ward off attacks if they’re denied the essential vitamins our greens and fruits provide?”
Philippe brushed her aside. “We’d find it somewhere else, if the need became dire.”
Jax snorted in disgust. This man was a disgrace to the title of Duke. “From where? Mensina? Crepsta? I’m sorry to inform you, Crown Prince, but they are my allies as well and wouldn’t take kindly to you backing out of our agreement.”
Philippe abruptly got to his feet, wildly waving a fork in her face. “This is my home, and I can just as easily have you removed and thrown to the wolves, should I wish it.”
Both George and Perry sprang out of their chairs. George hauled Philippe clear across the room, his voice a throaty growl. “You’d best remember you are addressing the Duchess of Saphire, little prince.”
Perry, his face a vibrant shade of red, went to confront his brother. “The only person I’ve seen so far that’s lost his mind here is you, Philippe.”
Philippe’s words spewed a waterfall of spittle onto Perry’s puffed-out chest. “Just because you’ve gone and married into another duchy doesn’t mean you get to forget where you’ve come from, Percy. Where’s your Pettraudian pride? How can you stand by while she forces our father into submission?”
“I haven’t forced anyone into doing anything.” Ice layered the hall as Jax spoke, her authority freezing everyone in their spots. “I am simply trying to implement a better way of life for the people of Saphire by allowing them to make decisions for themselves and live without the constraints of societal rank. In return, Beautraud, Savant, and Tandora have responded by trying to kill me. I will not let threats on my life go unchecked.”
The Crown Prince shattered the silence that followed, pushing George and Perry away from him. “Father will hear about this. How dare you assault me in my own home?”
Perry gripped George’s arm, holding him back. “Father will be revolted by your behavior, Philippe. I think it would be wise if word of this didn’t find its way back to him.”
Jax rose from her chair, everyone else still seated at the table scrambling to follow suit. “I’ll leave you to dine in peace, Philippe, since my presence clearly causes you concern. Perry, please escort me to your father’s study, will you?”
He was at her side in a heartbeat, leading her away from the fray. For a moment, she debated summoning George to come along, but decided it was best to have him keep an eye on Philippe. She didn’t trust her brother-in-law to skulk about the halls with some plan to undermine her.
Perry rubbed his temple once they were alone. “Virtues,” he said, more to himself that to Jax, “what nightmare have we stumbled into?”
She matched his long strides. “I knew from the moment I met him at our wedding that Philippe might be trouble, but I never imagined this. His utter recklessness stuns me. This is the man destined to lead your duchy? What has your father been teaching him all these years?”
Perry’s grip tightened in her hand. “Philippe’s behavior is troubling. He was always a bully, but never have I seen him so deranged. I can’t imagine my father being behind his radical views. He always admired your father and his values, and I know he respects you just as much.”
“Who else could be poisoning his mind, then? Could Shavon be behind it?” Jax asked.
Perry stroked his chin in thought. “He and my father are cut from the same cloth, as are all the other courtiers who serve Pettraud. That’s why they serve this court
to begin with. Because they believe in what this duchy stands for.” He paused, giving her a side glance. “We cannot ignore that the lust for the throne may have driven Philippe to extremes. He’s waited so long for his moment. He may see the War Council and its possible outcomes as a threat to his rule.”
Jax had not been remotely expecting to inherit her title at the age of twenty-eight, so she couldn’t put herself in Philippe’s shoes. If she had been older, patiently waiting for her time to shine, would she have felt the same, dangerously coveting her father’s throne? “I’ll speak to the Duke about our concerns. He can’t turn a blind eye to Philippe’s behavior.”
They arrived at a nondescript wooden door a few minutes later, and Perry knocked hesitantly.
Jax surveyed the old timber with interest. “I never would have guessed a sovereign’s chambers would be on the other side.”
“A siege tactic,” Perry said, rocking on his heels as they waited. “Should the castle ever be stormed, our ancestors thought it best to hide the treasures behind unassuming doors to be overlooked.”
With a creak, the door swung inward, the Duke’s formidable figure filling the doorway. “Ah, Jacqueline. Eager to get down to business, I see.”
“Greetings, Duke Pettraud.”
He ushered her inside. “Please, child, there is no sense in keeping things formal. Cornelius will do.” His hooded lavender eyes flashed toward Perry. “You wear your emotions on your sleeve, still. What’s troubling you, son?”
Perry gave Jax an apologetic smile. “I’ll leave Jax to explain.” He leaned in to kiss his wife’s cheek in farewell. “If you need me, I’ll be trying my hand in the new archery range with Ivan and Gal.”
Cornelius frowned as the door clicked shut and Perry vanished. “I hope he hasn’t given away any state secrets with that face of his.”
Jax rested a hand on his shoulder. “I think when Perry’s concerns are more personal, it’s harder for him to bury his feelings.”
Cornelius let out a low breath, the loose strands of his silvery hair fluttering out of his face. “Personal, eh? I suppose this has to do with Philippe’s attitude?”
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