Chapter 19 #2
“I have heard it,” Elowen said shortly. Her cheeks were pink, but not from the flirtatious words.
Prince Xavier thought Theo was smitten with her?
Lest the outrageous prince think she was discomposed by his banter, she made her voice extra flat.
“And don’t try to dupe me, please, I’m not in the mood.
Whatever impression you might wish to give, your affection for your brother is extremely clear to me, so I don’t for a moment believe you would try to sabotage his betrothal. ”
“You and Theo are apparently perfectly matched,” Prince Xavier said dryly. “And you’re perfectly right, I would never truly try to do my brother an injury.”
His eyes were troubled as they rested on Theo’s face, some deeper, unexpressed thought behind the words. Then his tone became businesslike, and he lifted his gaze to Elowen again.
“The physician examined him carefully, and I can acknowledge that he seemed to be thorough and capable, and made no objection to me remaining at Theo’s side throughout. He gave a report to your father and brother about ten minutes ago.”
Elowen made a noise of annoyance. “Of course they would call Patrick in to receive the report but no one thinks that I, as the one betrothed to Theo, would like to hear it, too.”
A fleeting smile crossed Prince Xavier’s face.
“You and Mim would get along. She’s always complaining about things like that.
And she’s absolutely right, of course. Heaven knows I don’t want to be involved in half the reports I’m forced to receive, why they’re turning away a royal sibling who’s actually interested is beyond me. ”
“Well, I appreciate you letting me know,” Elowen said. “And I’m sure your sister does, too. My own brother would never think to do that.”
“Yes, what ails him?” Xavier asked, momentarily distracted. “Theo’s a dull dog, I know, but it’s all show with him. He’s perfectly rational underneath, if you can get past the martyrdom. But His Royal Highness Crown Prince Patrick appears to have been tragically born without a personality.”
“You shouldn’t speak of your host that way,” Elowen pointed out. “He is a prince, you realize.”
“And I’m sure he’ll make a very dutiful king one day,” Prince Xavier said, his eyes twinkling.
“Don’t think it escaped me that you didn’t contradict what I said.
” His tone turned serious again. “But never mind that. The physician said they’ve tested Theo for every type of poison known in Torrens, and there’s no indication of any. ”
Elowen searched Theo’s face, watching as his eyes flickered open for a moment, then closed again.
“But you’re not convinced?” she asked.
“I’m not,” he confirmed. “Theo has no particular enemies that I know of, but is there anyone here in Toledda who might have a grudge against him?”
Elowen winced as she thought of the half-hearted applause during their betrothal ceremony.
“Any number of people,” she admitted. “There’s still plenty of resentment about recent history with Siqual, and not everyone is excited about the marriage alliance.
But it’s hard to believe any of the grumblers would go as far as to poison a foreign prince under my father’s nose. ”
“There’s no limit to what people will do if they think they can get away with it,” said Prince Xavier unemotionally. “So your people have been giving Theo a hard time, have they? No doubt he didn’t complain, but he doesn’t deserve that, and neither does our kingdom.”
“Let’s not argue about politics,” Elowen said impatiently. “I’m sure we have different perspectives on the relationship between our two kingdoms, but that’s really not my concern right now.”
Prince Xavier raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture.
“You’re right. The point is, your description of Theo’s demeanor last night is too suspicious to be a coincidence.
And the things he said to me this morning…
I’ve seen him sick and feverish before. But I’ve never seen him lose control of himself like that.
Maybe we’re wrong, maybe he hasn’t been poisoned.
But if it’s a sickness, I’m convinced it’s much more serious than what they’re saying. I don’t like it, Elowen.”
She barely noticed that he’d dropped her title, and in any event she had no chance to respond.
“Your Highness.” The physician bustled in, looking scandalized. “Forgive me, but you’re not supposed to be in here. We have His Highness’s care well in hand, there’s no cause for you to be distressed.”
“Can you really be confident in ruling out poison?” Elowen demanded, ignoring his words. “What makes you so sure?”
“First of all, Your Highness, I have no reason to suspect it,” the physician said patiently.
“We haven’t had a poisoning case in all the time I’ve worked in the castle, and that’s been forty years at least. There are many known substances that could cause illness, even death, in humans, of course,” he acknowledged, seeing her about to protest. “And I don’t mean to say it would be completely impossible.
But the production of all of those substances is carefully regulated.
I understand your concern, but it is more common than you think for people to fall ill from imbibing unusually strong wine.
” He raised his hands to again stop her interrupting.
“Nevertheless, given your concerns, His Majesty ordered a full assessment, and I’m pleased to be able to assure you that His Highness’s system shows no sign of any of the substances I mentioned. ”
His eyes were kind but with an edge of indulgence. “To speak frankly, Princess, if he’d drunk powerful enough poison last night to addle his mind and attack his body, then gone to bed without taking an antidote, I would expect him to have already succumbed.”
Elowen’s lips felt numb. These words did not reassure her as they were obviously intended to do.
“So given we’re most likely dealing with an infectious fever, I must insist that you leave the patient to rest, Your Highness.”
She knew the physician’s real motivation was not getting in trouble with the king, but she didn’t argue. She rose, waiting until he’d moved back into the main area before speaking quietly to Prince Xavier.
“I’m not convinced, either. I’m going to make inquiries of my own. You’ll stay with him?”
Prince Xavier nodded grimly.
Elowen swept from the infirmary with purpose, but her steps slowed as she made her way down the corridor.
She would need to be careful with her inquiries.
Getting anyone official to tell her anything was already near impossible most of the time.
Asking leading questions of the servants would likely get no better response.
After some thought, Elowen made her way to the kitchens, doing her best to feign a cheerful demeanor. She tried to enter unobtrusively, but that was too optimistic. All activity stopped at the appearance of a member of the royal family, and the head cook moved forward quickly to intercept her.
“Your Highness, may we be of assistance?”
“No, I just wanted to thank you all for the marvelous feast you prepared last night,” Elowen said with her sunniest smile. “You did our kingdom proud, as I know you will again for the wedding feast.”
“Is the date set, Your Highness?” the cook asked, eyes alight with professional interest.
“No.” Elowen felt her face heating, the question sending her emotions into tumult. “Not yet.”
“Of course, Your Highness.” The cook bowed. “Perhaps we could interest you in something to eat now?”
Elowen was itching to be out of the conversation—the head cook wasn’t someone she could casually question. But she forced her impatience down.
“I would be glad of one of those cheese pastries I’ve always been fond of.”
“I will prepare it with my own hands, Your Highness,” the cook said, bowing low. “Shall I bring it to your suite?”
“I’d rather wait here, if I may,” Elowen said. “It’s so interesting to watch you all work.”
A few of the kitchen staff exchanged looks, and she had sympathy for them. None of them would be able to relax or perform their tasks naturally with her in the room. But she wouldn’t stay longer than necessary. Once the head cook had bustled away, Elowen smiled at the nearest scullery maid.
“Were you working last night?”
“We all were, Your Highness,” the girl said, wiping her forehead with an arm and inadvertently leaving a big streak of flour behind. “It was a big event. It’s kind of you to thank us in person, Your Highness.”
“Oh, the food was wonderful,” Elowen said blithely.
Hopefully they wouldn’t ask for more detail because she didn’t think she could remember a single thing she’d eaten.
She’d been too full of nerves about the betrothal, then concern at Theo’s demeanor.
“The wine also was especially fine, although I confess I didn’t drink any after the ceremonial cup for the betrothal.
” She sent the girl a sheepish smile. “I don’t have a very good head for it. ”
The maid bobbed a curtsy. “I’m sure I wouldn’t either, Your Highness, if I were ever to imbibe.”
She hurried to knead the dough she was working on, and Elowen concealed a sigh. She wouldn’t get anywhere with this girl. She was too nervous.
“The wine in the ceremonial goblets was a special vintage, Your Highness,” another voice chimed in.
Elowen turned eagerly to see an assistant cook stirring something in a large cauldron.
“Was it? That must be why I noted the flavor particularly,” Elowen said.
The assistant cook nodded. “It was from the border region down south. To symbolize the alliance, of course.”
“Of course,” Elowen agreed politely. She hesitated. “Do you know who poured it?”
The assistant cook looked up, eyebrow raised at the strange question.
“I only ask because I wanted to thank the person,” Elowen hurried on. She lowered her voice. “My goblet was less than half full, which was a relief to me because I wasn’t sure I’d be able to finish it all in one go as required.”
“I’m glad it was to your liking,” the assistant cook said.
“We noticed that the prince didn’t drink all of his,” said a nearby scullery maid, sounding unimpressed.
“Hush.” The assistant cook quelled the maid with a look. “Don’t mind her, Your Highness.”
“It’s all right,” Elowen said. “Prince Theo meant no offense. He didn’t know that aspect of the ceremony.” She frowned, trying to sound naively curious. “I wonder why he was given a full glass and me only half. Who did you say poured it?”
The assistant cook thought about it. “I’m not sure, Your Highness.
The goblets were set aside in there all afternoon to ensure they weren’t knocked over in the bustle.
” She pointed to a storage room that appeared mostly empty from the glimpse Elowen could see through the open door.
“And it would have been poured maybe half an hour before the ceremony so as to let the wine breathe.”
Elowen had wandered toward the indicated door as the assistant cook spoke, trying to make the movement seem casual.
She peered inside, noting the shelves lined with huge bags of flour and empty crates.
It wasn’t the main pantry, but some kind of overflow storage, probably little used.
She realized with a jolt that there was another door on the far side of it.
“Does that storage room lead out into the corridor?” she asked.
“That’s right,” the assistant cook said. “Sometimes we carry dishes from there straight to the dining hall. That’s what would have happened with the ceremonial goblets last night, too.”
A prickling sensation was passing down Elowen’s arms. So the goblets had been unattended in the storage room for hours, accessible without even entering the kitchen.
Anyone could have gotten to them. And it was clear from the specific designs which one was hers and which Theo’s.
It seemed unforgivably careless, but given the physician’s words, she shouldn’t be surprised.
There had been no attack by poison in the castle for decades.
The kitchen staff had become complacent.
“Here you are, Your Highness.” The head cook had returned with a pastry which Elowen felt far too ill to eat.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice wavering slightly. Forcing a smile, she left the kitchen, trying to think of a way to investigate what had happened without using her father’s authority. It didn’t seem hopeful.