10. Friends and Favor
T he Neigeran Assembly, one branch of the government, met twice a week. It consisted of the House of Nobles (any noble) and the House of Commons (any commoner) and was a public forum where the people could come to voice their grievances and/or concerns and changes they wanted to see in the kingdom. Anyone from anywhere in Neigera could come to speak as long as they did so under the correct House.
As of late, the Assembly meetings consisted mainly of complaints about the lack of adequate snow removal leading to blocked roads. Blocked roads led to less travel, which meant inhibited trade and less delivered goods, which made businesses suffer. There was also a salt shortage, which meant the roads were untreated, further inhibiting travel and compounding the merchants’ problems.
Since the snow had stopped and things were melting, Adrian looked forward to a less headachy meeting. He wasn’t expecting all the complaints about mud and potholes. The people wanted the roads repaired. Broken or missing road stones were leading to more carriage accidents and injured horses.
No one was ever happy, he thought as he sat through the meeting. At least people seemed more optimistic with spring in sight. There was less yelling than had become normal in the few previous meetings, and time passed quickly.
Still, the Assembly ran long. He and his father normally met afterward to discuss, but the King had an appointment. Adrian had an appointment as well and headed to the office where he and the Marquis Andrew Holt would settle on the mine.
Located in the Heatherfield Hills, the pink sapphire mine was near the werewolves’ territory close to the Silvershade Forest. If things with the wolves continued to deteriorate, he’d likely travel to negotiate in person as he had with the Lea Valley wolves. He hoped that didn’t happen, but if it did, perhaps it would give him a chance to see the mine and go over operations in person.
Werewolves were one of the few species that could rival the vampires. Though vampire venom was toxic to werewolves and could kill them, it only did so in large doses. They recovered from smaller bites just fine.
They were also of considerable strength, whether in human or wolf form, and always put up harsh fights when threatened. They had the additional advantage of being pack animals, settling in close-knit groups that defended each other aggressively.
Many wolf packs had been killed off due to fear, but several remained, having large enough numbers to defend themselves. Silvershade and Lea Valley were but two. The Painted Pack, from the Red Desert in the south, was another sizeable pack. They were larger in stature than most others and were said to be particularly barbaric and brutal .
Current speculation said Lord Aldric of Silvershade was working on an alliance with the Painted Alpha. The Lea Valley wolves seemed to be settling down, so hopefully the rumor about them being allied as well was false.
Adrian hoped all the rumors were false because if the wolves banded together, they could be a serious threat.
Entering the office where his lawyer, Javier, and one of his under-butlers were already present, he focused on the business at hand. Andrew and his team arrived within moments. It didn’t take long to review the terms and sign the agreement, and then he and Andrew, who’d grown up together in the capital, sat and chatted.
“I appreciate you taking this off my hands, Prince Adrian.”
“I rather like the gems,” Adrian replied, trying to push away thoughts of the pink-eyed Rose, whom the gems reminded him of.
“Well, I wish you better luck than I’ve had. Like you, my uncle was intrigued by their uniqueness, but they’ve not sold very well for us.”
Adrian sent the vampire Marquis a coy smile. “My mother’s birthday is coming up. I shall gift her a few hairpins, maybe a necklace, and sales will take off.”
His friend laughed jovially. “You damn conniving knave.”
Giving a small smile, Adrian lifted his hands innocently. “I cannot help that my mother is the Queen.”
Andrew sighed. “Ah, I suppose you’re right.” He stood, prompting everyone else to follow suit, and they all shook hands. The lawyers left now that the deal was done, and Adrian handed his paperwork to Javier.
“I want all the operational details on my desk tonight for review.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Javier bowed, and the butlers left, leaving Adrian and Andrew. They began walking down the hall, Adrian accompanying Andrew out .
“Don’t you have underlings to oversee all those details?”
“I prefer to remain knowledgeable on all my properties,” Adrian answered.
Andrew nodded in understanding. There was a comfortable silence for several steps, and then he said, “My sisters won’t shut up about the Queen’s opening ball in a few weeks. They just received the official invitation and have been discussing their gowns every day.” He rolled his eyes. “Be lucky you don’t have sisters.”
“Oh, I am. Dimitri is bad enough.” They both laughed.
“Speaking of parties, I am sorry I missed your impromptu hunt the other week. Even with the bit of snow, I imagine it was fun.”
“It was much preferable to attending my mother’s insufferable tea. She’s planning a hunt for all the nobles later in the spring.”
“I will be there. I warn you, though I’ve gotten better with the bow.”
“I am not scared, my friend. I can still best you. The other day, I got a nice stag and made a striking new coat for Father.”
“I will aim for a bear then.”
Adrian laughed. “We shall see, Andrew. It will surely be enjoyable to watch you try.”
“Just as arrogant as always, I see.” Andrew shook his head. “Speaking of hunting, it is rumored that the Queen is making you pick a bride by the end of this season.”
Adrian sighed. “That is the threat.”
“Threat? You don’t wish to wed?”
“I do not like ultimatums.” He would have left it at that but noticed his friend studying him. “What?”
“I always thought you had your eye on Duke Clearwater’s daughter. ”
“I think every eligible male has had their eye on Duke Clearwater’s daughter. She is the darling of the capital for a reason.” He paused. “You are interested?”
Andrew hesitated and then answered, “I have always fancied Lady Julianna. She is quite beautiful and very charming. And has”—he cupped his hands in front of his chest—“other attractive qualities.” He grinned at Adrian, who laughed even as he shook his head.
“You’re a dog,” he insulted playfully, making them both chuckle. “Well, then, I say let the best male win.” He patted Andrew on the shoulder before they parted at the door.
Rose hummed as she worked, the sweet but sleepy Larkin napping around her neck as a mink. Since her illness, the weather had calmed. It was still cold, but not as biting. The sky was blue above her with the sun shining to warm her skin. She lifted her face to it as she meandered through the lily garden where she dumped her buckets. None of the three ponds had a trace of ice. Iridescent orange and white fish were visible darting through the crystal-clear water.
It delighted her.
Amid and between the three ponds, flowers pushed their way up through the soil. She couldn’t wait until they bloomed. This garden, in particular, was her favorite, and she thought it would be a riot of color and fragrance once spring arrived in full force .
She wasn’t sure what was planted but thought from the early-growing shape of the stems that it was hyacinth, daffodil, and tulip. There were already patches of purple crocus. In the shade of denuded branches where snow persisted, little blue tufts of glory of the snow grew alongside charming white snowdrops.
Among the bushes that formed the border of the garden, yellow forsythia bloomed. Other bushes still sat dormant, like the ponds after which the garden was named. Not only would those water lilies flower, but also the lilac, hydrangea, and roses-and-wine. Near those bushes watery pink hellebore were in full flower.
As she looked around, Rose could almost feel the potential in the air and waiting to burst from the ground. She could all but smell the fragrance. Gazing at the branches where robins played, at the paving stones that made a wandering path through the growth and around the water, at the lonely stone bench near the farthest pond, and the solitary stone table under the tree, she could see what it could be.
She wanted to see what it turned into. She wanted to see life come back to this place that had been frozen for so long. She could feel the beauty and life preparing to become, like the tiny eggs in the nest near the robins.
And that was silly. No one could feel nature. Not like that.
And she had more important things to worry about than flowers and grass, birds, babies, and bugs. If she wasn’t careful, she’d be scolded by Ms. Shea like she had been so often by Mrs. Hawthorne.
As she walked back toward the nearest door with her buckets, she wiggled her toes in the simple slippers she’d found in her closet the day she’d returned to work. Such a thing shouldn’t make her heart stutter, nor should the cloak she’d found with them and treasured as a blanket.
There had been no note with the items, but she knew from whom they came .
And damn her heart for softening. She needed to keep him at a distance.
Forcing thoughts of the handsome Prince from her mind, she returned to the room she was cleaning. As she’d been finding lately, there was less sabotage. Since Mrs. Hawthorne’s firing, everyone was afraid to say or do the wrong thing.
Like her gifts, Rose tried not to let it get to her head.
The favor could not last, nor did she want it to.
What she wanted was out .
Yet, she found her drive to escape was less than ever. Her shapeshifting friend was a strong motivator to stay. She scratched his head on her shoulder.
“Lavender’s blue, dilly dilly, lavender’s green , ” she softly sang as she worked through the hours. “When I am Queen, dilly dilly, you shall be King . ”
Rose froze, struck by her words. That wasn’t how the song went, was it? It played in her memory that way but seemed wrong.
She’d belonged to a wealthy banker once. His wife had given birth to a son during her time there, and she’d sung that lullaby to get him to sleep. But hers had been different . . .
The sound of a throat clearing had Rose look up quickly from where she was dusting in one of the main hallways. She dropped her dirty rag in her bucket—the one she carried which held her supplies—and stood to curtsy. As she stood again to face Javier, she wiped her dirty hands on her skirt.
Javier sneered. “Why are you out here in the hallway? Don’t you clean the toilets?”
“Done, sir. I will make another round in a few hours. Ms. Shea told me to dust Prince Adrian’s hallways. With spring on the way, a bit of extra cleaning is in order. ”
Javier made a small sound, still looking down on her. “His Highness requests your presence. Follow me.”
He led her to the Prince’s resting room, where she fingered the leaves of one of the tall ferns as they passed through and into a breakfast room that overlooked another of the gardens. Large windows and a set of glass doors showed a little terrace with a bench. Unlike the one in the lily garden, this one was flanked by two large pots, both bare.
There should be flowers there, Rose thought, a beautiful riot of color spilling from the stone confines.
Past that lonely scene, though, the view was stunning. The sun was setting, turning the sky a vibrant pink with orange and purple clouds, the golden light making them shine. It lit the garden in varying light and shadowed shades, somehow making the bare rose bushes along the low wooden wall look more fanciful. There was also a large oak tree with a wooden swing.
So caught up was she in the view, in the sight of the bright red cardinals that winged by, twittering loudly, and the squirrel that went darting up the oak, that she did not notice the Prince standing near a table and chairs until Javier cleared his throat, drawing her attention.
With her face heating, she dipped into a deep reverence. “I apologize for daydreaming, Your Highness.”
“It is quite alright. I daresay I enjoyed it.” And then to Javier, “Leave us and shut the door. Have the horses readied.”
“Yes, sir.” With another condescending look at Rose, Javier swept out, shutting the door smartly behind him.
“Come.” Prince Adrian motioned for Rose to sit at the table. “Share a meal with me.”