Chapter 6 #2
She shrugged. “A couple of the girls in the kitchen think you might be high maintenance, but they don’t have actual proof when asked, but I’ve discovered it’s because you don’t eat meat,” she said.
“They’ve mostly all come over with Ms. Krog, and now they’ve had to change some things from their last assignment, but you’re not the first vegetarian to ever exist, or even the first in the castle, and your previous cook left extensive notes that they chose to throw out, so really, who’s the problem, I ask? ”
“I’m not the only vegetarian?” I asked.
She shook her head.
“Does anyone think I’m mean?” I asked. “Or silly? Or stupid?”
“No,” she said.
“But they do know about…” I inhaled deeply. “They know about Willem?”
“Yes,” she said. “I heard about him from the butler. Would you like to know what he told me?”
“No,” I said.
“Are you sure?”
“…No.”
She waited a second. “He said your father had him burned.”
I shut my eyes, then turned, and revisited the dress I wore in the mirror. “Is it too bright?” I asked, running my fingers over the sequined bodice.
“He said your governess did it, actually,” she said. “But your father commanded it.”
“The blacksmith burned him,” I said.
Miss Josie nodded. “By your governess’s request?” she asked.
“Yes… I’m not sure my father commanded it, but he certainly did nothing to prevent it.”
“I heard that, too.” She took a moment. “I also heard… One of the other maids told me your governess was murdered,” she added.
We met eyes.
“That is not true. She fell,” I said.
“I heard Ser Elías pushed her.”
“No,” I answered. “No. That is ridiculous. Elías would not do that.”
“The other day, you were in fear for Mr. Evergreen’s well-being,” she said.
I ignored the comment.
“For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t blame him,” she said. “I heard—”
“Shall I tell the Lord Commander that on your behalf?” I asked. “That you would not blame him for murder?”
Josie straightened. “No.”
“She fell, Miss Jocelyn. I was there.”
“You were there?” she asked. “I thought the Lord Commander discovered her? Alone? Was that not the peculiarity of it?”
I changed the subject. “Thank you for coming today.”
She scoffed. I quirked a brow.
“Yes, Miss Josie?”
“Nothing,” she decided. She bent to tie her shoe. “Thank you for enlisting me. I’m excited.”
“Thank you for agreeing to be enlisted,” I replied.
There was a stale air. I exhaled. “Right. Listen, Josie. I… I know my Eli comes off… Well, you did call him a gargoyle, didn’t you?
I know he’s intimidating, but I promise you, it’s all an act.
The man would never actually hurt anyone.
Well. Perhaps that’s not a good reassurance.
He was in the War. And he is sworn to protect my father and me at all costs, but he wouldn’t hurt someone innocent.
I swear. So don’t worry about him, even when he figures out that I’ve recruited you.
That’s not reason to harm someone. He didn’t murder Miss.
Hellveig and he certainly won’t murder you. ”
“Wait a second,” she said.
“No, no. He will be angry at me. Not you.”
“You mean if?” she asked. “Right? If he finds out?”
“No,” I said, laughing. “No. I mean, when he finds out. But you’ll be fine.”
She frowned. “Will you?”
“Of course,” I said. “Again, a killer but not a murderer. And I’m his favorite. At this point in our lives, I’m certain that he expects me to misbehave. Are you not happy to be here?”
“No, I am. I am happy to be here. Not just for Ser Willoughby either,” she said.
“You mean Daniel, of course,” I said.
“Yes, but I am happy to spend time with you as well,” she explained. “It’s not just about your cousin.”
“I’ll believe you when I wake up a moose. Now. On to business! I don’t want to come off as monstrous, but at some point, you and Ser Willoughby must talk alone so that I may have Mr. Evergreen alone.”
“I see.”
“Not the whole trip, but I do require some time without an audience. Not for nefarious purposes, but for privacy, you see? So. Perhaps you might suggest a walk? My cousin did express his explicit enjoyment of the outdoors, so I think that should work well enough to lure him away.”
“Ser Willougby enjoys the outdoors?” she asked.
“Mhmm,” I confirmed.
“I thought he might be a little more posh. This pleases me to learn.”
“Oh, don’t let him fool you,” I said. “As I recall, he was always a little less posh than his brothers, but he can turn it on for a purpose. Like, if you see him with the Viscount. He’s a new man.”
“A bit of a thespian, is he?” she asked.
“Aren’t we all?”
“I suppose.”
“He is quite rugged,” I told her. “He hunts,” I said, like it was a great reveal.
“I think I did see him and the Lord Commander once,” she said.
“Aye. And all the Willoughbys are fine hunters.”
“Enough about him,” she said. “You and Mr. Evergreen are becoming close. I hope you know I saw the way he looked at you yesterday.”
I straightened. “Oh?”
“Yes,” she pressed.
“How did he look at me? I should add, your discretion is the utmost vital part of this operation.”
“I won’t spill a word,” she said. “A lady’s trust, remember? And Mr. Evergreen looked at you like he was waiting for a moment to kiss you.”
I nodded, then possessed, blurted, “I did that. I kissed him.”
Josie exploded into a show of excitement, collecting my hands in hers and springing off her feet, once, twice, thrice, proudly giggling.
“What was it like? Was it passionate? Was it warm? Did he kiss you back?” she asked. “Was it the kind where his hands cling to you for dear life in an undeniable urge to make love?”
“I-” My face burned furiously hot to the touch. “I don’t know!”
“What do you mean you don’t know? You said you kissed him?” she asked.
“I did but-“ I instantly crossed my arms.
“Have you… Miss, have you not kissed a man before?” She waited for me to answer, and as I danced around whatever portion of the truth I could have given her, she decided it didn’t matter. “Did you like kidding him?”
“I’ve… Yes, I liked it,” I landed on. “Very much.”
She playfully dropped my hands. “Then we shall do our very best to ensure it happens again. Hurry. Help me. What will Daniel and I talk about for an entire walk?”
“I’m not sure I’m the one for that question,” I explained. “Whatever you have in common. Wait.”
Josie did.
“Have you kissed a man?” I asked.
She hummed, touching her dress again and shaking the skirt from one side to the other. “Is that what we should speak of?” she asked.
“Josie!” I cried.
“I’ll figure something else out,” she said.
“Am I in over my head?” I asked. I sat on the bed.
Miss Jocelyn sat next to me. “We shall decide upon a signal,” she said. “A word you can say when you wish you leave.”
“I don’t need a signal, Josie,” I replied. “I just need a moment.” I looked her over. “That color is right for you.”
“I hope your cousin agrees.”
“I’m sure he will. He’ll daydream of making you Josie Willoughby.”
“You are terrible!” She slapped my arm as I went to put on the other shoe. “And Joclyn,” she said.
“What?” I asked.
“He only calls me Jocelyn,” she said. “If I were so lucky to-”
A rapping at the door interrupted her thought. On cue, she moved to open it, revealing Ser Elías. He stood firmly agitated.
“Miss Josie.” He looked between us. “Find somewhere to be.”
“I told you,” I said sing-songly.
She stepped into the hall and was too-soonly gone.
Elías shut the door after her. He trekked to the far end of the room and said absolutely nothing.
“Good morning, Lord Commander,” I buzzed.
“Aye.” He stalked toward the window, pulled back the curtain, and peered into the yard. “A good morning, isn’t it? I see you’ve added a party to your party.”
“Is that not what you did?” I asked.
“No.”
“No? You convinced Ser Willoughby that I was scared of bandits. I should have you flogged for slander,” I joked.
“Next time, come in his stead. I’d rather risk listening to you complain about chafing than spend the day with anyone else, but then again, that would eliminate the real punishment, now wouldn't it?”
He narrowed his eyes and glowered at me. “You’re not being punished.”
“He said with a scowl. Is there not a clause in your oath about lying to your Princess?” I asked.
“I am unable to make the detail with my schedule. And you should be concerned about bandits. You should not be traveling without a Blade.”
“I don’t travel without a Blade,” I said.
He tsked. “Mr. Evergreen is not a knight.”
“He trained knights,” I replied. I raised my brow. “Did you think I would not discover that little fact?”
“Then he’s told you about his role within the War?” Elías asked. “I’m impressed. How did you take it?”
“Take what? That he was in Chalke? Please.”
“Ah.”
“No ‘ah,’” I said. “So what of it? He and Ser Willoughby exchanged their secret facts. Perhaps I did not know the meaning of it all, but I do know that my cousin would alert me to anything I needed to know, unlike some other knights who call themselves allies. It’s no different than what I know about your purpose in the War, Ser, and if that doesn’t matter, then this doesn’t, does it? ”
“You know what I did,” he said.
“Do I?” I asked. I sarcastically canted my head. “Do I?”
“The War is over,” he said.
“It is!” I told him. “And anyway, you should be happy I’ve invited her. All the merrier to watch me as you so dearly like, you voyeur. Just like the Prince wanted, too.”
“First of all, do you have any idea what that word means?” he asked.
I bristled. “I have a good concept,” I said. “I heard you call a knight that once.”
“I don’t think you actually do,” he replied. “It’s something perverse,” he said. “It means I watch you for sexual pleasure.”
I gasped.
“Exactly. Don’t call me that again.”
“I’m very sorry,” I replied. “I don’t think you do that.”
He rolled his eyes. “Secondly, that’s not what I was doing,” he said. “I was not watching you.”