Chapter 12
Rose hadn’t doubted Leo’s words, but even so, his swift action took her by surprise. As did the note that arrived with her breakfast tray. She hadn’t thought he would include her in the process.
“What does the note say?” Joanne asked, trying—and failing—to sound uninterested. “I heard it came directly from the crown prince.”
“He’s scheduled some interviews today,” Rose said absently, her thoughts focused on his message. “He wants me to sit in on them.”
“He wants you to sit in on interviews?” Joanne’s tone, sharp and confused, penetrated Rose’s awareness, and she glanced up.
“Is there a problem with that?”
Joanne frowned. “I suppose not. It just seems a little unusual. Shouldn’t he take you walking in the gardens or something instead?”
Rose laughed. “He’s not courting me, Joanne. He’s just…resolving a situation that should never have happened in the first place.”
She folded the note and tucked into her breakfast, making short work of the meal. “I’ll want…” She tapped her finger against her lips, considering. “My blue gown with the white detailing. It’s not too ostentatious but still has a regal air. I don’t want anyone questioning why I’m there.”
“But why are you there?” Joanne was still frowning, although she obediently fetched the dress.
“I’m a witness,” Rose said shortly, not willing to go into any more detail.
Leo had honored her by inviting her to join his interviews with various staff members, and she refused to let Joanne’s wariness bring down her mood.
“I’ll want my hair up in a twist as well,” she added.
“Should I fetch Donna, Your Highness?” Joanne asked.
Rose sighed. “It’s Posey at the moment, remember? You need to keep up the habit. And you’ll do a fine job with my hair, I’m sure. You’re getting almost as good as Donna these days.”
Joanne smiled. Her look said she knew Rose was flattering her, but she appreciated the gesture all the same. And Rose’s efforts worked since her maid stopped sighing and tutting under her breath.
Rose left her room early, but she was glad of the extra time since she needed the help of a footman to find the designated interview room.
In the end, she arrived only a few minutes before the specified time, sighing with relief as she let herself into the room and found only Leo inside.
The first interviewee was yet to appear.
“You came!” Leo smiled at her broadly, and she smiled back.
“I didn’t expect you to include me. I’m honored by your trust.”
“You’re the one who noticed there was a problem, not me.” He hesitated. “I invited you partially because I want you to see for yourself that I’m taking the issue seriously. But I’m also hoping your observations might be of assistance. Please don’t hesitate to speak up if you notice something.”
Rose flushed slightly and nodded. “Is the Duke of Sessily coming?” she asked, before remembering to wonder whether Posey was supposed to know that the duke had been left to keep an eye on the prince.
If her words were a slip, though, Leo didn’t seem to notice. He merely grimaced and sighed.
“It’s been so quiet—on the surface at least—that he left to deal with an issue on one of his estates. He’ll be back in a few days. But there’s no way I’m leaving this until then.”
Rose nodded, and Leo looked like he was about to say more, but the door opened and two clerks came in, escorted by a senior guard. Leo nodded to the new arrivals, and they all took up their places—the guard at attention just inside the door, and the two clerks along one side of the table.
Leo gestured for Rose to sit across from the clerks, placing them on either side of him while the single chair across from him sat empty for the interviewee.
A tentative knock came on the door only seconds later. Leo called permission to enter, and a nervous looking woman appeared. Rose would have guessed her to be about fifty, and based on her outfit she appeared to be one of the more senior palace servants.
The woman took the indicated seat, and placed her hands in her lap, her wide eyes on Leo.
He smiled. “Thank you for coming, Hannah. It’s come to my attention that the housekeeper’s long illness, while already unfortunate, must also be greatly impacting the workload of the servants below her. I want to remedy that.”
The woman’s demeanor changed instantly, her shoulders relaxing and her face becoming more animated. Clearly she had been braced for an accusation of some kind and was relieved at the direction of the prince’s words.
“Oh yes, Your Highness! There’s bound to be an adjustment when a new steward is appointed, but Mrs. Frost would have seen us through.
It’s been chaos without her! The maids keep coming to me with problems, but…
” Hannah spread her arms in a hopeless gesture.
“The other senior servants are helping, of course, but there’s bound to be confusion and conflicts, and—” She hesitated.
“Please speak freely,” Leo said encouragingly. “I value your insights.”
“I don’t have the authority to discuss matters with the steward as an equal, Your Highness,” she finished in a rush. “Mrs. Frost could do so, of course, but we’re all doing our best to shield her. Her situation has been very fragile.” She bit her lip, looking on the verge of tears.
Rose leaned forward and handed her a handkerchief. Hannah took it with a startled look and a murmured thank you.
“You must be very worried about her,” Rose said softly.
Hannah dabbed at her eyes. “I wouldn’t have made it to where I am today without her. She took me under her wing when I first arrived. She knows how to walk the line—a firm rein and a soft word. That’s always been the way she’s run the palace.”
“But that’s changed recently?” Leo watched her closely.
Hannah hesitated again and then nodded. “In the past, if anyone persisted in unprofessional behavior, they were dismissed. But now we’re stuck just moving people around.
I’ve shuffled my girls around when requested, but if we’re going to send someone away, it has to be approved by either the housekeeper or the steward. ”
Leo nodded. “That’s intended as a protective measure for the staff. It’s one thing if someone is dismissed for unprofessional behavior, but we don’t want someone dismissed because their superior takes a dislike to them.”
Hannah gave a final sniff and put down the handkerchief, leaning forward as her voice grew impassioned. “It’s been a fair system in the past, but that was when we had both a functioning housekeeper and a steward—and just ones, at that.”
“The new steward isn’t fair?” Leo kept his voice level and free of emotion.
Hannah sat back, her face paling as she realized what she’d said. Then she drew herself up, a determined look on her face.
“No, he’s not. He’s from southern Lanover, and he brought some of his own people with him.
He favors them most of all and other southerners next.
” Her expression twisted. “He’s always saying us northerners need a bit of strengthening.
He says the palace will be stronger when we’re all strong. But in my experience, that just means—”
When she hesitated again, Rose finished for her. “Enabling bullies.”
Hannah threw her a look. “Exactly, miss. I see you’ve encountered it before.”
“I learned all about what happened between Rangmere and Arcadia before I was born. Rangmere has long held similar values to your steward, and they almost invaded Arcadia because of it. Queen Ava has been working to change those elements of her culture ever since she ascended the throne, but it’s not an easy thing to do when the attitude is so entrenched. It’s taken her decades.”
Leo threw Rose a startled look, and Hannah blinked. “Oh yes. I think I heard something about Rangmere once.”
“That is not, however, part of Lanover’s culture,” Leo said. “And my parents have put great effort into uniting the different areas of Lanover. I know I speak for them when I say that the new steward’s attitude does not align with that of the crown or the kingdom as a whole.”
“He’s very organized,” Hannah offered, willing to be more gracious now that her complaints had fallen on receptive ears.
“He keeps on top of his administration tasks, and he has some innovative ideas on how to manage work shifts.” She sighed.
“But it’s hard to implement them when the workforce is in constant conflict. ”
“Can you give us specific examples?” Leo asked. “As many details as you can remember, please.”
Hannah glanced uneasily at the clerks, both of whom were poised and waiting, pens ready.
“Please speak freely and don’t feel any alarm,” Leo said. “We must keep accurate records, but your name won’t be disclosed to anyone in your own hierarchy.” He paused slightly, giving his words extra weight. “Either above or below.”
Hannah nodded, but she still looked nervous, and Rose realized for the first time why Leo hadn’t started by summoning a direct victim. It would have been unfair to ask them to gather the courage to tell him everything.
Hannah, however, found her words and poured out a stream of stories, big and small. In a couple of the more extreme cases, she had gone to the new steward personally to request dismissals. He hadn’t approved them.
When she finally finished, Leo had one last question for her. “Did you make any attempt to approach the royal family with your concerns? I read all the reports on my desk last night, but I didn’t see one from you.” His tone was level without any hint of accusation.
Rose looked at him, startled. Had he slept at all? He looked as immaculately presented as usual, and if he was tired, he wasn’t letting it show.
Hannah flushed. “I considered the matter, but with Their Majesties away…”
Leo’s eyes flickered, his mouth twisting slightly in a wry look.