Page 71 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
“Yes.”
She darted over to the window and practically pressed her face against it.
“Remember who has to clean that window,” I muttered.
“I’ll do it as soon as they’re back, my lady.” She flattened her hands against the pane. “Goodness, the Grand Duke has quite a presence, doesn’t he?”
My jaw ticked. “He certainly does, Annie.”
“He’s so tall and imposing,” she continued. “I think I’d faint if I was down there with everyone else. He’s just so—”
“For goodness’ sake.” I put my pen down and got up, joining her at the window. “Look what you’ve made me do.”
“Sorry, my lady.”
“If you were sorry, you’d have stopped talking.” I poked her shoulder before peering over her head. “You’re right. He does have an aura about him, especially in the Stein knightage armour.”
“Ooh, he’s brought you a gift, my lady!” She clapped her hands together.
“What do you mean, a gift? Where?” I frowned at the procession. “I don’t see anything.”
“The horse behind him between the two knights. Do you see that black shape on the back of it?”
I narrowed my eyes and focused in as the horses came to a stop and Kalon dismounted. “That black blob?”
“I bet it’s one of the monsters they hunted. There’s been some excitement amongst the maids due to the timing of your arrival, and the other day Madam Ingrid told me that in Stein, it’s tradition for a nobleman to offer his betrothed the body of a monster from his first hunt. It’s a symbol of his strength and dedication to her.”
“Annie.” I gripped her shoulder and clenched my jaw. “Do you not think that’s information I should have had long before now?”
She froze, then cupped her hands to her face. “Oh, you’re right, my lady.”
“How badly have I just insulted him? Bear in mind we’re talking about His Imperial Highness, First Prince Kalon of the Sada Empire, the Grand Duke of Stein, my future husband.”
Annie eked out of my hold on her shoulder and picked up a chair, then proceeded to carry it over to the door where she shoved it under the door handle to block anyone from opening it. “Right, my lady.” She smacked her hands together. “Do you have any bedsheets in here so that we can escape out of the window?”
Chapter Seventeen – Kalon
A Peculiar Woman
“Where is my fiancée?”
Hayes looked at me wearily. “In her office, sir, as her note said.”
I unclipped the heavy cape from my neck and tossed it on an empty chair. “And why is she in her office and not greeting me outside?”
“She’s busy with her work and discovering how much of a ‘corrupt bastard’ the previous duke was.” He paused, then held up his hands. “That’s her description, not mine.”
I flattened my hands on the desk. “She said that? Out loud?”
“The corrupt bastard part? Yes. I asked her to be mindful of her language, and she told me she would ‘call a spade a spade and a bastard a bastard’ if she so pleased.”
I barely restrained myself from laughing. “She may use whatever language she sees fit. You know I don’t care about such things.”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
“Ark, what is this ‘work’ she’s busy with? She’s barely been here for ten days and has no staff other than the maids who accompanied her.” I turned to my most trusted butler. “Is she redesigning the gardens or something? Ordering dresses?”
Ark coughed into his hand and straightened up. Something awfully similar to pride flickered over his face. “No, Your Highness. Her Ladyship has been spending time observing the knights’ training to select her personal knight and asked Sir Otto about monsters. During the conversation, she found out about the purpose of your expedition and was quite upset about the lack of aid available to victims of monster hunts.”
