The Betrothed (The Betrothed #1)(21)

Nora agreed. “Rose looks lovely against your skin. And Delia Grace and I can see what we own that will look best behind you. I promise we won’t distract.”

Delia Grace was visibly inhaling slowly through her nose, not looking pleased to have someone speak for her. “I think anything in a cream color will look nice. Or the obvious Coroan red. Whatever you’d like, my lady.”

Some of the anger had passed. But not all of it.

Delia Grace went to answer the knock at the door, and I trailed behind her, knowing it would be Lady Eastoffe. She entered quickly, followed by her daughter, and they both sank into curtsies.

“My Lady Hollis, please allow me to introduce my daughter, Scarlet.”

“Very nice to formally meet you both. Please come in.”

She clasped her hands together as she walked. “Where would you like to start?”

I sighed. “I’m not entirely sure. I . . . I’m not the best pupil, but I just need to learn enough about Isolte to not look like an absolute fool.”

Lady Eastoffe’s face was equal parts sweet and serious as she weighed her words. “Every woman in your position has had a moment like this, when their era, so to speak, began. We will do everything we can to help you shine.”

My shoulders slumped as she broke the tension I’d been carrying ever since I’d woken up this morning. “Thank you.” I held my hand out, gesturing that they should settle in at my table.

Lady Eastoffe took the seat closest to me. “We have very little time, so we need to get to the important things first. I need to tell you about King Quinten,” she said, looking grave as I took my place. “He is a dangerous man. You may already know that the line of the Pardus family is almost as old as the Barclay family.”

I nodded, though I was only sort of aware of that fact. Jameson was the seventh descendant from King Estus, and no one on the continent could boast a direct line as long as the Coroans’. That I knew.

“Like all countries, we have had good kings and bad ones, but there is something . . . dark about King Quinten. He has always been hungry for power, wielding it as carelessly as a child. But fear has made him worse with age, and now he’s old and paranoid. His first wife, Queen Vera, miscarried several times and has been in the grave for six years now. Prince Hadrian is his only living child, and he is of a sickly disposition. King Quinten recently married a very young woman in hopes of producing more heirs—”

“Valentina?”

“Valentina,” she confirmed. “But so far, it’s been fruitless. All of his hopes now rest on Prince Hadrian—who I’ve heard some princess is reluctantly marrying next year. The poor boy looks as if he could die at any moment.”

“Is he really so ill?” I asked. Lady Eastoffe made a face at her daughter, who answered for them.

“He’s managed to live this long, so who can tell?” Scarlet hedged. “Perhaps he was just meant to be a pale shade of green.”

I allowed that comment a little smile before flopping back in my chair. “So your king is worried because his line may end with either himself or his son?”

“Yes,” Lady Eastoffe replied.

“And there is no one to pick it up and maintain peace?”

She hesitated. “He tends to eliminate those who could usurp him.”

“Oh . . . So . . . I don’t think I understand. What good does that do him?”

“None as far as anyone with any sort of reason can see,” Scarlet answered quickly. “But, as we said, fear has made him mad, and the best anyone can do is steer clear at this point.”

Lady Eastoffe continued. “Of course you should obey your king. Shine, be the best you can be. But also stay away from King Quinten if you can.”

I nodded. “What of Valentina?”

“I’m sorry to say that we don’t know her well,” Scarlet began, sharing a concerned glance with her mother. “Few people do. But she’s young, like us, so if you can keep her entertained, that might get you on her good side.”

I turned to Nora and Delia Grace. “Entertaining is generally my strong suit. But I’m not sure how to do that without knowing her interests.”

Nora sighed. “Perhaps we can take her to the town, show her some of the shops?”

“Good. Yes. And we will think of more,” I promised Lady Eastoffe.

“And I will continue to think,” Scarlet added. “If I remember anything, I’ll make sure to tell you. And since plenty of courtiers will come with the king, we can ask some of them when they arrive if they have any ideas.”

I sighed in relief. “Thank you. I’ve been told my whole life that Isoltens were more like stones than people. It seems I was misinformed.”

Lady Eastoffe smiled conspiratorially. “Maybe wait until you meet the king before you change your mind completely.”

I laughed easily, and she and Scarlet joined in. I was grateful that if I had questions over the visit, I had someone I could go to.

“I admire you,” Lady Eastoffe admitted. “So young and so brave.”

I made a face. “Brave?”

“It’s no small thing to become queen. Even Valentina I admire for it, regardless of how I might feel about her otherwise.”

I swallowed. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.”