Dreams from the Grave by J. Kathleen Cheney

Author:J. Kathleen Cheney
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J. Kathleen Cheney

“Which ones do you think?” her mother asked, tucking an errant strand of hair behind Shironne’s left ear.

Her mother had apparently discussed this expedition with Deborah earlier this morning and knew the reasons for Shironne’s inclusion on the trip. It made this discussion so much easier with Deborah smoothing the way for her. Shironne was grateful her mother wasn’t fighting her over going.

“Could you pack the blue tunic?” she asked, prompted by the recollection that Mikael had liked the blue one. If she couldn’t see it, at least he could enjoy the color. “And the bright pink with the orange petticoats.”

She couldn’t see her mother’s smile, but she could sense that her mother approved. That one was her favorite. “I suppose you won’t need your old coat to go over that?”

Having a Larossan coat would complete the disguise, but packing a coat in addition to her uniform overcoat would be bulky. She doubted that would fit in her baggage. “No, I don’t think so.”

“I’ll have someone take those down to you this afternoon, then,” her mother said, and took Shironne’s gloved hands in her own. She made a nervous sound. “I have news as well, although I know you won’t be surprised.”

Shironne sat up straighter. That explained her mother’s excitement, tightly held to her all morning. “You’re getting married?”

Her mother laughed softly, the bells on her bracelet tinkling as she lifted one hand to touch Shironne’s cheek. “Yes. Jon and I have set a date next month, so you have to be back by then.”

Shironne smiled broadly. It would take an army to keep her away. She didn’t know if she believed in love at first sight, but Colonel Cerradine had been attracted to her mother since first meeting her a couple of years past now. He’d never pressured her mother to engage in anything inappropriate, but now that she was a widow, Shironne had no doubt that their friendship had become more than that. “Will it be a Larossan wedding, or an Anvarrid one?”

Anvarrid weddings were apparently somber affairs that involved cutting of the celebrants’ palms and the binding of their bloody hands together. Larossan weddings were far more festive than that, with food and dancing and parties that would sometimes last into the next day.

“I’ve been talking with Amdiria,” her mother said, naming the king’s consort, “and she’s suggested to try some of both. Keep Dahar and my family happy.”

And since getting the Senate to acknowledge her as a member of the Royal House of Valaren had been a nerve-wracking procedure, it would be foolish to have her step completely back into the mold of a Larossan woman. “As an Anvarrid, you keep all your rights, don’t you?”

“Yes,” her mother said, humor rising now. “Although I have no fear of Jon abusing me or my daughters, so that’s not the reason.”

No, Shironne guessed. Having an Anvarrid wife could give Colonel Cerradine’s social status a boost, which might help both his career and political standing. Not that Cerradine planned

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