The Wounded Wedding (Legacy of the Lost Empire Book 2) by Hannah Silver

Author:Hannah Silver [Silver, Hannah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hannah Silver
Published: 2024-02-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Later that night, Marguerite sat around the table at another meeting of Armel's group of palace spies. He had asked for reports. Etienna told him that Rayna's treatments were going well. Presently there were no further dangers to the queen's health. Lady Rundala had reported that the power balance between the two factions still held, though it was a tenuous balance at best.

"Lady Marguerite. Do you have anything to report?" Armel turned his gaze to her.

Marguerite nodded. "I have obtained some information on the practice of indentured servitude on Duchess Shannon's lands. It appears that her tenants are going missing. Almost all of them have signed contracts of servitude. My own maid's uncle is the latest to disappear.”

"Do you have any other information?" he inquired.

"Just that Thom was forced into signing the contract because he could not pay his taxes. My maid reports that it is increasingly harder for people to meet the tax demands made on them by Dulcibelle. It appears she has been slowly increasing taxes over time."

Lady Rundala sniffed, flicking her fan open with a sharp snap. "Is this the extent of your knowledge? Much of this is information we have already ascertained. I must question their sources, as you have little news to report."

"Lady Marguerite has been at court for only a month,” Armel pointed out. "She's not had the luxury of time to build her information base yet. At the very least we know the identity of one of these missing people and can search for him specifically. What news on Henrietta’s courtship?”

Marguerite glanced down. She fought not to show her embarrassment. "I'm afraid I have little positive news there, either."

Duke Bertram leaned forward. "Explain."

Marguerite fiddled with her necklace. "Their Highnesses have discovered a difference in opinion on hunting. It is a cultural misunderstanding, and one they both feel strongly about. I admit it could have been avoided had I had the foresight of knowing Her Highness’s revulsion of the practice."

"How very forgetful of you,” Lady Rundala snapped.

"How do you intend to fix the problem?" Bertram asked.

"I have advised Her Highness to wait for tempers to cool and then to seek out His Highness’s company again,” Margaret answered.

"Need I remind you of the importance of this courtship?” Bertram continued. “The betrothal is attached to a trade treaty. A treaty that could be rendered void if Henrietta and Mladen do not marry. Much more than the future happiness of two young people relies on the success of this relationship. If this goes through, our merchants will be given access to Hoffnovite voyages to Larzan and the Mahakwai Islands. Such profits could potentially tip the balance of favor in the queen's direction, endearing the merchants to her policies. Additionally, Queen Vestalia is more likely to nudge her contacts in the Caelish court to our side in support of her daughter-in-law. The Hoffnovites have a stake in this as well. It is well-known that Vestalia intends to abdicate the throne in favor of her son once he is married.

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