Time Enough to Love (The Complete Series) by Jenna Jaxon

Author:Jenna Jaxon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jenna Jaxon
Published: 2022-01-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

It had taken Alyse much longer than she had expected to repair the damage done both to her appearance and her spirits after Thomas left their cabin. The sun stood high in the sky when she finally entered the princess’s audience chamber. Resisting the urge to slink into the room, she held her head high, as became one of her station, and walked calmly into the crowded chamber.

Despite the late hour, Princess Joanna was not in evidence. Whether that boded ill or not, Alyse could not imagine. Immediately on her guard, she moved toward Lady Maurya, deep in conference with her husband. She smiled at them, as usual, and made her curtsy.

“Good morrow, Lady Maurya, Sir John. The princess was not indisposed this morning, I hope?” She prayed her own tardiness had not been remarked upon, though she knew full well it was an empty hope.

“Nay, Lady Alyse.” Sir John spoke before his wife could respond. He shot a warning look at Maurya that spoke to Alyse as well. An uneasy feeling descended on her, and she trembled inside as he continued.

“Princess Joanna summoned...two courtiers into her privy-chamber regarding a private dispute.” Sir John would not meet her eyes, an ill omen. “Her only attendant is Sir Robert Bouchier. We are all quite at a loss as to what has occurred.”

Maurya wrung her hands and seemed as though she would speak, but a determined glare from her husband held her silent.

Alyse smiled, but her hopes sank. She would wager her life on which two courtiers had been summoned.

She sent a covert glance around the crowded room. Members of the retinue huddled together in knots of twos and threes, peering curiously at her then resuming their muted conversations. From their pointed stares, she suspected the so-called “private dispute” was connected with the dire events of this morning.

She had to know what had happened.

Taking Maurya’s hand, she whispered, “I beg of you, tell me what—”

The privy-chamber door opened, and Princess Joanna stepped into the room. Alyse sank down to the ground in a curtsy. All around her the hum of conversation halted as the courtiers made their obeisance. Still, the prickles on her neck told her they watched her.

When she rose, Alyse sought the princess’s face, but could read nothing there except irritation. Joanna took her seat by the window. The bright sunlight cascaded over her soft brown hair and made the gold of her gown glow as though lit from within. She looked every inch the Princess Royal. Back erect, brows puckered, mouth pursed, Joanna exuded royal displeasure. Gone was the sweet fourteen-year-old girl, replaced by a young woman ready and able to be a monarch. The alteration disturbed Alyse, who suspected the morning’s events, and the princess’s settling of them, had affected the change.

The silence of the room, and the knowledge that every gaze rested on her, played on Alyse’s nerves. The tension mounted until she thought she would shatter at the next sound. Panicked by the scrutiny, she could not take a deep breath.

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