Palace of Scoundrels by Nicola M. Cameron

Author:Nicola M. Cameron [Cameron, Nicola M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy romance, Two Thrones series, royal romance, Smashwords
Publisher: Nicola M. Cameron
Published: 2016-10-04T00:00:00+00:00

7

A VOLATILE SITUATION

Danaë sat at her dressing room table and eyed Flavia as the maid moved behind her, laying the day’s gown to one side. She had been unusually quiet that morning, responding politely when spoken to but not talking about anything on her own. It bothered Danaë that a woman who had been her trusted maidservant and companion for over ten years couldn’t meet her eyes.

Blast that idiot. “Flavia, we need to talk.”

Flavia stilled in the act of folding her girdle. “What would you like to talk about, mistress?”

Her stilted tone made Danaë wince. “I know what you saw yesterday with Marcus. I was trying to determine if someone had lay a spell of compulsion on him. Despite what he said, I assure you there’s nothing going on between us.”

Flavia still wouldn’t look at her. “If you say so, mistress.”

Danaë twisted in her seat. “Dammit, Flavia, look at me.”

Reluctantly, the maid did. “I’m not sleeping with Prince Marcus. I have no romantic interest in him whatsoever,” Danaë said firmly. “His grandmother, on the other hand, is trying to shove him in my bed, and he had hoped that acting like that in front of you would get back to her and make her think that her plans were working.”

Flavia straightened, her round cheeks flushing now with offense. “Does he think I gossip about you, mistress? I’ve never said a single thing to anyone about what goes on in your life!”

That news heartened her. “I suspect there was an Illian guard stationed further down the hall who was supposed to see you as you left.” Not to mention the guards who were always stationed outside her door, she remembered. They would be wondering why one of the robed Illian maidservants had upset Flavia so. “Damn it all. Can you please speak to my guards about this, throw them off the scent? You know how I feel about the king. Do you honestly think I’d cheat on him with Marcus, of all people?”

“That part did make me wonder what had happened to your senses, mistress.” Flavia’s gaze hardened. “I’ll tell them I saw the Illian girl’s veil slip and what was underneath horrified me. I think she’ll have boils. Big purple ones.”

A bit more descriptive than necessary, Danaë mused, but if it made Flavia feel better she wasn’t about to say no. “Thank you, Flavia. I honestly don’t think I could rule without you.”

“Tchah.” But the maid looked pleased at the compliment. “I’m sorry for doubting you, mistress. The prince is pretty enough if you like that sort of thing, but I couldn’t see why you’d take an Illian serpent to your bed when you have the king. I even thought someone had slipped a love potion into your wine when you weren’t looking.”

Danaë blinked, remembering the odd, fleeting impression she’d sensed in Marcus. “A love potion,” she said slowly.

“I beg your pardon, mistress?”

“Prince Marcus. He asked me if he could be compelled to do something without him knowing it. That’s why I was touching his face—to see if I could sense the trace of a spell.

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