Chapter 2

Over the next few weeks, I was required to play hostess to a few more of my northern lords. Their excuse was that they had been overdue in heading to their northern territories but it soon became clear they had come to join Barwick and Aderly in my protection. I was careful in what I said to them and only to the first two men did I reveal how I was feeling about it. As I had belonged here for many years and overlooked any trouble the lords and dukes needed me to, I had gained their trust and friendship. Unlike my brother who only did what was favourable in his eyes. As ever though, since most of these men had property in the north, I could send them off so easily yet, as Aderly had noticed, I enjoyed the company. Alas, I did not spend all my time in talking with them. Owen, as I called him that more often, and I spent more time walking around my grounds. Of course, it caused a little rumour spreading among my other guests. At least with these men, my trust did not waver, if this were at court, no doubt would there be many more than the ones here.

Owen made me laugh, that was clear and even more clearly was that he made me blush. I tried to hide it but that was not easy with so small a crowd ever present. Once a week, when we were walking, he would pick me another flower to replace the one from the week before. All I could do back was talk with him and give him my company. I did converse with him about it and his reply was that he did not mind.

'I do not do this for favours back and after all, if you think about it, these flowers are really yours as they are from your garden.' He chuckled lowly as we walked along the blanket of fresh snow that covered all of my lands.

As we walked, I turned my head and nodded to him. 'True and you are just picking the best as you see them, yes?'

'A lady like yourself only deserves the best.'

'Now you are just flattering me, Owen. Where did you learn your manners?' I asked though not actually looking for an answer. 'That does not matter, I quite like it. You are not like the other men I have known my entire life.'

'You say it does not matter but my manners come from a mix of my father and mother. My brother is more like the rest of the aristocracy.' He looked around and sighed as though he had given up on something. 'He detests me some days and other days he wants my help. As an older brother, I give all the help I can.'

'If only my own brother was like you. Still, it is probably better that he isn't.' I shook my head, remembering what my brother was like. 'Two more months and I will have to put up with his ways again.'

Owen turned to me and gave me his boyish smile. 'Since you ride, maybe you could show me further than your gardens.'

Laughing, I nudged his arm and went back to smelling his newest chose of flower for me. This one was an Iris; the delicate cream petals felt like silk in my fingers as I stroked along the single brown stripe that ran down their centre. The fragrance of the pollen was much stronger than the red star flower he picked the week before. 'Maybe, I will think about it.' Then I saw Lord Elkyn make his way over. 'Now what does he want?' I whispered.

'Your Highness,' said Elkyn, bowing in his elaborate way.

'Yes, Elkyn, what do you want now?' I asked him.

'Your brother, the King, has arrived,' he informed me.

My face must have been a picture to see. I felt my eyes widen with shock and my lips thinned in panic as to why my brother had come all this way. 'What? And who knew he was even coming? Uh, nevermind.' And I stormed off to find my brother, dropping Owen's flower onto the nearest bush. I did not like not knowing if either he or Lavina were coming to visit me, even in my brother's own palaces.

Robert had seemed to have arrived bringing nearly half his entire household, including horses and hounds (from the calamity going on outside). 'Ah, sister, there you are. Where have you been?' Robert asked, seeing me walk through the door and held his arms out wide.

I bobbed my head on my shoulders and folded my arms. 'Your Majesty, what brings you here? I did not hear of any visit.' I had to be stern with my brother or else he might humiliate me.

His arms dropped immediately seeing that I was not about to embrace him. 'Do I need a reason to come and visit you? No,' he answered himself. 'Now, tell me, what have you been doing up here?' He took my arm and led me off down my own hallways.

'Robert, you sound like you suspect me of something. You know every winter I come up here. The company you see in my hall are all here at their own requests.'

He leant down and kissed my cheek; I was so abashed by it that I almost forgot myself and had to stay my arm from slapping him. 'Have I anything to suspect you of? You are my sister and I trust your judgement. Besides, I have something for you to do while you are up here.'

'And what is that? You always have something for me to do.'

'Indeed. Listen, you know of that envoy mission I sent so I assume you know why I sent it.' I nodded; nearly everyone knew why he had sent them. 'I thought so. I just got word a week ago that Ralph will be paying us a similar visit, only in person.'

I spluttered. 'King Ralph? He hardly ever leaves his country.' I had only met Ralph a few times and that was when I was a young girl. 'And you came to tell me this why? You could have easily put this in a letter.'

Then he gave me that familiar smirk and I knew he was up to something. 'I could but what I have to tell you is something I know you will not like if I did not come myself. What I ask of you is to plan a banquet for his visit.'

'And why can't Lavina do that? After all, she is so high and mighty in herself. She would do a better job than I could.'

He stopped and turned me to face him. 'Now, Leticia, you should not speak of her like that. She is your sister.'

Rolling my eyes, I huffed and turned my head. 'Only because she is married to you. You know, as well as everyone else, that she and I will never get on. Since you ask me to, I will do as you wish. Is there anything else?' I asked, knowing there was nothing simple with my brother's requests.

'Not yet.' I did wonder what that could mean. 'It has been a long time since I was last here.'

'And I suppose you want me to show you around again.' He nodded and so I led him through my rooms. We finished speaking of duties and spoke like we used to. It was as though things were back to the older days and I felt that way until we came back to my dining hall. My halls might not be quite as big as my brother's but I knew how to entertain my guests, even if most of them were men.

*****

The winter season was over and the snow had melted making all of my grounds too muddy even to ride; although, they would be left alone for another year or so. I was journeying back south with my brother and our company. This time round, I travelled on my own horse and not in my carriage which came along with us with some of my maids taking the space. It did not bother me; I preferred to ride this way as I was free to speak to who I wanted. As we took the roads to the south-west, I turned my horse between those of my friends speaking to them through the hours. Owen kept his distance, unless I came to him.

It took less time to arrive at Redbrick Palace than it took to get to my Dovehall Castle. When we arrived, there was a small crowd to welcome us both back; my brother acknowledged the people as I did though, to my grief, only after I had first. My horse was taken away and I went inside. To my surprise, the first person to greet me inside was Lavina.

'Leticia, will you come with me? Please,' she added, holding out her hand.

I took her hand and she held it as though I were a good friend. 'What is this, your Majesty?'

'This is me putting past disagreements behind us. I have good news for you.'

'For me? You seem flustered, Lavina.' Though that might have been from the red satin dress that draped over her slender body.

I had not seen her smile like this nor heard her laugh in her floaty tones. 'Yes, for you. And of course, I am happy. I am with child, Leticia.'

I was slightly flustered myself with the way she said that but at the same time full of delight since there was little more joy to be had at such news. 'Oh, how wonderful. You must be so excited? Does my brother know?' I asked.

'Yes, he knows. And now so do you. It is indeed wonderful.'

Then, I believed I began to understand something but I had to make sure. 'Why now, Lavina? Why has it taken so long for you to accept me?'

Lavina had been a princess before she married my brother. 'You are my husband's sister and naturally, if he died without any children from me, you are next in line.' Of course it would have to be over successions. 'But not only that, it has always been my nature to be jealous of those close to my king.' She nodded to her own maids to stay where they were. 'Leticia, I need your help now.'

I dropped my eyes to floor. 'Lavina, you have no need to be jealous of me. I keep away from my brother as often as I can and leave him to deal with his own business.'

With closed eyes, she too looked to the ground. 'I see that now. I regret not trusting you sooner. I feel your brother will be not so easy to please now...'

As much as I hated thinking about it, I knew exactly what she meant. 'If it will help, I can try and keep my brother busy by other means.' She smiled and thanked me. 'You need to take care. I only found out when my brother visited me that Ralph is coming to visit.'

'Yes, I heard though not from Robert. Like you I have my own ears set about the councils.'

That I secretly knew myself though I kept that a secret too. 'Well, if you wish us to share news by more secret means then I shall have to become familiar with them.' I winked at her and looked over my shoulder at her maids.

'That can be arranged,' Lavina whispered to me and went back to her own business. Turning back to my own, I wandered around aimlessly knowing I would not find who I was really looking for. With Lavina's news I could now relax more in the faith that I would be safe to stay in my own country. Lavina herself was not from Capra; she came over from Fiklan to marry my brother. It was an agreement between my father and hers and no one gave a care as to whether she wanted to. I had always been worried that I would have to undergo the same treatment. For now, that trouble seemed to be abolished if my brother's attention is on other things.

I walked along the more familiar hallways than my own and with the company of my maids. One of my maids, Florence, was my closest of my common friends; her father was a low nobleman as were the fathers of a lot of the servants here. That was the way things were in our world and they were never simple. The aristocracy was mostly back in court which is where I decided to go. It was a new year and that meant a few days of banquets and parties. These began on my second day after returning and I now stood to Lavina's left whilst she sat in her throne. Robert was conversing with some lords near the windows.

'Your Majesty, may I be excused?'

'This is a party, Leticia. You may go where you like.'

I had only asked because I noted the arrival of Beaufort and his two sons, one being Adrian. As I made my way over, I took too goblets from a serving tray. 'My Lord Beaufort, it is good to see you return,' I spoke as he bowed on seeing me.

I handed one of the goblets to him. 'Thank you, your Highness. It is good to be back. The king requested me to come back to court and so here I am. You know my son, Sir Geoffrey.'

His eldest son stepped forward to his father's side and bowed at the waist. 'Your Highness.'

'Sir Geoffrey.' I spotted Adrian over Beaufort's left shoulder, purposefully ignoring my presence. 'Would you like some wine?' I gestured for a male servant to bring some more over. 'It is good to see you,' I repeated and let them go on their way. 'Adrian,' I said to my good friend as I stepped past him.

'You must be more careful in such crowds,' he warned me but I took to swaying my head a few times. 'May I ask for a dance, Letty?'

I looked at him, shocked that he would use my name so openly. 'Er, yes. Sir Adrian.' I knew he hated me calling him by his real title. Nonetheless, he took my hand and we stepped amid the other dancing couples. It would have easily been seen as a gesture of affection though Beau and I knew our own relationship. 'I require your help, Beau,' I whispered as we danced to the trilling music.

'What with?' he smiled, still as eager as ever to help me with anything at all.

'We are soon to be hosts to Kaldri and my brother has put it upon me to prepare a brilliant banquet,' I told him, over-exaggerating the idea. 'You know I find it tedious, I trust you know the right people to organise such a thing.'

'Of course, as you wish. I won't let you down, my Lady.' As ever, Beau's timing was right on queue as the music stopped. Everyone applauded to the musicians just as they began another tune. I stepped out of the way as the dancing continued and bumped into Adrian's older brother. I did not know him so well. 'Forgive me,' I said, having literally stepped on his foot.

He put his hand on my arm in some strange manner. 'You give my brother many favours, your Highness,' he began. 'What is your business with him, might I ask?'

'You may ask, my good sir but as it is my business, you may not know. You can go and ask him but he is as faithful to me as he is to his family.' That might have been a little too harsh or much to say but I did not like the way he had asked me. 'And the favours I give him are those of any friend to another,' I added, removing his hand from my arm.

After all the festivities, I was left in peace from the constant company of my brother's nobles. I kept my few around me or close at hand but allowed them to keep to their own business. I went about mine and replied to my letters from correspondents both here and abroad. It was to my knowledge that unknown deliverers would have read them but still, I needed to know the happenings in the world. One letter was much more important than the others which wished me well and were about personal matters; this particular letter had a larger seal to it stamped with a portcullis and two flanking swords. It read:

Dear Madam,

I hope I find you well as you read this. It has come to the attention of my master that there have been recent little discussions between you and he. He formerly regrets, as had been shared with me, that this be the case. My master, Admiral Perin of Fiklan, wishes that he send an Ambassador Rainer to meet with you. Since you and your own Majesty are soon to play host to King Ralph of Kaldri, it seems that this would be of good timing.

May you stay well.

There was no signature but this writing was known to me as Perin's secretary. So, it appeared I would have to entertain more than just another king. My attention, it seems, would have to be widely spread over many guests and friends for much longer than I may want. Even though Rainer would have arrived in my lands by the time my letter arrived, I nevertheless got my scribe to scribble down my response and seal it shut after my signature. I read the rest of my letters and responded to ones that required one. 'Thank you, Joseph. You can have these delivered.'

'Yes, your Highness. Is there anything else?'

'No, you may go and do what you want.' I waved him away as he stood up. 'Florence, do you know if the Queen is busy?'

She came over and sat where Joseph had just been. 'She does not do much these days with her condition.' She said that last word rather carefully. 'She resides in her quarters away from mostly everyone.'

'Hmm, since she wishes to befriend me properly... I wish to go see her. Come, ladies,' I said out loud for the others to hear. I had five maids altogether though they were all friends with Lavina's own maids, this sometimes made it hard to know if I could trust them completely. 'Lavina!' I called as I stepped through her door.

'Ah, I wondered if you would come.' We smiled to each other and I went to hug her. She was garbed in a splendid gown of pale green taffeta laced with fox fur.

'How are you, sister?' I was glad to want to be her sister more than just her husband's.

'I am well, though I have a hunger for pears.' We both giggled and she took me into her chambers more. 'What do you think of these?' she asked, pointing her hand to a small box on a table.

Walking over, I opened the box to see two emerald set earrings and a necklace to match. As a woman, I was very much attracted to jewels and sparkling things. 'They are amazing.'

'From your brother. He spoils me yet he does not visit me every day. Could you have a word with him, on my behalf?' she asked and sat down near her fireplace.

There was no secret as to what she was referring to. 'I can see what I can do though he does not listen to me. He is influenced in his actions by many others before me.'

She knew it to be true and, unfortunately, so did those who did the influencing. If my brother had his way though, the country might be a more ideal one; yet, nothing can ever be perfect. 'Still, he might give it more of a thought if you do say something.'

'As you wish.' I shut the box and went to sit in the chair opposite her. 'Do you know of an Admiral Perin?'

'Yes, he is the Admiral of my father's entire fleet. Why do you ask?'

'He is sending an Ambassador Rainer to see me whilst Ralph is visiting. Since he is from your home country, I thought you might like to know. If you are at the feast, I could, maybe, bring him to see you?' I suggested with a smile.

Her smile glistened in the firelight. 'Yes, you may do that. I do miss my family and friends back home. I am acquainted with Rainer though I only know a bit about him.' I could only sympathise with her. 'Yes, it would be nice to see those from home again. You must know he will come with most of his servants and household.'

'Hmm, yes, which adds to my annoyance at my brother for putting his trust in me to entertain Ralph and his house.'

She patted my nearest hand with hers. 'That is a duty we both are charged with. My brother only charged you with this because I am incapacitated with this matter.' And she put both her hands on her belly.

TTT=