The rumor about Lady Maren did run its course and die out more quickly than Donovan had expected. That was because it was replaced with a scandal.

A young noble, Lord Braxton, had been found in a compromising situation with one of the members of the staff. That in and of itself would not have been particularly problematic were it not for the gender of the staff member in question. If it had been one of the young maids, there would have been some eye-rolling and back-patting, and it would have been an amusing story instead of a scandal. But it was one of the drivers, so it was a scandal.

It wasn't a legal scandal, not like if it had been discovered that there was a Light Wielder at Court, but it was absolutely a social scandal.

Much to Donovan's chagrin, his father had asked him to deal with it.

"To be honest, Son, this is the sort of thing I prefer not to get involved in, but the Minister of Culture has been rambling on about restoring morality at Court. And I would like him to be quiet more than I would like not to be involved," his father had said.

"And you're asking me to deal with it —"

"Because, as you'll see one day, when you're the King you can sometimes delegate less pleasant tasks to your sons."

Donovan had to chuckle at his father's frankness, but he was still annoyed this had somehow become his problem.

Fortunately, he had dinner with Maren and Alec shortly thereafter, so could at least complain about it to someone.

"And what, by gods, am I supposed to do about it?" he asked them.

"Why should you do anything at all?" Lady Maren asked.

Donovan sighed. "I don't want to, but it's not as though I can tell the King 'no' when he asks me to handle something."

"Not doing something is doing something though, it's saying the monarchy doesn't pass judgment on private relationships," Lady Maren argued.

"Is that the message we should send? I don't know," Donovan said.

"What does the Minister of Culture want you to do?" Alec asked.

Donovan sighed. "'Restore the morality of the Court,' whatever that means. At a minimum, he wants Braxton banned from Court."

"Banishment seems rather severe, not to mention it'd ruin his business prospects for life," Alec said.

"Did Braxton force the driver?" Lady Maren asked.

"Not so far as anyone has said," Donovan answered.

"Then it shouldn't be a problem," she said.

Alec seemed surprised, "Do you really think so? That's a very liberal attitude."

She laughed and sipped her wine. "I'm a very liberal person."

Donovan smiled at that. She wasn't really liberal in her person, he'd rarely met anyone more insistent on following proper manners. But she was liberal, or at least more outspoken, in her political views to be sure.

"Regardless, I have to do something," Donovan said. He wasn't sure how he felt about what Braxton had done, but he did know he would've preferred not to be involved.

"How about this, send Braxton on some sort of royal expedition that'll take him away from Court for a while. It will get him out of town until something else scandalous can happen. The Minister can quit complaining, but you don't have to actually punish Braxton," Alec suggested.

Donovan thought about it for a few moments. It seemed like a reasonable suggestion. He just had to come up with something reasonable for Braxton to do out of town. Perhaps inspecting some of the military forts outside the Capital.

"I think that would work," Donovan said. "It's doing something but without really doing anything, which is the level of involvement I'm hoping to have. Thank you, Alec."

Alec nodded. Donovan thought he looked rather grim. He didn't blame him. The whole thing was ridiculous. 

"Can we now discuss how absurd this idea of 'restoring the morality of the Court' is?" Lady Maren asked.

Donovan looked at her. She looked rather outraged.

"Well, I'll agree it doesn't mean anything, but what is your particular objection?"

She looked at him with incredulity.

"Really? You don't know why I might have some objection to the notion of 'Court morality?'"

Donovan felt very uncomfortable because she thought he should know what her objection was, and he was not sure. At least, he was not sure what objection she might have that he could discuss in front of Alec, so it didn't have anything to do with Wielding.

She scoffed when he was silent. "Alec, do you recall what has brought me to live in the palace?"

Alec choked on his wine. "Ah...do you...ah... I think... I don't have to answer that, do I?"

"You do not, it just appeared His Highness had forgotten," Lady Maren said smugly.

"And what exactly does that have to do with morality?" Donovan asked.

"Really? I know it's normalized, but the Selection is essentially just prostitution dressed nicely," she said.

It was Donovan's turn to choke on his wine.

"It's entirely different," he said when he recovered.

Alec looked amused. "I see your point. Companionship in exchange for a marriage."

"Exactly. Different terms, more or less the same exchange."

Donovan was deeply uncomfortable. He didn't like the Selection, but he didn't think it was prostitution either. Prostitution was far less socially acceptable in their society. It happened, of course, and it wasn't illegal, but it was the sort of thing that happened behind closed doors.

"Look," Lady Maren said, "I'm not saying it's wrong—well it is, but that's more about the lack of consent involved than what it is. My point is that it's rather absurd to say two men are eroding the morality of the Court when the Selection is perfectly acceptable."

Alec and Donovan were both quiet for a few moments, considering her argument.

"Give her more wine, it makes her seditious," Alec said, and they all laughed.

"All right, all right, I take your meaning," Donovan said. He was still uncomfortable with her argument, but he was forced to admit that it was more because it was right than because it was wrong.

"Our society does have some contradictory notions of propriety," Alec said.

The conversation moved on, but after Alec left, Donovan felt compelled to return to the subject with Lady Maren over brandy.

"You are not a prostitute," he said.

She smiled. "Of course not. I'm a courtesan, it's much fancier."

He couldn't help but laugh. "But you aren't that, either."

"Well, no one knows that. And it's only true because you are a deeply honorable man...and I don't mean to offend, but I do think that's something of a rarity among princes...at least the current ones."

He grimaced. She was right about that.

"I'm not saying it's a bad thing, it's just what it is," she said.

He sighed. "I take your meaning.  I guess... I just wanted to say that...well, it isn't how I think of you."

He was looking at the fire when he spoke, but glanced at her. She was smiling at her glass, but then met his eyes.

"And how do you think of me?" she asked quietly.

Likely, he should have seen that question coming and been prepared with an answer, but as it was, he had to improvise.

"I don't think there's a word for it. You are a very special person to me," he said.

She blushed and looked away.

"The feeling is mutual, Your Highness."

He hadn't known their conversation would end that way, but he was very glad it did.

—

Maren was worried about Lady Callista. She had gone to the last several events with the Tea Ladies, but she was looking progressively worse and worse. Maren caught her wincing more and more. Little things about her once impeccable appearance began to slip: her nails were chipped, her makeup smudged, her hair less tidy. Maren thought she was drunk more often than not. But it was her eyes that worried Maren the most, though, they were hollow.

The afternoon after the discussion about Lord Braxton, tea ran late, and it was after five when Maren left. Lady Callista looked horrified when she realized what time it was and rushed from the room without saying anything to anyone. Maren quickly said her farewells and rushed after her toward the Royal residence.

"Lady Callista, are you all right?" Maren called.

She didn't stop or even turn. "Can't talk! I'm late!"

Maren's stomach turned. She had an awful feeling about what Lady Callista was late for.

"I'm really worried about her," Maren told the Prince and Alec over dinner. "Something is not at all right, and by that, I mean something is worse than it usually is. Or whatever had been going on is getting worse. She was terrified when she realized the time."

Both men frowned.

"Will she talk to you, do you think?" the Prince asked.

Maren sighed. "I don't know. Maybe if I can get her alone?"

"Kieran's typically gone during the day. Could you perhaps have her over for luncheon?" Alec suggested.

The Prince nodded. "Do that. I'll make myself scarce. I want to avoid frightening her."

Maren nodded her thanks. She very much hoped she was overreacting about Lady Callista, but didn't think she was.

She waited until ten o'clock to send the note to Lady Callista. She wanted to be as sure as she could be that Prince Kieran was gone for the day.
Fortunately, she heard back quickly that Lady Callista would join her for a late luncheon at one o'clock.

Maren anxiously waited in the receiving room. She was concerned Lady Callista may not come. But fortunately, she arrived only a few minutes late. Unfortunately, she looked terrible.

Lady Callista had the look of someone who hadn't slept at all the night before. She was pale and more disheveled than usual.

Maren didn't even bother with a proper greeting.

"Are you all right?" she cried.

"Oh, s'fine," she slurred. "Was a long night, but s'fine."

Maren resisted the urge to shake the woman. She was clearly not all right and already (or still) drunk.

"Come, let's go to the dining room. Luncheon is already there and Prince Donovan is gone for the day," she said.

"Oh! Lucky you!" Lady Callista exclaimed. "D'you have wine?"

"Ah... I don't think so," Maren said. "Perhaps some coffee."

She did not think Lady Callista needed more wine.

She took Lady Callista by the arm and escorted her to the dining room. She could not help but notice that Lady Callista made a whimpering sound when she sat down.

"Callista," Maren said firmly. She hoped using her first name without a title would help get the woman's attention. "Do you need the physician?"

Lady Callista went pale and shook her head violently. "No, no, he'll be furious. I'll... I'll be all right...just can't be late today."

Maren was appalled. Had Prince Kieran harmed Lady Callista in some way because she was late to meet him? 

"Can I help you somehow?" Maren asked, lacking anything better to say.

Lady Callista smiled what seemed to be a genuine smile.

"You're sweet, but there's nothing to be done. Besides, I'm sure you have your own problems. Prince Donovan looks so mean," she said.

Maren did not agree, but was not sure how to respond. Would telling her that Prince Donovan had never harmed Maren make Lady Callista feel worse?

Lady Callista sighed. "I really should go. Sorry, shouldn't have come. He'll be furious if he finds out I was here. Only things he hates more'n me, s'you and his brother."

Maren frowned. "If you like...but please send for me if you need help."

"You're sweet," Lady Callista said again.

She rose unsteadily and Maren did likewise to show her out. Then Maren saw the splotch of blood on the back of Lady Callista's skirts. She hoped very much it was a slightly embarrassing incident related to her courses and nothing more.

"Lady Callista," Maren said as gently as she could. "There's a bit of blood on the back of your skirt."

"Oh, dammit!" Lady Callista cried. "It hasn't been this bad before. Tonight s'going to be awful."

Maren did not want to know what she meant, but did know she clearly needed help.

"Callista, you require the physician," Maren said in a tone she hoped was firm without frightening her. "He's a friend of mine. He can help."

Gods, Maren hoped he could.

Lady Callista's lip began to tremble. "Hasn't been this bad before," she squeaked.

"Oh, Callista," Maren said in horror as the other woman began to cry.

Not knowing what else to do, Maren pulled her into an embrace and patted her while she sobbed.

"I think he might kill me," Lady Callista whispered when her crying faded.

"I won't let that happen," Maren said. "But you have to let me get the physician."

Lady Callista nodded against her.

Maren was relieved. She didn't know what was wrong with her, but knew she needed Alec badly.

"Let me put you in my bed first," Maren said.

She did not want to leave her to wander around on her own devices in such a state. Fortunately, Lady Callista was beyond protesting and allowed Maren to lead her to her bed.

She debated whether she should send for Alec or go and get him herself. She decided to err on the side of discretion.

"I'm going to go get the physician. He's very kind, I promise. I'll be back as soon as I can, all right?"

Lady Callista seemed stunned and just nodded. Maren didn't like leaving her alone, but didn't have any better options.

Maren rushed to Alec's office and was relieved to find him both present and available. She was also glad to see the Prince was with him having luncheon; she thought she'd need his help to keep Lady Callista away from Prince Kieran.

"Sorry to interrupt your luncheon, but it's urgent," Maren said.

"Lady Callista?" Alec asked.

"It's bad, I think," Maren said.

She saw Alec slip into a professional demeanor as he rose and began to gather his medical supplies.

"Do you know what the problem is?" he asked.

"Not exactly," Maren said, and then told them what she did know.

It was a mark of his professionalism that Alec did not do more than grit his teeth as he packed. The Prince growled, though. Maren didn't blame him.

When Alec was finished, they went back to the Prince's apartment.

"Donovan, think some excuse to keep her away from Kieran. I'm guessing we can't send her back," Alec said when they arrived.

Maren escorted Alec to her bedroom, where Lady Callista was still lying in bed.

"Callista?" Maren said quietly. "I've brought Alec, the physician."

She wasn't sure how Alec was to be addressed in a professional context, but decided he wouldn't mind using his name.

"Hello, Callista," Alec said in a very gentle voice. "I'm here to help. May I come in?"

She made a quiet sound of assent from the bed.

Alec went into the room and pulled up a chair to sit beside her on the bed.

"Callista, do you want me to stay with you?" she asked from the doorway.

She mumbled something Maren didn't understand.

"He's the one who should be embarrassed, not you," Alec said, but gestured for Maren to go.

Maren nodded and closed the door behind her. She was relieved. She would have stayed if Lady Callista had wanted her to, but she really did not want to know anything else about what Prince Kieran had done to her.

The Prince was in the receiving room and Maren was glad to see him. She was feeling very disturbed and did not want to be alone. They exchanged appalled looks, but there was nothing either of them could say, so they sat quietly for a while.

"She's afraid he'll kill her," Maren said quietly. "Can you keep her from having to go back?"

The Prince didn't look at her, but she could hear the fury in his voice.

"I promise, she will not go back to him," he said. "If I can do it without destroying her reputation, I will. But she isn't going back."

Maren shuddered. "I cannot imagine what he did to her."

The Prince shook his head. "I'm trying very hard not to. Help me think of some way to get her out of here. I don't want her to stay at Court any longer than necessary."

Maren nodded. She was happy to do something useful.

"Gods above, what a week. First, Braxton and now Lady Callista..."

Maren shook her head. Two innocent people who were suffering through no fault of their own. She wished there was a way to help them.

And then she had a thought.

"Has Braxton left yet?"

The Prince shook his head. "Next week. Why?"

"I'm wondering if we can solve two problems at once," Maren said.

--

Alec's face when he emerged from Lady Maren's rooms told Donovan everything he needed to know about Lady Callista's condition.

"She'll be all right," Alec said when he sat down with them. "But I need to oversee her for a few days at least. And she absolutely can never be in the same room as him ever again."

Donovan ran his fingers through his hair. He felt awful for the poor woman.

"We had an idea about that, would she be able to travel next week?" Donovan asked.

Alec nodded. "I think so. What is your idea?"

"Marrying her to Braxton," Lady Maren said.

Alec furrowed his brow, thinking.

"Only I'm uncertain whether that would be helping either of them," Donovan said.

He knew what it would look like, and he knew the sort of talk that would follow. Marrying them to one another might be more of a disservice than quietly sending them away.

"I'm more of the opinion that this is the best that can be done for either of them," Maren said. "Even if it isn't ideal."

"Since you had the idea of how to deal with Braxton in the first place, I thought you might have some insight," Donovan said to Alec.

"Hmmm. Well, that would probably help Callista. It's a bit early for her to leave, but not scandalously early. And, scandal aside, Braxton is a good match. He'll be a count of a decent estate, and it's far enough from Court that she'd never have to come. But Braxton...well, I suppose it's up to him. I expect he'll either be thrilled to have the chance to at least put some of the talk about him to bed or...well, he may not be amenable," Alec said.

Lady Maren groaned. "I only just thought. It will...ah...it would be troublesome to her should she not have a child."

Donovan cringed. She was right, though. Even under the circumstances of Braxton's scandal, Lady Callista would come under significant scrutiny if she did not have a child within two years or so. And that would put her right back in Kieran's clutches.

"Gods, I hate to say it, but she may prefer it if he would rather not touch her," Alec said. "But let's just assume that if he agrees to it, he's willing to do what's needful. He still needs an heir, even if he has...other preferences."

Donovan sighed, the whole thing was deeply uncomfortable.

"I'll speak to him. If he's amenable, he can take her to her family to marry, and it will get them both away safely."

Alec nodded. "I'll say she needs to be moved to one of the medical suites for the next week. Unspecified illness is the best I can do, most likely."

"Do you want me to tell Kieran for you?" Donovan said.

Alec shook his head. "If I'm confining her for medical reasons, and I am, I'll tell him. But I am going to send a note to the King before I do. She said he doesn't expect her to be...available until five, so there's plenty of time."

Lady Maren made a sound of disgust. Donovan and Alec both looked at her.

"Sorry...I was just remembering what she said about being late yesterday. I just..."

Donovan didn't blame her.

"Can she stay here?" Lady Maren asked. "Or can I stay with her...I worry what might happen if she's all alone."

"I don't mind," Donovan said.

Alec nodded. "I think that's a good idea."

"I'll have Mrs. Whitley make up the other guest suite," Donovan said.

Lady Maren surprised him by saying, "No. We should do everything we can to keep it as quiet as possible. I'll sleep on the sofa in the sitting room."

Donovan wanted to protest; she should not have to give up her bed. But when he looked at her, he saw a grim determination on her face, and he knew she would not be persuaded to change her mind.

"Besides," she added, "It will be better if I'm closer to her. I'll hardly be nearby if she's in the other suite."

Donovan nodded. "As you like."

"She was standing next to me in the line. Our positions could have been easily reversed," she said in a quiet voice.

Donovan hadn't thought of that. "It isn't your fault Kieran's a monster."

She shrugged as if to say that she still felt guilty.

He felt guilty too. He couldn't help but wonder if he should have done something to try to stop Kieran.

"Don't you two try to make this your fault, I can see on your faces. I know if she told you she was in trouble, you would have helped. Kieran bullied her into staying quiet. This is his fault," Alec said.

Donovan nodded.

"Is she all right for now?" Maren asked.

Alec nodded. "She isn't in any immediate danger. She's sleeping off whatever she drank. Try to keep her from drinking more if you can, it won't do her any favors."

Lady Maren nodded. "I'll do my best."

"I'll go and see Braxton," Donovan said.

"I'll tell Kieran and the King," Alec said.

"Make sure there's a witness if you can," Donovan suggested.

Alec nodded. "Don't worry, I'm not afraid of him."

Donovan frowned. He thought perhaps Alec should be.

"Just tell him you're confining her for medical reasons for a week or so. I'll handle the business with Braxton," Donovan said, and Alec agreed.

Donovan just had to figure out how to handle the business with Braxton. 

--

At dinner that night, the Prince announced that Braxton had readily agreed to marry Lady Callista.

"He seemed extremely grateful. I think he thought he'd never be able to marry after what happened," the Prince said.

Maren frowned. "What did you tell him about her situation?"

"Just that she needed to leave Court and that I was concerned it might cause problems for her if she did so without a match," he said.

Maren thought that was probably all right. Anything else Lady Callista wanted to share would be between herself and Braxton.

"Alec, how did your tasks go?" the Prince asked.

"Fine. Kieran pretended to worry about her, but possibly only because I made sure to tell him in a busy hallway," Alec said. "He knows she has to be under my supervision for a week. I can probably release her before then, but I wanted to give as much time as possible for the other arrangements to go through."

"I'll speak to her after dinner, if she's awake," Maren said.

Lady Callista had slept most of the afternoon, but Maren had been able to tell her she was not going back to the other Prince's apartment.

She looked relieved at first and then began to cry.

"He'll ruin me," she squeaked.

Maren tried to assure her that they were working on something to help, but she wasn't sure that comforted Lady Callista. Maren hadn't wanted to tell her about the possibility of marrying Braxton until he had agreed to it.

When dinner finished, Maren went to her bedroom to check on Lady Callista. She was awake and appeared to have eaten something from the tray that had been brought to her.

The Prince told Mrs. Whitley that Lady Callista's presence could not be known among the general staff, and fortunately the housekeeper had agreed to handle everything Lady Callista needed herself.

"How are you feeling, Lady Callista?" Maren asked.

She gave Maren a small smile. "I think we can dispense with titles at this point, don't you?"

Maren smiled. "I suppose so. May I join you?"

Callista nodded and Maren sat in the chair beside her bed.

"We have a proposal for you," Maren said. "If you're amenable, we've found a husband for you who can take you to your family's home next week."

Callista looked surprised. "Who?"

"Lord Braxton," Maren said.

Callista gave her a skeptical look. "Isn't he the one who..."

Maren cringed and nodded. "I know it isn't ideal, but he's amenable, and it gets you away from here. And I'm told it's a good match otherwise."

Callista nodded. "He was on my list."

Gods, Maren had forgotten about the ridiculous lists.

"You don't have to...but the other option is going home alone," Maren said.

Callista sighed. "I know. Alec told me he won't release me back to Prince Kieran and...well, I wouldn't want to see what happened if he did."

"You won't. You're staying here with me until you leave," Maren said firmly.

Callista looked surprised. "Prince Donovan doesn't mind? I thought I'd go...somewhere else after tonight."

Maren shook her head. "Not at all. He wants to help you. He's the one who spoke to Braxton."

"Hmmm."

Maren sat quietly and let Callista think. She seemed sober, but she still looked awful.

"Well, without any better ideas, I'll marry Braxton. I'll need to send a telegram to my father, could you help?"

"Of course," Maren said. "You should stay in the apartment until you leave for good."

Callista nodded. "I don't know if Prince Kieran will let me go, though."

"Prince Donovan will handle it. He promised me you wouldn't go back to Prince Kieran," Maren said.

"Did he?" Callista said, sounding surprised.

"Tell me, and please be honest, has Prince Donovan ever hurt you?"

Maren had not expected that question.

"No," she said.

Callista nodded. "I had wondered. But I'm glad to hear it. I wasn't sure I could trust him."

"You can," Maren said. "I do."

"Good," Callista said. "Because I have to tell you something, and having some help will be good for you."

Maren disliked the sound of that.

"Prince Kieran thinks you're a witch."

That was not what Maren was expecting to hear, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

"I know. He's said as much to Prince Donovan on more than one occasion," Maren said. "Obviously Prince Donovan doesn't think so, but..."

"Well, for the record, I don't think so. A witch wouldn't be this nice to me. But I know how such a thing could ruin you," Callista said.

Maren nodded, unsure how to respond.

She didn't need to though because Callista continued.

"He's constantly talking about ways to trap you. He's the one who started that rumor, and he was furious when Prince Donovan didn't abandon you. It's why we were late to the King and Queen's that night..."

Maren closed her eyes and shook her head. Kieran had punished Callista because his rumor hadn't done what he wanted. That was horrible.

"I am so sorry," Maren whispered.

Callista shrugged. "He was angrier after the dinner...it doesn't matter anymore. I just wanted to warn you. He's always talking about how much he hates witches and how much he hates you and his brother. Just...be careful, won't you?"

Maren nodded. "I will. Thank you."

"Thank you. I think he might have really killed me tonight if you hadn't invited me to luncheon today," Callista said.

Maren felt a chill down her spine. "He won't hurt you anymore."