Page 48 of MidKnight
Ginnifer blushed. “Oh, excuse me, it’s not my place.”
“No, I agree with you. I just wondered what he’s done to you.”
“Me! Oh, nothing to me, Your Majesty. He’d never. He’s just … a bit entitled with the servants,” she rolled her eyes.
“What?” I leaned back, not allowing her to put the pale blue paisley overdress on me.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, he thinks he can walk in and just speak with us in the kitchens or the backrooms and everyone is just his new best friend,” she shook her head.
“What’s everyone’s opinion of him?”
She shrugged, “A few of the grooms are brave enough to mess with him but most of us just try and avoid him out of respect for Jorad.”
“What?” I asked.
Ginnifer cocked her head and gazed at me, “You know, he and Jorad have been an item for years.”
My eyebrows shot up. I looked at Ryan. “Did you know this?”
Ryan nodded. “Of course. Quinn told us ages ago.”
I shook my head. “Ugh. Well I can’t think of two people who annoy me more. Look, could you please tell everyone that Willard’s harmless? Maybe make things a bit easier for him? He thinks he’s helping me out.” I rolled my eyes. I should have just taken his title.
Ginnifer actually smiled as she slid the overdress onto me. “They’re quite the opposites, aren’t they? He and Jorad.”
Apparently, relationship gossip was the key to unlocking my shy maid’s mouth. I’d have to make sure she was never around for any arguments between my knights and me.
I sighed. “Maybe I should just call Willard off. He’s too much of a bungler. And if he’s seeing Jorad; that man would never violate a single rule.”
“I wouldn’t trust anyone that far, Your Majesty,” Ginnifer yanked my skirt so it fell properly. “If one of those two was a woman, you’d be sure they’d try for the crown. Make a mess of it. But try.”
I eyed Ginnifer, “Well, if you do hear of them trying anything, let me know.”
She gave a curtsy. “I will.”
I strode out of the room without letting her put up my hair. Screw it all. It wasn’t as if Willard gave a shite what I looked like. Clearly, I wasn’t his type. No wonder he hadn’t wanted to get engaged. I chuckled as I took Ryan’s arm.
“What?”
“I was just thinking about how terrified Willard looked when he thought I might make him a knight.”
Ryan laughed quietly. “I’m pretty sure Jorad would have cut off his balls before he let that happen.”
“If that’s allowed in the royal rulebook, I’m certain you’re right.”
“Quinn wanted me to remind you his man is still invisible. Willard doesn’t know he’s being followed.”
I nodded and took a deep breath before I pushed open the door to the hall. For all my jokes about Willard, I did want to know which of my nobles might be scheming against me.
There were six provinces in Evaness besides Agatha’s. Duchess Malia was part mermaid and held a good chunk of land to the north, where a lot of our timber originated.
Connor’s mother, Duchess Kycee, held a good bit of land to the south. She controlled a bay where our battle and trade ships were located. For obvious reasons, Connor’s family didn’t make it onto the list of suspects. Their granddaughter would be a princess. They’d have no reason to betray Connor and me.
“What do you think of Duchess Orunta?” I asked.
Ryan grunted, “Money-wasting snob, not unlike Duke Aiden. But she’s bogged down right now. I heard she just lost three ships full of lace the other day.”
