Page 51 of Sword of Rage
“Lady Mayle.” He didn’t bow or lower his head since he was a higher rank than her.
“Where’s Father?” Harley asked, glancing behind her mother.
Lady Mayle looked from Harley to Ackley and then back again. “He’s not feeling well.” Wringing her hands together, she glided farther into the room, her head held high but her arms trembling. “I didn’t expect to see you here.” She kissed Harley’s cheek, then took a seat on the sofa. “You look and smell like you’ve slept with pigs. Why are you dressed like a commoner?”
Harley thought her mother would be happy to see her, not questioning her appearance. Perhaps her mother didn’t know what happened throughout the kingdom. Or maybe Penlar had been spared completely. “Did you hear what transpired at the castle?”
Lady Mayle focused on her hands, not looking Harley’s way. “I have,” she whispered.
“Only a few cities survived,” Harley said, hoping her mother would explain what had happened here.
“Thankfully, Captain Lyle didn’t take many of his men with him to the castle. When word came that the Russek army was marching this way, we had ample soldiers to protect us. Russek just passed right on by. There wasn’t even a scuffle.”
Harley sat beside her mother, taking her hand and squeezing it. “I don’t know how to tell you this, but Lyle is dead.” Still no sadness gripped her at the mention of her husband’s passing.
“He’s dead?” Lady Mayle asked.
Harley nodded.
Her mother tilted her head to the side, as if trying to figure something out. She was probably trying to ascertain how upset Harley was over the matter. But she need not worry.
With that out of the way, Harley attempted to broach the subject of her brother. “And…” She couldn’t even bring herself to say Hollis’s name. The pain gripped her heart and made it hard to breathe.
“And Commander Beck?” Lady Mayle asked. “Any news of him?”
Walking over to the chess board, Ackley said, “He hasn’t returned to Melenia if that’s what you’re asking.” He reached down, taking one of the chess pieces and moving it.
Lady Mayle smiled, tears filling her eyes. Harley wanted to ask why she appeared so happy over the news about Commander Beck, but Carietta entered carrying a tray with a pot of tea, three cups, and some treats.
After setting the tray on the low table between the sofas, she asked, “Shall I pour the tea?”
“We’ll see to that, Carietta,” Lady Mayle responded.
The servant curtseyed, then left the room.
Ackley sauntered over to the fireplace, observing the picture of Lord Silas and Lady Mayle hung over the mantle. “You have a quaint country house.”
Lady Mayle’s brow furrowed, and she focused on Ackley. “Where did you say you were from?”
He turned to face her, a slow smile spreading across his lips. “Who are you, exactly? Lady Harley’s grandmother?”
Lady Mayle’s eyes widened in shock, and her right hand flew to her bosom.
Heat crept up Harley’s face, making her want to crawl under the sofa and hide. This was not going well. To take their focus off one another, Harley reached for the tray, pouring the tea. “My mother and father are in charge of this province,” Harley said, knowing Ackley was already aware of it and silently cursing him for choosing to be the arrogant prince today. Just once she would like to see him be charming. If that was even possible.
“Province? We have several of those in my kingdom. We also have people who oversee the provinces who then report to the king.” He plopped on the sofa across from Harley, stretching his arms out across the back.
Harley handed him a cup of tea. He took it, not bringing it to his mouth. Seeing him purposefully not drink the tea made her afraid to take a sip—which was ridiculous. Carietta would never poison their tea. She handed her mother the last cup.
Lady Mayle clasped it, not bothering to take a sip either. “Prince Ackley, how did you come to be here in Melenia with my daughter?”
A cocky smile slid across his face as he leaned forward, setting his cup back on the table, then resting his elbows on his thighs. “I’m from Marsden. I’m here with King Owen as his personal guest.” His smile turned lethal as his eyes locked onto Harley’s mother. A challenge of sorts.
“King Owen?” Lady Mayle asked.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” Harley said, exasperated that her mother wasn’t showing more concern over her or even asking about Hollis. Since the moment her mother had entered the room, she’d seemed distracted. As if she had something weighing heavily on her mind or as if someone were even watching her.
“That’s generally how it works,” Ackley interrupted, cutting Harley off. “When the father dies, title and land pass to his son.” He glanced at his fingernails, as if bored. “Unless your kingdom is so archaic that you have another way of doing things?” This time he glanced at Harley, expecting her to answer.
