Page 89 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1
He looks somewhat relieved, and I have to wonder whether it has to do with how much he's been having to coerce Bastian into actually interacting with Lady Ermentrude. I don't dare ask.
"Who would you suggest I start with as my first lady-in-waiting?" I don't know what it is that makes me ask, perhaps it's because I realise I have no idea where to begin otherwise.
"What about Hexamble's daughter?" Lord Fallmartin suggests. "Isn't she a friend of yours? Perhaps that's a good place to start."
"I wasn't aware I had much of a say in the matter." Even if he is the one who invited me here to talk about the subject. I kind of assumed he'd just give me a list and I'd have to go with it, especially as that's more or less what he's done with my marriage to Linc. I'm not naive enough to think that he's done it for me, especially because he keeps reminding me of as much.
"You should be surrounded by people you trust, Beatrice," he says. "If that includes your friend, then you should extend an invitation to her."
"And that doesn't go against the interests of House Rothorne?" I ask, mostly while wondering if there's any part of my life that Lord Fallmartin isn't already aware of.
"We have no affiliations with House Hexamble. They're not a particularly affluent House, but they are old, and that means they hold sway with many of the others. If anything, extending the invitation will be a good thing for House Rothorne. We want them to feel like they owe us for their elevation."
"I see."
"Mmm." He watches me with a strange expression again.
"Am I doing something wrong?" I ask. "Committing some misstep that I don't know about?"
"Not at all," he responds. "You're doing admirably. I suppose I was expecting more resistance from you regarding this."
I take a deep breath and consider how much I want to admit to him. I suppose it's better to be honest. Maybe he'll go back to using me, but I don't think so. Everything he's said to me today has suggested he'd much rather I was aware of the game he's playing. At best, it means I'll help him, and at worst it means I won't get in the way. I can see the appeal of that if I were in Lord Fallmartin's shoes.
"I arrived at court barely two months ago." I resist the urge to point out my failings when it comes to knowledge of court life. It isn't my fault I wasn't aware of any of this, if anything, it's his. "I'm trying everything I can to learn, but I don't know enough about any of the Houses to make a judgement call on ladies-in-waiting without input from people who know more than I do."
He raises an eyebrow. "But you'll be consulting with the Prince before you extend any of the invitations."
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to," he responds. "It's what I would do in your position."
A small shock goes through me. Is that what his odd looks are about? Does he see something in the way I'm adapting to court that reminds him of himself? It's strange to think of the man in front of me as a newly arrived dhampir with no experience of any of this. I suppose I've been assuming that Lord Fallmartin responded much like Bastian did to his change in status, but maybe that isn't true.
"Whatever your decision, I think Lady Emilia is a good choice," Lord Fallmartin says. "She's not from a high enough ranking House that she'll use her position for her own gain, or no more than anyone would. But she's not a low enough House for it to be an insult to anyone that you're offering her a position. If you enjoy her company, then that is good. You don't want to be bored out of your mind while with your ladies."
I nod. "Who else?" I ask.
"Bella," he says.
"Even though she's married?"
"That doesn't matter," he responds. "It's good for you to have a member of the family with you."
"So that one is in House Rothorne's interest."
"Always," he responds. "But it's also in yours. You might be joining House Soveguine, but you'll still be affiliated with House Rothorne. And if anything should happen to Prince Lincoln..."
"You won't do that, will you?" I tighten my fingers in the fabric of my dress while I wait for his response, dreading it.
Surprise crosses his face. "No."
It's a much harder denial than when it came to Marcus. "Oh."
"What do I have to gain from anything happening to Prince Lincoln? You would return to House Rothorne and would be eligible to marry again, but there is no better match for you than a prince. I'm a practical man, Beatrice. This is the best marriage available to you, and to our House. I will do everything I can to ensure that it continues unhindered."
Relief travels through me along with the realisation that I believe him.
"As for the others, I suggest that you study over the list and speak with some of them over the next few weeks. If you particularly dislike any of them, then we can remove them from the running."
