Page 66 of Fall of the Ember Throne (Crown and Crest 3)

She studies me for several seconds, and then she waves her hand toward the door. “Good. Go now. I need to rest.”

Camellia’s ladies jump when I open the door, spooked now that they’re back in Cabaranth. If they were smart, they would have leaped at Lawrence’s offer and gotten as far away from the princess as possible. But the ones who remain are terrified of Camellia’s wrath and too cowardly to flee.

“Where are you going?” Lily asks, stepping forward as I head for the door.

“I’m going to make sure Brielle is settled,” I say.

My sister was placed in a small suite of rooms in the princess’s hall, near Clover’s quarters. I believe it belonged to one of the ladies before they fled with Camellia, but I don’t know which one.

“When will you be back?” Dahlia asks, circling around me.

I frown at the three girls, uncertain why they’re clinging. They barely spoke to me in Revalane.

“Camellia will be angry if she realizes you left,” Rose says, begging me to stay. She’s pretty, with blue-green eyes and a sweet face, but I’m immune to it now. All of Camellia’s ladies are beautiful, and it certainly isn’t an indication of the state of their hearts.

“She’ll think you went to find Clover,” Lily whispers. “She’ll take it out on us.”

“Camellia said she’s going to rest,” I tell them. “If she wakes and asks for me, send someone to fetch me from Brielle’s room.”

“You promise you won’t go to Clover?” Rose asks quietly.

“Clover is engaged to Lawrence.” I remove Rose’s hand from my arm, beginning to lose my patience. “I know my place.”

The three girls share a look, and Rose’s tone becomes somewhat caustic. “Youmight, but that doesn’t mean Clover does. If she wants to see you, she’ll find a way.”

Her words are meant as a warning, but instead, they raise my spirits. They’re right. If Clover wants to see me, she certainly will.

I glance back at them as I leave, feeling somewhat guilty. They crowd together, looking young and scared. Did they realize Camellia’s wicked acts before they went with her?

Do they wish they’d chosen a different path now? And why do I get the impression that they think I’m going to be the one to save them?

I shake my head as I leave. They had their chance, but twice, they chose to stay by Camellia’s side. Just as I was a fool to befriend the princess, they were foolish to trust her.

We’re all paying for our choices.

“Bartholomew,” I say when I step into the hall, startled to find my squire pacing beyond Camellia’s door. A duo of elven guards watches him, apparently seeing no threat.

“Henrik!” the boy says brightly, looking overjoyed. For a minute, I think he’s going to rush in to embrace me, but he composes himself in front of our onlookers. Clearing his throat, he says, “You seem well.”

“Well enough.”

“Where are you going?”

“To visit my sister.”

He nods, looking unsure. “Perhaps I can accompany you on your walk to her room?”

I glance at the men, wondering if Camellia will see it as a sign of betrayal.

One of the guards raises his brows. “We have no reason to volunteer information to the duchess.”

And I do not doubt them. Their orders came straight from Lord Fenninglore, and he certainly holds no tenderness for Camellia.

“Thank you,” I say. “I’ve already told the duchess’s ladies, but I’ll be with Brielle if she needs me.”

They nod as we walk away.

I glance at Bartholomew, smiling despite my somber mood. “You’ve grown several inches since we parted. You’re almost as tall as I am.”

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