Once Nissa had arranged her hair on top of her head, she stepped back. “All done. What do you think?”
Gwennore took a deep breath. She’d never looked this good before. “You worked a miracle. Thank you.”
Nissa snorted. “Not really. Once I got used to your pointed ears, I realized how beautiful you are. It’s no wonder the general fell for you.”
I wish. The thought made Gwennore grow still and stare at herself in the mirror. Did she really want Silas to fall for her?
What did he really think of her? With her hair up, her neck seemed long and slender. And the cut of the gown made her waist seem tiny and her breasts practically pop out. He had said he was attracted to her, and even though a part of her had thrilled at his words, another part had suspected he was merely using flattery in order to gain her cooperation.
She sighed. The last two and a half years that she’d spent in Eberon and Tourin had made her distrustful of anyone other than her sisters.
“Hello?” a female voice called out from the bedchamber.
“Yes?” Gwennore strode into her bedchamber and discovered Lady Olenka, dressed in a dark-blue silk gown. She wore a matching blue ribbon around her neck with a small sapphire. She was also wearing two small sapphire rings. Of course, Gwennore thought. It was Sapphirday.
“Why, look at you!” Lady Olenka clasped her hands together. “You look fabulous!”
Gwennore blushed. “Thank you.”
Olenka waved a hand at Nissa. “You may go.” As Nissa hurried from the room, Olenka’s gaze drifted over Gwennore. “Oh, dear. Oh, no.” She pressed a hand to her chest as a look of horror crossed her face. “I am shocked! Shocked and appalled!”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“You have absolutely no jewels!” Olenka cried. “Not even a single ring!”
“I’m not accustomed to wearing—”
“This is unbelievable!” Olenka fanned herself as if she were ready to faint from the shock. “How can the general call himself your lover and not give you any jewelry?”
“Well, I—”
“It’s insulting! How dare he treat you like that.” Olenka stepped closer and lowered her voice. “No wonder people are saying you’re going to murder him in his sleep.”
“I would never—”
“Oh, I know.” Olenka touched her shoulder and gave her a sympathetic look. “All those terrible people wagering that you’ll stab the general to death in his sleep. I mean, really, who could kill the man? He’s so gorgeous!”
“Actually, I wouldn’t stab anyone, regardless of their looks.”
“Of course not!” Olenka sighed dramatically. “As your close friend, I know you’re not the sort to go about killing someone.”
“Well, thank you. I appreciate that.”
“What are friends for?” Olenka waved a dismissive hand. “I’ll have you know that I refused to participate in any wagers that you would kill the general. Everyone thought I was being foolish, but I bet that you would only wound the general.”
Gwennore blinked. “What?”
“A small wound, that’s all I ask. Just between us friends. All right?” Olenka winked.
“You expect me to stab him?”
“Just a flesh wound. Two nights from tonight.” Olenka drew a small, jeweled dagger from her sleeve. “Isn’t it lovely? It’s my gift to you.”
“I don’t really need—”
“Oh, I’m sure you have your own knives, but I wanted to be helpful.” Olenka dashed over to the bed and slipped the dagger underneath a pillow. “There! Now you’re all set! You won’t let me down, right?”
A knock sounded at the door, then Lady Margosha entered, carrying a blue velvet bag. “Oh, you wore blue. Perfect!” She nodded at Olenka. “Don’t you both look lovely tonight.”
“Thank you.” Olenka eyed the velvet bag. “What do you have there?”
“A small gift from General Dravenko.” With a smile, Margosha opened the bag. “This necklace belonged to his mother.”
Olenka gasped when Margosha pulled out a sparkling necklace of sapphires and diamonds.
With a gulp, Gwennore stepped back. “I shouldn’t have something that belonged to his mother. It should go to Sorcha.”
“Now, now. You know how fond the general is of you.” Margosha fitted the necklace around Gwennore’s neck. “And here is the matching ring.”
With her heart pounding, Gwennore slipped on the sapphire ring. This couldn’t mean anything. Silas was just playing his role as her lover. When she left in a month, she would give these back to him.
And say good-bye. The thought made her heart tighten. There’s no one else like him. No one makes my heart race like him. The scoundrel. No one exasperated her like him.
“They’re magnificent!” Olenka cried, eyeing the jewels with an astounded look.
“Yes.” Margosha smiled. “The general is quite generous.”
With a wince, Olenka leaned close and whispered, “Don’t hurt him too much. Just a tiny scratch, all right?”
“Excuse me?” Margosha asked.
“It’s nothing!” Olenka dashed from the room.
Margosha shook her head. “Silas wanted me to escort you to the Great Hall for dinner. Are you ready?”
“Yes.” Gwennore took a deep breath to steady her nerves and followed Margosha into the hallway. “Will there be many people there?”
“Just the usual courtiers.” Margosha led the way down the hall toward the western wing. “But there is a group of traveling minstrels here tonight, so after dinner, there will be some dancing.”
“I see.”
Margosha leaned close. “Silas explained the plan you came up with. He thinks tonight will be the perfect time for us to do it. The queen will be busy at the dance tonight, so her dressing room will be vacant. I have readied everything we’ll need to test her clothing and jewels.”
“Excellent. Thank you.” Gwennore smiled at Margosha. “I’m quite eager to get on with our investigation.”
“Silas is eager, too.” Margosha led her down some stairs. “After we reach the Great Hall, I’ll have to leave you for a while. I need to taste everything before it’s taken to the royal table.”
“It worries me that you do that.”
Margosha squeezed her hand. “Don’t let it concern you. I’m glad to be of service.”
“Silas is lucky to have you.”
“He’s a good man.”
Hero or scoundrel?
