She was queen in name and fact. Russal washer husband. The thought sent a thrill up her back. There had beenmany dinners and lunches in Russal’s chambers and out on thebalcony, but this time she was entering as the queen. These wereher rooms now. The green, tufted lounging couch where she once satcringing and wringing her hands was hers to stretch out on andsketch. The sitting area with its delicate furnishings where shehad once paced in angry frustration because Russal was accusing herof meeting a traitor in her bedroom. These rooms had memories, butthey also carried a future she could imagine spread out before her.Her hands and shoulders tingled and trembled.
“Cold?” Russal pulled her close and caressedher face.
She looked around, eyeing the guardsmethodically checking the various rooms of the apartment. Lessasearched behind curtains and furniture. Cole canvased thebalcony.
“They won’t all remain,” Russal said,catching her watching the guards. “Knowing Covey could be wanderingabout, they’re being thorough.”
“It’s not that,” she said, gripping hishands.
“Your Majesty?” Burty stood at the bottom ofa stairwell. He beckoned them both. “There are servants above.Would you confirm they may remain?”
“Ahh. Come along, my love. We need to changefor dinner. Let’s see who Mrs. Kauper has selected for yourdressers. If you approve, then they will stay and help you getready.” He nodded at Burty, who turned and climbed the stairs, hisbroad shoulders nearly brushing the tight walls.
Russal headed up first, holding his hand outbehind him to clasp hers.
“One would think these stairs would begrander in the king’s apartment,” Kambry said and ran the fingersof her free hand along the papered curve of the wall.
Burty’s voice echoed back, “The tightconfines allow the king to keep any attacker from getting behindhim. If he has the higher ground, he can keep invaders out untilguards can arrive. Strategically, it’s an excellent design.”
At the top, the stairwell broadened andopened into a spacious bedchamber.
She had never been up here, and she peeredaround as if being allowed to sneak a peek of someone else’sprivate space.
Russal snorted.
She closed her mouth, realizing it hung openin wonderment. The furniture gleamed with polished mahogany. Adesk, a small table and several chairs with delicately turned legswere arranged in carefully designed sitting areas, as if one mighthave two or three couples visiting in various parts of the room.The bed was ensconced in a beautifully carved cabinet, the doorsopen on both sides to reveal the bed inside. Maids might clean theroom, and the queen and king could still be asleep and private.
She and Russal could be asleep. Or notasleep. She stilled the tremble in her hands, clasping them behindher back.
Her gaze slid across the room to find threemaids standing in front of an open doorway.
“Your dressers,” said Russal. “Do they suityou?”
Two of the young women kept their eyes castdown. The third, a brown-eyed brunette who seemed close to Kambry’sage, smiled before breaking eye contact. How could she know if theywere good? “They seem fine.”
Russal raised a shoulder, acknowledging heruncertainty. “You’ll know after you’ve had some time withthem.”
A man with a narrow face stood ramrodstraight at another open doorway. He looked like a neatly dressedfence post brought to life in human form.
“That is Simmon, my manservant. He suits mefine, so unless you take a particular dislike to him, I’m keepinghim.”
If possible, the man stood straighter.
“I’ve no reason to complain about him.” Shegave the room another inspection. “It’s quite roomy up here.” Therewere other doorways, but she’d survey those rooms later.
Russal waved his hand at the maids andSimmon, and they disappeared into the rooms behind them. “Marshal,is everything acceptable to you?”
Two guards entered from another doorway andnodded at Burty’s raised brow. “All appears as it should. We willleave you to prepare for your evening. Do you wish guards to remaininside your quarters or in the corridor? I would prefer a fewremain within.”
“Besides the list I gave you, I see no needfor more crowding about. This is our first evening together. Iprefer it not feel like we are expecting an attack.”
Burty nodded and directed the men down thenarrow stairwell. He followed them, closing the door behindhim.
Russal squeezed her hand. “I will see youafter you change. Don’t forget to send the maids away once you areready, or they will assume you wish them to remain to help youready for bed.”
She glanced at the doorway they had walkedinto. “Will they return later?”
“No.” Russal brushed his lips against hertemple. “But I’ll be here.” With a wink, he headed to his dressingroom.
Kambry swallowed, standing a moment beforeraising her chin and stepping through the open doorway.
The maids jumped to their feet. The three hadbeen sitting on a bench near the doorway. Each bobbed acurtsey.
The brown-eyed brunette said, “Your Majesty,we selected a dress for this evening.” She pointed at a simple gownhanging on the open door of a wardrobe. The two other maids stoodstill and expectant, their attention more on the brunette thanKambry.
Kambry stared at it a moment, her mind havinga hard time concentrating. She and Russal would be alone thisevening. Mentally shaking herself, she assessed the dress. It wassimilar in color to her coronation dress, but less formal. Thereappeared to be a few more dresses than she remembered from herquarters hanging in the wardrobe, but she supposed that wasexpected of a queen. “It will do.”
“Shall we begin then?” asked the maid.
“Is the process any different from myexperiences with other dressers?” She dearly hoped it wouldn’t takehours to prepare for a dinner with friends and family.
The woman smiled. “I’m Sarena and these twoare undermaids. They are in training. If they don’t please you, youcan replace them with others. But Mrs. Kauper thought it would bebest to start with inexperienced maids that would learn yourpreferences with no expectations that might hinder yourconvenience. I am a fully trained dresser, but I will only do asmuch as you wish.”
“Thank you, Sarena. That seems a logicalstart.” She turned to the two maids waiting on instructions. “Andyour names are?”
Sarena answered for them, “They are Molly andMoreen, sisters actually.”
When they raised their heads for a moment toshare
