Lord Laurents told a story about a night he’dtaken Lady Laurents to visit Strom Castle and they got lost,spending the night in a barn because Lady Laurents refused to wakenthe homeowners and request hospitality. Lady Laurents wore apinched expression throughout the story, and Kambry kept heramusement down to a snort. She suspected everyone had containedtheir mirth, as it was quite a funny story at the lady’sexpense.
Most of them had already filled their platestwice when Tia skipped to the balcony wall and pointed. “Stahn, thegarden is lit up like a birthday cake. Come see!”
Amily gave Russal a quick look, her lipsturned up in delight. “Russal, did you have them open the gardenfor night strolling?” Patting Samel’s shoulder as he slept, shejoined Tia, and the two waved at those still seated to comesee.
Kambry, curious, left her seat. “Oh, Russal,it’s lovely.” Lanterns stood throughout the garden, splashingyellow brightness among pathways and around cozy seating undercanopies of tree limbs and fanciful bushes trimmed into playfulfigures. Even the maze was illuminated.
Russal leaned beside her. “Do you likeit?”
She squeezed his hand in response. “Is themaze complete? It looks finished from here.”
“Konnelby and I have been busy. The shrubsare still shorter than desired, but tall enough to create a goodlabyrinth. I thought our guests might enjoy an evening strollthrough it and the garden proper.”
Tia bounced on her toes. “Can we go down?I’ve never been in a maze. Or a garden this size.”
Russal looked uncertain.
Dad said, “Wouldn’t it be safe?”
Kambry could see Russal warring with hiscaution. “It should be. I have guards everywhere, and it’s lit tonearly daylight.”
“Russal.” Amily touched his arm. “Don’t lethim take what is yours. This is your realm, you rule it.”
He slid his arm around Kambry and drew her tohis side. He whispered into her ear, “You’ll stay close?”
She snuggled under his arm. “Just don’t letgo.”
Eyes staring into her own, Russal said,“Never.” He turned to face the expectant group. Even the Laurentslooked hopeful. “Let’s go down. Most of our guests have headed in.I’ll send word to Marshal Burtram to alert the guards.” He took abreath, hugged Kambry tighter. “Let’s go for a stroll. Ladies, grabyour wraps if you think you’ll need them.”
Kambry doubted the guards would neednotification. She couldn’t move outside the castle without acontingent of runners keeping every guard informed. There wereenough shadows below to hide a regiment. Perhaps that was whatbothered Russal. She watched him herd everyone to the door. Heseemed as pleased by the jaunt as any of them.
Tia grabbed Stahn’s hand. “I have all I need.Join me in the garden.”
Stahn’s eyes widened. He nodded slowly,keeping his gaze on Tia.
Kambry shook her head. Did she look like thatwhen she looked at Russal? Goodness, she hoped she wasn’t thatobviously lost to loving him. His fingers pressed her thin gown toher hip and tingles ran up her spine. Bother, she probably was justas bad.
Amily and Tomo stood apart, their babiessound asleep in their arms. The two had eaten slowly, giving theirattention to their children more than the company. “We’ll beheading to our chambers,” said Amily. “We’ve walked the gardensenough times over the years.” She chewed her lip, lookinguncertain. “I suppose the new maze would be interesting.”
“We’ll visit the maze tomorrow.” Tomo tookAmily’s hand.
Kambry hugged them both. “We’ll see you atlunch.”
Though they entered the maze as a group, eachpair headed off in different directions. Russal drew Kambry to theright almost as soon as they entered. She had a moment to check thestones at the base of the corner and assure herself of the pathleading to the center of the maze before he guided her onto a sidepath.
“Russal, this isn’t the way.” She peered offtoward the turning she was certain was correct.
“I know.” He winked and took her by bothhands, walking backward into a dead-end, lightly illuminated by alamp on a post at the corner. “I’m going to have some time with mynew queen when I know Amily won’t be interrupting.” He stopped, anda mischievous grin lit his face. “We could sneak back to ourchambers, and no one would know.”
Kambry looked away and bit her lip. A thrillshook her shoulders at the thought of being alone with Russal. Shecouldn’t tell if it was excitement at the notion they would bealone together or trepidation that they would be alone together. Hefetched her up close to him, releasing her hands and caressing herwaist, his palms sliding along her back.
Some of her trepidation wafted away, replacedwith a desire to lean into him. Giggles on the other side of thehedge made Russal still, and he set his forehead on her shoulderwith a sigh.
Stahn’s deep voice carried over the rustlingfoliage. “Tiiiaaa.”
Russal nuzzled his face into her neck andwhispered. “Guess we’re going to have to find another spot.” Heturned them around and headed back to the entrance, then deeperinto the maze. Kambry trailed behind him, a silly grin rising onher face. They entered one side route only to find a pair of guestssnuggling.
Russal huffed after they tiptoed out again.“Whose maze is this, anyway? Can’t a king have his private cornerwith his queen?”
“You shouldn’t have invited so many people,”she teased.
Russal looked ready to chide her, his fingerraised in front of her nose. He paused. “It’s a big maze. Comealong.” He headed off again, her hand in his pressed to the smallof his back. The silk embroidery on his tunic made her fingerstingle.
“Russal, I bet the center is probably theemptiest place in the maze.”
He had them turned about again in a trice. Hestopped periodically to check the telltales the gardener had leftfor him. Kambry watched for the pale-green rectangular chips ofstone embedded in the design that ran along the bed of the hedgesand confirmed Russal was now taking them to the center of the maze.With only a few pathways leading there, it was a better bet theywould find it empty. Every ten paces another lantern hung,illuminating two sides of every hedgerow.
Voices to their left made Russal stop andwait
