Finding herself nodding in complacentrecognition at several guards, she maintained her stride, and nonechallenged her. Of course, she imagined herself as Lady Laurents,parking a caustic tilt to one brow and inspecting each guardseveral seconds before acknowledging their respectful salutes andpassing them by.
At one point, she held a hand to her chest,containing a giggle which would have revealed her deception. Shehad to remind herself that as queen she had the perfect right to gowhere she pleased without an attendant. Wasn’t she the queen ofKavin? But hadn’t Russal asked her to keep a guard close, anddidn’t Sybil suggest the same? Circumstances called foradjustments. She would have one tagalong after she completedclosing off the last entrance to the inner passages.
Gazing ahead, she came upon Sarena herpersonal maid as she exited a room. The woman’s eyes brightened onseeing her.
“Your Majesty,” Sarena said andcurtseyed.
Kambry greeted her with glee. “Sarena, howfortunate. Come walk with me.” This was the camouflage she needed.Guards would view her company adequate, someone who could call forhelp in the interim space between corners. She held her mouth firm,avoiding a smirk which wanted to rise. What point was there for aguard by her side when there was one at every corner? She continuedher stride toward the audience chamber.
The maid advanced at once and joined her. “Doyou wish my help?”
“Yes. I would like to dress for a specialdinner with the king. Can you lay out an outfit for me, somethingwith purple and deep browns that contrast?”
“I will look through your wardrobe. If youdon’t have a dress with precisely those colors, I’ll come up withsome embellishments that will carry the look.”
“Hmm, I had really hoped the dress would beproilis purple.”
“Ah, I know you have a dress of purple, so Ican seek the browns to add the contrast you imagine.” Sarena seemedeager to please.
“Yes. That would be acceptable.”
The maid clapped her hands. Kambry eyed her.“Do you wish to wear one of your crowns?” Sarena asked, a hopefullook in her eyes.
Perhaps the woman enjoyed playing withexpensive jewels. “Heavens, no.”
“An evening with the king. I understand. Doyou wish special undergarments?”
Kambry felt a blush attempt to rise andpressed it away, summoning irritation. “I hardly think such aquestion appropriate for an open corridor.”
Sarena dropped to a contrite curtsey thenrose to catch up with Kambry. “My apologies, Your Majesty. I let mydesire to serve you overstep propriety. It won’t happen again.”
Kambry let her look soften. “I appreciateyour enthusiasm.” They took a corner and stepped aside for aservant carrying a stack of folded sheets. “I’ll consider my pointtaken and leave our conversation ended. You know my request, pleasebe about it.”
Sarena bounced out a curtsey and hurriedaway.
Kambry was steps away from a side entrance tothe audience chamber and turned just as Dorvea stepped into view.How was it that the place was booby-trapped with all of herintimates? They gazed at each other, Dorvea’s expression comprisingboth curiosity and intensity. Kambry raised her chin and tipped herhead, acknowledging the older guard and giving Dorvea a look ofcuriosity in return. Wasn’t she assigned to the Laurents? Why wasshe here stepping out from behind several men in house livery? Thedoorway behind Dorvea opened, and Lady Laurents’ vigorous voicecarried through the opening.
Dorvea’s shoulders dropped a fraction. Kambrygrinned at her and marched into the audience chamber, closing thedoor before she allowed herself to feel her success at avoidingfurther company. The cavernous room was empty, and she headedstraight for the throne and the curtained facade beyond.
She had only covered half the distance whenthe door across the expanse opened and Sarena popped her head in.“Your Majesty, would you like me to have the cook prepare a specialdinner? I could put in a request for particular selections.”
Kambry stiffened with annoyance. There wassuch a thing as too much help. “Have her put together some of theking’s favorites,” she ordered.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Sarena retreated, nearlycatching her skirt in the door.
Kambry dodged behind the throne, taking amoment to glance at the addition of a second ornate chair besidethe king’s. She hoped they didn’t have to sit in them often. Theydidn’t look comfortable, a match to the crowns, no doubt.
She tugged aside the curtain that covered theentrance to the old keep. One lit lamp sat on the long table. Shehurried through the meeting room and into the narrow hallway thatlead to the map room. Fortunately, the sconces were still lit fromher earlier visit, and they brightened the narrow hallway. Therewas little chance she would run into anyone here unless Russalremembered they’d left the access open and was busy closing it uphimself.
If that was the case, Kambry supposed she’dhave to sit him down and discuss the details she had left out. Thedoor to the map room was closed, and she eased the stout door open,pleased to find its sconces still lit as well. She would take careof them when she exited. There was no reason to waste candles. Sheand Russal had been too distracted earlier to put them out. Athrill shivered her shoulders. She peered around the room,confirming there were no hiding places for guards unless they couldcamouflage themselves with maps.
Russal had shown her how to open the hiddendoorway to the inner map room, and she had it rumbling aside withonly a bit of fumbling. The trapdoor in the ceiling high aboveremained open. Another proof of Russal’s agitation when they hadbeen alone together. She pushed aside the quick excitement thatflushed through her just thinking about how they had kissed on thefloor of the inner map room.
She gazed where they had embraced and hadlost all sense of time beneath the diagram of their own bedroom onthe wall above. The box that had held her gift sat crushed on itsside, and she looked back up at the ceiling. They’d forgotten toclose the trapdoor overhead. But
