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“I’ll do better,” Kermilla said in a subdued voice “I promise”
He kissed the back of her hand, then said with all the conviction he could put in his voice, “We can have a good life, Ker to take time and work”
Nodding, she pulled away froently and left the rooht, which he didn’t think odd, but he did regret that her door reht
And he tried not to think about the sounds he’d heard a moment before he knocked Sounds an aural shield could have politely hidden if she hadn’t wanted anyone to hear
Sounds that indicated she’d found consolation with soht
CHAPTER 22
TERREILLE
Standing in the doorway of the dining room, Dryden announced, “Princes Ferall, Rikoma, Elendill, and Hikaeda have arrived I have put them in the visitors’ parlor”
Ranon almost spit a mouthful of coffee across the table “They’re herealready ?” When he’d suggested they co, he hadn’t expected the four men to arrivethis early
Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he pushed away from the table “Thank you, Dryden I’ll be there in a minute”
“It will be fine, Ranon,” Powell said He was the only other person left at the table
“Will it?” Not knowing if Ferall now served Kery That uncertainty had gnawed at hireed to this visit
“They’ll see what they want to see Show thee Show them the people That’s all you can do I’ll inforuests for the midday meal”
“Where is Cassie?” Ranon asked
“I believe she went upstairs to change clothes”
Ranon hurried to the visitors’ parlor The foura slol around the roo a little baffled
“Good ,” he said
Ferall nodded, as did Rikoma and Elendill Hikaeda sht place, Ranon? When we arrived at the landing web and asked for the Queen’s residence, ere directed here”
“Used to be a boardinghouse, so it has a big dining room and kitchen, several parlors, and sufficient bedrooms and bathrooms for the Queen and souests Also has enough land for a big kitchen garden, herb garden, and flower gardens, plus soed “It’s not a typical building for a Queen’s residence, but it pleases Lady Cassidy”
As they took another look around the roo defensive was foolish The furniture was old but clean and polished The room had the scent of a place that was cared for And the fact that the Queen wasn’t buying new furniture to i to have enough clothes and a decent pair of shoes was soize for To anyone
Footsteps Female voices
Cassidy suddenly appeared in the doorearing shortened trousers and a shirt that looked like she’d rescued it froot the cloths that were stuffed into the bucket she was holding
“Ranon, Dryden said” She looked at the other four men in the room and her hazel eyes widened “Oh, Hell’s fire Is thattoday ?”
“It appears we have come at an inconvenient time,” Ferall said stiffly
“No, you haven’t,” Cassidy said, stepping farther into the rooentlee, and we’ve been working to get them settled into their new hoet the Healing House and Shira’s residence set up, I lost track of the days”
“Cassie, if we’re going to get the last roo House cleaned out properly so Shira can start working there, we’re going to need—Oh”