That was rather thick, but thank you.”
Will grinned, then glanced at Seth. “Better shovel in a few bites while I keep her distracted.”
That prompted a nervous giggle from Seth who slowly began to relax. The chitchat slowed to a crawl, and everyone paid more attention to their food for the next little while. Will, having been more serious from the start, finished first, and he used the opportunity to gain the initiative in the after-dinner conversation. “Seth helped me find out who tried to kill you,” he announced without warning.
If the news surprised her, it didn’t show on her features. Selene finished her current mouthful, then dabbed at her mouth gracefully with a napkin. A few seconds later, mouth empty, she replied, “Well, that steals my thunder, doesn’t it? I was planning to tell you I had narrowed it down to three candidates. Let’s hear the name. Now we won’t have to go through the tedium of figuring out which it was.” Before he could speak, she threw up her hand. “Wait, let me guess first. I want to know if my suspicion is correct.”
Will waited.
“Lewis Arberry?”
His brows went up. “Damn. I’m impressed.”
She waved her hands dismissively. “Don’t be. The other two matched the description, age, and presumed circumstances, but they had absolutely no reason to want you dead.”
“Except it’s you they’re targeting,” insisted Will.
“We’ll see,” she said dryly, clearly not convinced. “Lewis Arberry’s father is one of your vassals.”
That confused him. “I’m not the king. I don’t have vassals.”
A look of embarrassment came over Selene’s face, and she immediately glanced at Seth, as the mother of a child who had said something foolish might do. Fortunately, Seth was just as ignorant. “I only know his father is a viscount.”
Selene folded her napkin and put her hands in her lap. School was in session. “William, as Duke of Arenata, you have several vassals, minor noblemen, who will swear fealty directly to you. They also pay taxes to you, and through you to the king. Principal among them, are Baron Hargast, Viscount Arberry, and Baron Lambel. There is also a smattering of knights with small holdings who hold allegiance to you.”
He digested that news for several seconds, then responded, “That’s all well and good, but if they owe fealty to me why haven’t I met any of them? Shouldn’t there be an exchange of oaths?”
She nodded. “Since your elevation was handled privately, to avoid making public your own lack of fealty, that hasn’t happened. In more ordinary times, you would meet with all of them at the harvest festival, where they would be expected to render their vows; however, with the war coming that will be expedited at the first gathering of the host.”
“Host?” asked Will.
“The army,” she clarified. “Your vassals will be there.”
Seth held up a hand, which caused Will to chuckle. “Speak up, this isn’t a classroom.”
“Did you say, ‘lack of fealty?’” asked Seth.
Will gave Selene an amused look, knowing she hadn’t meant to give away that fact. Ever honest, Selene moved on without showing her discomfort. “Will and my father don’t get along. Since he has continually refused to accept a title because of the oath of fealty, my father decided to bestow a title anyway and keep the matter of fealty private.”
Poleaxed, Seth stared blankly at her for a second, then at Will. “You refused to swear—to the king.” He looked back at Selene. “And you married…” The color slowly drained from his face.
Reaching out, Selene snatched up the wine bottle and refilled their guest’s cup. Will leaned over and picked it up, then pressed it into Seth’s hand. “Why don’t you take a deep breath and have a drink?” he suggested.
Seth did as he was told, but after a moment he set the cup aside. “You really didn’t swear fealty to the king?”
“Don’t worry,” answered Will. “He figures that my marriage to Selene is enough to keep me under control.” That wasn’t strictly true, since Lognion no longer controlled Selene either, but Will wasn’t about to explain that the heart-stone enchantment gave the king absolute control over his sister Laina. Nor was he going to explain that he had sisters.
They finished the meal and moved back into the parlor, where Blake served them a sweet dessert wine. Selene gave the man a strange look. “Didn’t I tell you to stop doing everything? Where’s Melina? You should be resting.”
A sheepish look came over the manservant’s face. “I’m already looking for a replacement for her. She quit yesterday.”
Selene