Capture the Crown (Gargoyle Queen #1) -Jennifer Estep Page 0,59

metalstone master from Ravensrock. Lady Armina was being waylaid by bandits who were trying to steal the precious gems she had bought in Majesta and was taking home to Ravensrock. I dispatched the bandits, with Lyra’s help, but Lady Armina was injured in the fight, so I brought her to the palace to be healed.”

The smooth lies spewed from his lips one after another, and he put just the right amount of sympathy into his voice. If I hadn’t known better, even I would have believed him. I hadn’t been waylaid by bandits, though. Just a very charming, clever, duplicitous prince.

“Oh! How awful!” Delmira clasped her hands to her heart. “Lady Armina, I hope you’re all right now.”

I dipped into another curtsy, although this one was much shallower than the one I’d given to Maeven. “Thank you. I am feeling much better, Your Highness.”

Delmira waved her hand. “I’ve never cared much for formalities. Please. Call me Delmira. Everyone does.”

I doubted that, but she was the princess here, not me, and I had to cede to her request. “As you wish . . . Delmira.”

Maeven stepped forward, staring at me again. “Lady Armina, you must stay at the palace until you’re fully recovered,” she purred. “I insist on it.”

Stay at the palace? That was the very last thing I wanted to do, but Lady Armina could hardly argue with her supposed queen, so I bowed my head. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I would be honored.”

“And, of course, you must attend all the festivities,” Maeven continued.

Festivities? Then I remembered what Leonidas had said. “I’m sure the events surrounding your birthday will be a wonderful treat.”

“Mmm. Yes. A treat.” Her benign words didn’t match her dry tone. “While you’re here, you will have to make something for my daughter and me. It’s been quite a while since we’ve commissioned pieces from an unknown jeweler.”

Maeven kept staring at me, an expectant look on her face, and I forced myself to smile wide, as though I were absolutely delighted at the command. Getting a commission from a queen could boost a jeweler’s business to incredible new heights.

“Of course!” I made my voice as light and happy as I could. “Thank you for such a wonderful opportunity!”

Maeven’s lips quirked into a small, amused smile, but she waved her hand, as though her benevolence was nothing of importance. Then she focused on Leonidas again. “You must join Delmira and me for dinner tonight. Your brother and his betrothed will also be there.” Once again, her benign words didn’t match her dry, caustic tone.

A few months ago, an engagement had been announced between Crown Prince Milo Morricone and Lady Corvina Dumond, and the news had set tongues a-wagging in the Glitnir court. The Mortans might be our enemies, but a royal wedding was always a source of rampant speculation, gossip, and envy, before, during, and after the festivities.

Leonidas dipped his head. “Of course.”

Maeven waved her hand again, dismissing his words just as she had mine. Then her gaze zoomed back over to me, much more intense and critical than before, as though she were silently cataloguing, critiquing, and calculating my worth.

I stood absolutely still, scarcely daring to breathe. Leonidas and Delmira might not have recognized me, but there was a very real chance Maeven would. After all, she utterly despised my family, so I imagined that she was as familiar with me as I was with her.

“Lady Armina,” Maeven purred again, as though the most marvelous thought had just occurred to her. “You must also come to dinner tonight. As my special guest. I’m sure we can find a seat for you at my table.”

Worry spiked through me. Running into the queen in the palace was one thing, but actually sitting across from her at a dining table for hours on end was another.

I dipped into yet another curtsy, giving myself a few seconds to think, before slowly rising. “Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I was not expecting such a high honor. I’m afraid that all my garments were ruined in the bandit attack, and I wouldn’t want to disgrace your table by wearing something less than worthy.” I put a high, nervous stammer into my voice, as though I were both disappointed that I couldn’t attend the event and terrified of contradicting the queen.

If I couldn’t escape from the palace before dinner, then I needed some reason not to attend. The less that Maeven saw of me, the better.

Yet again, Maeven waved her hand, dismissing my weak