really me. “But I must ask what you’ve done with my face.” Realizing she might have thought I meant her insult, I added, “Only that I might replicate it every day forward.”
“Your face?” A little bubble of laughter spilled out of her. “Your Highness, I did nothing to your face except add a small amount of rouge. That is simply what you look like.”
“No,” I disagreed. I leaned forward and took in my appearance once more. “But I do look like my mother. I did not think that I did.”
The light in the maid’s eyes dimmed as she placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I hope you don’t mind me sayin’, but what happened to Her Highness was a tragedy. Your whole family… I just can’t even imagine. It seems only right that you would grow to be as lovely as she. It is the least the Light could do for you after enduring such hardship.”
I felt my eyes grow hot with emotion, but I forced the tears back. I couldn’t cry in front of a maid. What would she think of me? “You are very kind for saying that…?”
“Matilda,” she bounced into a short curtsy. “My name is Matilda.”
“Thank you, Matilda.” I let out a sigh and stood. My hands fell to my waist where the corset pinched and pressed. “You may tell his highness that I am ready now if he will receive me. Just as soon as I learn how to breathe in this thing.”
Matilda tried to hide her smile. “Shallow breaths, mum. That should be better.”
She left me to practice barely breathing and stepped into the hall. She returned a few seconds later to declare, “He’s already waiting for you. There is a footman and the Grandmaster of the guards to escort you.”
I took careful steps in the direction of the door. “Do you know about my traveling companion? He was sent across the hall. I’m wondering if he has awoken.”
She shook her head. “He hasn’t, M’lady. We tried earlier, but he threw his shoes at a squire and so we made the decision to let him sleep.”
It was my turn to hide my smile.
“Would you mind watching my fox while I’m gone? I think she’s hungry.”
Matilda looked scandalized. “Pardon me?”
“My fox,” I explained slowly, just in case she hadn’t heard. “She’s just a pup.” I pulled Shiksa from the plush blankets where she’d been sleeping as hard as Oliver. Her pure white coat was hot from the blankets and I couldn’t resist holding her against me for a minute while she whimpered her protests. “Her name is Shiksa.”
“I-I-I…”
I dropped Shiksa into Matilda’s hands. “Thank you.”
Just like Matilda had warned, there was a tall footman and Haemon waiting for me in the hall. Both of them swept into a bow as soon as they saw me.
“Er, thank you…?” I bit my lip. I didn’t know how to navigate my suddenly royal status. I had been treated as a commoner yesterday. Now people bowed and curtsied and dressed me in sausage casing.
I stood there, waiting for them to lead me to the war room, but neither moved. After a long moment of awkward stillness, in which I realized something was required of me, Haemon covered his mouth with a fist and coughed.
I looked at him helplessly.
“After you, Your Majesty,” he said pointedly.
Oh.
“Of course.” I looked at the footman’s outstretched hand. How was I to lead them to a room in which I knew nothing about? “This way then?”
The footman nodded as patiently as he was capable of. I resisted an eye roll and began a slow march down the hall. Once I began moving however, it didn’t take long for the other two men to fall into step beside me. I needed to remember: Royals move first. Even if they have no idea where they’re going.
“Did you sleep well, Princess Tessana?” Haemon asked politely.
“No.” It didn’t occur to me to lie or sidestep the truth. But after another covered cough by Haemon and the footman’s gasp, I realized my response sounded rude. “That is to say, I’m used to sleeping on the ground. And before that, my mattress was made of hay. So, you see, I’m not used to comfort.”
Neither man said anything to that. I’d probably explained too much or said something I wasn’t supposed to, but it was too late now.
I decided to press on. “What about you, Haemon? Did you sleep? I hope you didn’t stand outside my door all night.”
His cheeks heated,