Hidden Knights (Knights of the Realm #3) - Jennifer Anne Davis Page 0,59
way around the palace. Harlow’s appearance and personality were a façade—just like this room.
A chill slid over Reid.
“Find anything?” Harlan asked from the doorway.
“No.” She stood with her hands on her hips, scanning the room again.
“What are you thinking?”
“That we must be missing something. And that is a scary thought.” What had Harlow said? Sometimes, the quietest one in the room was the most dangerous?
“Maybe she just doesn’t have anything,” he suggested. “If she were forced to marry the king, she could have chosen to leave her belongings behind. It could be her own way of protesting the marriage?”
Possibly. But Reid didn’t think so. “Do you know why Eldon chose to marry Harlow?”
He shrugged. “You’d have to ask Ackley, Idina, or Gordon.”
While Reid wasn’t certain, she had an inkling Harlow had managed to fool all three siblings into believing she was a mindless twit.
“Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?” Harlan asked.
“Because we’re missing something. I’m sure of it.” They had enough to deal with without adding Harlow to the list. However, Reid knew she couldn’t ignore the queen. Harlow could very well be working against Eldon, but to what end? Was she a friend or a foe?
“There you are,” Idina said as she swept into the great hall. “I’ve been looking all over the castle for you.”
Reid had snuck in here to be alone for a few minutes before supper. She wanted time to sort through everything Leigh had revealed about Anna.
“I’ve been dying to talk to you about Dexter.” Idina plopped on the sofa. “Tell me everything.”
Knowing Idina would push until she got what she wanted, Reid decided it was easier to comply than argue. “What do you want to know?” She twisted on the sofa to face the princess.
“How is it?” she asked with a devilish smile.
“How is what?”
Idina raised her left eyebrow, looking at Reid as if she were daft. “You can’t be that dense, Reid. How was your first time with Dexter?”
“Oh.” Why would Idina want to know something so personal?
“We’re practically sisters.” She nudged Reid with her elbow. “You can tell me anything.”
Would Reid normally share something so intimate with her sisters? Probably Kamden, but that was it. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“I imagine he’s quite good.”
Reid’s face flamed red—whether from the subject matter or the fact Idina was fantasizing about Dexter, she couldn’t be sure. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that.”
“Oh, please,” Idina chided her. “If you won’t tell me what sort of a lover he is, at least tell me how he kisses.”
Mortified, Reid covered her face with her hands. “We haven’t been intimate yet.”
“Why the hell not? You’re married.”
“There hasn’t been any time.” She removed her hands, unable to look Idina in the eyes.
Idina burst out laughing. “No time? What have you been doing at night?”
“We’re exhausted at the end of the day.” A partial truth.
Idina shook her head, not buying it.
“Fine. I’m not ready.”
“But you wanted to marry him.” Her brows scrunched in confusion.
“Yes. And we’ve kissed and spent the past few nights in each other’s arms. The next step will come after we’re a little more comfortable with one another that way.”
Ackley and Gordon entered, talking in hushed whispers.
“Do the man a favor, Reid,” Idina whispered. “Don’t make him wait too long.”
“I think he feels the same as me. He isn’t ready.” He hadn’t once pushed her to do more than kiss.
Idina rose, patting Reid on the shoulder. “You can think that all you want. But the man wants you.”
Chapter Thirteen
“I feel awkward being in the throne room,” Reid mumbled to Dexter. The last time she’d been in here, Eldon had revealed she’d be marrying Dexter and he was sending her to Axian as a spy.
“It’s strange for me to be in this castle.” Dexter turned in a slow circle, taking in the room. It was a fourth the size of the one in Axian and not nearly as grand. “Everything is so…stark.”
Reid chuckled. “Compared to your grand palace in Axian, yes, this is rather bland. But compared to most castles in Marsden, it is fancy.”
“Our.”
“What?”
“You said your palace. It’s not mine, it’s ours.”
She hadn’t thought of that before.
“Try not to look so overwhelmed.” He took her hands in his. “Ackley is leading the three duchesses here as we speak. When they see you, you can’t let them think they outrank you. Stand tall and don’t let them intimidate you.” He squeezed her hands in reassurance.
Reid rolled her eyes. That was easier said than done.