“It’s dated nearly a month ago,” Alec pointed out. “A lot can happen in a month. I don’t suppose you’ve cast a wizard eye for her?”

“You know how unfeasible that is if I don’t have some idea of where she is,” the wizard replied. “But what about you two? Did you have good hunting?”

“Very good,” said Seregil. “Though we were interrupted while we were at it.”

“Interrupted? As in almost caught?” asked Thero.

“A pair of servants snuck in to have a quick go of it,” Alec explained.

“Go of what?”

“Fucking,” Seregil clarified.

“Ah. Well, the duke is probably on his way back to the city now. Duchess Palmani gave birth earlier than expected—a son. So, what did you find?”

Seregil gave him the copies of the letters from Alaya first.

“The princess royal’s dowager lady-in-waiting?” asked Thero, surprised. “Don’t tell me you suspect the archduchess of some kind of disloyalty to Princess Elani?”

“She never struck me as the type for intrigue of that sort,” said Seregil.

“You know her?”

“I met her when I was at court. She pinched my cheek and gave me sweetmeats whenever she saw me, but I doubt she remembers me after all these years.”

Thero perused the letters. “Hmmm. Not anything treasonous, at least.”

“I saved the best for last, though.” Seregil handed him Elani’s letter.

Thero gave him a questioning look, then began to read. His eyes widened when he realized what it was.

“We thought it was a bit odd, the duke having a personal letter between the princess royal and the queen hidden in a compartment under the carpet in his study,” said Alec.

“Indeed,” Thero replied, frowning. “What could he want with it?”

“Hard to tell yet. But what we saw appeared to be a copy,” Seregil told him.

“So it had to come from someone who has access to her inner apartments. Alaya herself would be in the best position to see Elani’s correspondence, and from what you found, it’s clear she’s in touch with the duke.”

Seregil helped himself to another cup of the excellent wine. “But the handwriting appeared to be in the style of a royal scribe. You wouldn’t happen to know who serves Elani?”

“No idea.”

“Too bad. But the question remains: why would a letter like this be of interest to Reltheus?”

“Perhaps because she mentions Danos.”

Seregil blinked. “You know who Danos is?”

“Of course. He’s Duke Reltheus’s eldest son. I think the duke has some hope of the young man taking the princess royal’s heart. They did spend a lot of time together. He’s of marriageable age, and she will be, too, before long.”

“Still, it seems rather underhanded, stealing Elani’s letters,” Alec remarked.

“I would like you two to find out more about that for me. What can you do?”

“As it happens, we have a mutual friend. Young Count Selin,” Seregil replied.

“He’ll be at my party,” said Alec. “There was a letter from him in Reltheus’s correspondence, too. Apparently he and the duke are friends.”