I lifted one shoulder. “They’re competent and dedicated. Efficient. Self-directed when necessary but prudent enough to know when something should be brought to your attention.”

“No, why do you like them—you seem fond of them.”

I tilted my head to the side as Maram had done many times before. “Truth be told … they remind me of my friends on Cadiz.”

Maram’s eyes widened. “You never talk about it.”

“About it?”

“Your home. Your family.”

“There is little reason to bring up my elder brothers,” I said, trying to keep my voice flat.”Or my friends or life before.”

“Brothers? I imagined maybe some cousins. Certainly, your parents. You don’t act like the youngest.”

I grinned. “I’m the only girl. It happens.” When she didn’t smile back, I sobered. “The girls are trustworthy. If you’d like we can look at others, but—”

“No,” she interrupted, then looked over my shoulder. “Ah. And it seems our time together is about to come to a close. Though I didn’t expect to see you after—”

Idris climbed the stairs more quietly than he had this morning. In the interim he’d freshened up, and none of the grief I’d seen in the morning remained. He bowed to both of us as one, then straightened and raised an eyebrow.

“After my behavior the last time we spoke?” He inclined his head. “My anger was ill placed. I apologize for my outburst.”

From the expression on her face, I don’t think he’d ever apologized to her before. I was hard pressed to believe he’d never had such an outburst, but Idris was diplomatic and aware enough that only his cousin’s death might have prompted such a thing from him.

“I—” she started. “Thank you. I heard—I’m sorry about ‘Adil, though it changes nothing.”

He inclined his head again.

“I had another reason for coming,” he said, and held up a holosheet. Maram took it first, and I watched her face go blank before she handed it to me. A chill wound its way down my spine as I read. Nadine was only a few hours away. We’d known she would get here eventually—she would be a Vathek royal guest. But I, and no doubt Maram, too, had avoided thinking about it. Maram would have to pit her strength against the stewardess as both a married woman and mistress of her own household. And I could not do it for her. Nadine knew the differences between us too well.

“You will have to meet with the estate stewardess,” I said, handing Maram the holosheet. “And Idris can make sure that her servants are monitored so they don’t interfere. You will also have to greet her.”

“Greet her?” Her eyebrows rose. “Why must I greet her?”

“I can’t do it,” I replied. “She can tell the difference between us.”