She had never in her life seen so many beautiful things— tapestries whose rich colors gleamed in the light, chairs so heavily carved that she wondered who could possibly sit on them in comfort, long tables covered with white linen on which stood plates heaped with food. She had dreamt of what Marcus’s palace would be like. She had expected to find riches and warmth and good food. She had not expected to find that it was all so big and shadowy or that she would feel so small, standing in the entryway, sopping wet, dripping onto the floor.

It was then she saw Marcus. He was some distance away, walking down a long staircase, and he was not alone. Beside him was a young woman, slender, elegant, graceful. The two conversed as they sauntered down the stairs. They did not see her. They were entirely absorbed in their conversation. And in each other.

Evelina’s jealous eyes noted every detail of this woman, from her thick, rich coil of chestnut hair, tucked beneath a fine lace head-covering, to her small bosoms and delicate-boned face, her pink cheeks and large, brown eyes.

Evelina opened her mouth and drew in a breath to call out to Marcus.

Gunderson said quietly, “A proper young woman does not shout like a fishmonger, Mistress.”

Evelina let out her breath in an irritated hiss. She was forced to watch in smoldering silence as the two of them reached the bottom of the stairs and continued walking through a door into another part of the castle.

Men are such fools. To fall for a doe-eyed, pasty-faced little tart like that . . .

Reminding herself that she had every right to be here, because, after all, she was carrying the prince’s child, Evelina shook out her wet curls and turned to Gunderson.

“You will tell Marcus I’m here,” she stated.

“His Highness”—Gunderson emphasized the words—”will be informed.”

“See that he is,” Evelina said loftily. She made an attempt to boldly meet that single eye and found it difficult. “You may take me to my room now, my good man.”

Gunderson led her upstairs and through corridors and down halls and up halls, so that she was immediately lost and confused. Once they reached her room, Evelina was vastly pleased with it. The room was larger and warmer and cleaner than any she’d known. At the sight of a beautiful gown on the bed—a gown that he said was hers, a gift from the Queen—Evelina clapped her hands. And when he introduced the servant who was to wait on her, Evelina could almost feel the royal crown being placed on her head. Later she would discover that the room was in a wing of the palace located as far as possible from the chambers of the royal family, and that the servant was not so much a servant as a prison warden. But Evelina now thought herself in heaven.