The axe-faced woman dogged Evelina’s every step. She was not permitted to go out of her room except in the company of Axe-Face, the reason being that no proper young unmarried girl— and it seemed to Evelina that the woman spoke that hateful word with a relish—would think of venturing into public without a chaperone. Evelina chafed against this. She was certain at first that she was being singled out for punishment. She was forced to concede, however, that whenever she caught sight of the Lady Izabelle (which was as often as the jealous Evelina could manage), the lady was always in the company of an older woman.

Evelina was not permitted to speak to any one, particularly any man, which stricture she considered extremely harsh and unfair. There were several very comely men—particularly among the Her Majesty’s knights—who would have been glad to amuse her. Although the Queen’s Guard were preoccupied with news from Aston Castle, receiving daily reports from the messengers who were riding back and forth, some found time to take note of the pretty girl who, it was bruited about, had caught Prince Marcus in her web of golden curls, amongst other attractions.

One or more of these knights had taken to being on hand whenever Evelina was outdoors for her daily walk in the garden. She was, of course, stalked by Axe-Face, who actually pinched Evelina’s arm when she smiled at a handsome young lord who had first smiled at her. The unsightly bruise pained her for days, and Evelina never picked up a knife to slice her meat but that she indulged in fond thoughts of slicing up her chaperone.

Evelina was not permitted anywhere near the Royal Quarters, and thus she was forced to give up a notion she’d entertained of chumming about with the Queen and endearing herself to her. Evelina saw the Queen or the ladies-in-waiting only from across a vast expanse of lawn or at the end of a mile-long hallway she wasn’t allowed to enter.

The only other person Evelina was allowed to talk to was the serving girl who brought her meals to her. This was also the only time Evelina ever escaped Axe-Face, who dined with other high-ranking staff members of the Royal Household. The serving girl loved to gossip, and Evelina was an avid listener, so they got on well.