Everyone took a drink. When Ellington set his aside, Reid noticed the same amount of alcohol remained. He hadn’t drunk a drop. Relief filled her.

People started to eat the food the servants had brought, and conversations sprang up.

Duke Ellington leaned down. “Do you know which room I’m staying in?” he murmured.

Reid nodded.

“Wait five minutes, then leave and meet me there.” He meandered around the room, talking to people here and there, before he slipped out the side door.

Even though people were talking, Reid found it to be useless chatter about the weather or the harvest. Several people spoke a little louder than necessary. She assumed everyone was nervous. Ackley and Gordon were side by side. The dukes remained close to the king. However, no one dared ask anything substantial—like what Eldon intended to do with the foreign army.

Since no one was paying her any attention, she made her way over to the sentry standing guard near the door. “Which way to the privy?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” he replied.

It was only natural he wouldn’t know, seeing as he was a soldier from northern Marsden. Reid had only asked the question so if the king inquired after her, the soldier would relay she’d needed to relieve herself.

She exited the room. Five steps down the hallway, Gytha suddenly appeared at Reid’s side. Silently, they made their way to Duke Ellington’s chambers. Not bothering to knock, Reid entered with Gytha. Her father continued to shove clothes into a travel bag without looking up.

“Where are you going?” Reid asked.

He tied the bag, then studied Reid, his hands on his hips. “To speak with the person in charge of the Knights.”

Reid had never seen a tattoo on her father’s wrist, so she knew he wasn’t a Knight. “You know about them?” She glanced at Gytha, who stood quietly by the door.

“I do,” he replied.

Had Ackley told him? Or had he found out some other way? “I already sent them a message. They know a foreign army is here.” And she hadn’t heard a word about what they wanted her or Ackley to do. Weren’t the Knights supposed to be protectors of the kingdom?

“I can’t sit around when we are on the brink of war. I must do something.” He slung his bag over his shoulder. “I won’t be back in time for the wedding—if the wedding even takes place.” He went over to the window, peering outside. The lawn was still full of soldiers. “You have a choice.”

He’d never given her a choice before.

“You can come with me now or you can stay here. There are pros and cons to each decision. However, I must leave before the king has a chance to stop me.”

“What do you hope to accomplish?”

“We need to show this army that we are not to be trifled with. We will send them back to wherever it is they’re from.”