Gytha opened her mouth, about to respond, when the soldier in her suddenly snapped to attention. Reid froze, watching as Gytha whipped to the right and withdrew her dagger in one smooth move. “Who’s there?” the warrior woman demanded.

The queen stepped out of the shadows, keeping her hands visible. “Lower your voice,” she whispered. “No one can know I’m here.”

Gytha sheathed her dagger, though her glare was openly hostile.

“I’d like a word with Lady Reid,” the queen stated.

“I am not permitted to let Lady Reid out of my sight.”

“Very well. Lady Reid, if you’ll join me over here, away from the door?”

Reid was still in a state of shock that the queen was in her room. The young woman had always been so docile, Reid hadn’t thought her capable of decision making. Curious, she joined the queen over by the windows. Not wanting anyone to see them, Reid closed the curtains.

Gytha remained on the sofa about twenty feet away, carefully watching them.

“Is there something I can do for you?” Reid asked. The room was fairly dark with only two candles lit, which left the corner the women conversed in shrouded in shadows.

“I see the way you look at me,” Harlow started. “Like I’m a stupid, meek, incompetent fool.”

Reid wanted to argue, but she bit her tongue. The queen was right—that was how Reid thought of Harlow.

“You, of all people, should know how deceiving appearances can be. Just because I act one way in front of most people doesn’t mean I am always like that.” Although she whispered, her voice held a hint of authority and confidence Reid had never noticed before.

Shame filled Reid for thinking so poorly of the queen. She should have taken the time to get to know the woman.

“I am here to warn you,” the queen continued.

“Warn me? About the foreign army?” Did Queen Harlow know of the king’s plans? Reid doubted he shared much with his wife. After all, he hated women and thought them subservient to men.

“I’m glad you know about them,” she said. “But an army from at home or abroad is still an army. I’m sure you and the commander know how to deal with such threats.” She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “But the real threat is the one no one ever sees coming.”

Was the queen threatening Reid or trying to help her? She had no idea.

“Sometimes the quietest person in the room is the most dangerous.”

“I’m not following,” Reid said.

“My husband thinks he has the situation under control. He believes he knows which dukes support him. He also assumes the foreign army will not double cross him.”

“What do you know?” Reid demanded. Did Harlow have connections no one knew about or had she been investigating on her own?