Lang rolled his eyes at the protocol officer’s fawning tone. Constantine barely glanced at him. “Yes. With jousting in the morning, a melee later in the day, and a ball that evening, they could hardly stay away.”

I swallowed hard and tried not to imagine hundreds of people staring at me, tried not to imagine one pair of blue eyes asking What are you afraid they’ll see? A nanny suddenly came forward and lifted Gemma from my arms, another taking Alexander from Bear’s.

Princess Igraine beamed at me, reassuring. “You’ll enjoy it. There’s fighting, but there’s also wonderful food, and people come from all over to sell pretty things. And the dinner Friday and the ball Saturday will be gorgeous, I promise.”

“I’m sure,” I said, managing a faint smile.

“It will be,” Bertilak said, reaching for another piece of bread, “but I’m afraid preparations are going to keep me busier than I’d anticipated. I may be forced to cancel some of our plans, Seneschal-elect.”

I fought to keep the relief I felt off my face. “I’m sorry to hear that, Your Highness.”

“But you must keep me apprised of your doings where I am unavailable to join you,” Bertilak said, cocking his head. The air around the table grew thick with curiosity, so quiet that I jumped when a burning log snapped on the fire.

“Certainly,” I said, startled by his intensity.

“I’m quite serious.” Bertilak pushed back his chair and tossed his napkin down on the table. “In fact, I propose this: at the end of every day, I’ll present you with whatever I’ve won or found or fought for, and you shall do the same.”

“What if I don’t win anything?” I frowned, glancing from Lang to Perrault to Skop, but they looked as confused as I. “Aren’t we supposed to be visiting a school tomorrow? Your Highness, I don’t understand.”

Bertilak shook his head, eyes gleaming beneath the thin circlet on his brow. “You’re a sharp girl. You’re going to be meeting people, having conversations. That’s what you’re here to do. I feel confident you’ll end the day with something interesting in hand.” Bertilak lifted his glass to me. “Do we have a deal?”

I returned the gesture, my half-drunk cup of tea now tepid. “As you say, Highness.”

23

I sat alone in the front row of the Winchester village school. The auditorium was dim, the curtains still drawn on the little stage.

Mothers and fathers and siblings sat in the remaining rows. I could feel their eyes on the back of my neck, feel their whispers like a fog swirling behind me.

Sir Perrault and Bear stood against a side wall, half-hidden in the dark behind a screen. They were my only companions again today; Lang had been absent when Perrault knocked at his door to insist he join us.