Everyone in the room shook their heads, too disappointed to even speak their failure aloud.

Scarlet sighed. “The best I could manage was getting Lady Halton to have a little more wine than one ought. And all she did was complain about Valentina. They keep going on and on about her not giving them an heir.” Scarlet rolled her eyes, not aware of how important this very point of contention was.

Etan looked at me, his eyes pleading with me to share Valentina’s secret . . . and suddenly, I knew why I had to.

“This cannot leave this room,” I began.

Their attention focused squarely on me.

“Valentina has suffered three miscarriages.”

Mother gaped, and Scarlet went wide-eyed.

“Are you certain?” Uncle Reid asked.

“Yes. She told me herself. I know that you don’t consider her an ally, but I do. Ever since the tournament in Coroa, we’ve had an understanding, and she’s . . . she’s important to me.” I swallowed, taking in their questioning eyes. “But I’m starting to think she could be important to all of us.”

“In what way?” Aunt Jovana asked.

“In Coroa, we were talking about Jameson and Quinten, comparing their personalities. Somewhere in there, she started opening up. She doesn’t keep her distance from people by choice; Quinten insists upon it. He’s keeping her isolated. And she was . . . concerned for her safety. She tried to deny it later, but she knows her place here all depends upon her having another son for Quinten, and she’s lost three now.

“If she’s in danger, and we’re in danger, maybe she would be willing to help us.”

A light flickered behind Uncle Reid’s eyes. “Hollis . . . Hollis, of course! She has the best chance of anyone in the palace to get into the king’s rooms. She would know the safest paths in and out of his offices, where his papers are kept. If we could guarantee her safety, I bet she’d at least go and search for us.”

Etan shook his head, but it wasn’t in disagreement or defeat; he looked as if he wished he’d come up with this first.

“I’d just need to speak with her. Alone.” I placed my hands across my stomach, the urgency of all this making me feel queasy again. Once more, I wished I had something to eat.

“The tournament’s tomorrow,” Aunt Jovana said. “She’ll certainly be there. There has to be a way to get a note to her in the busy crowd.”

“Then that’s our plan,” Uncle Reid said resolutely. “Hollis, write a note to arrange a meeting with the queen. Tomorrow, we will get you close enough to give it to her. Whatever time you designate to meet, we will try to arrange a distraction.” He sighed. “And we’ll figure out the rest after that.”

“Bravo, Hollis,” Scarlet whispered, reaching out to take my hand.

“Save your praise until this is over. Then I expect to be showered in your unending affection.”