“I have. The two royal seamstresses we have on staff could hardly finish a new wedding gown on time, not to mention what I am to wear, which they hadn’t even started, and build a trousseau fitting Lady Farah when she is princess.”

“Lady Farah?” he asked in shock.

“That is what I said,” she replied.

“When did that whore become a lady?”

Even if the feel was wafting from her, Mercy herself slightly shivered at the coldness she was exuding toward him.

She did not think about the fact she’d had these same thoughts about her soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

She did not, for not only had she decided to change her way of thinking, it was not to be borne he would make such a remark, to her or anyone (but it must be said, mostly to her).

“You are speaking of my son’s betrothed, the woman who, in a very short period of time, will be crowned princess of this very realm and your future queen,” she reminded him coldly.

“Of course,” he murmured, and even this foolish toad knew he’d stepped over the line with that, therefore he swiftly changed the subject. “You’ve also ordered a trousseau?”

She stared at him like he was daft. “Farah will be traveling almost immediately with True to Airen for Prince Cassius and Princess Elena’s nuptials. She can hardly go across an autumn Wodell into the brisk sea winds of Sky Bay wearing Firenz sheers. And she shouldn’t for she’ll be the Princess of Wodell.”

He shook his head.

“We simply don’t have the money for that,” he retorted.

“I’m sorry, did you not just send the heralds with the collectors to spread the word another coin was expected from our citizenry, due immediately, for their levies to the crown?” she queried.

“That is to strengthen your husband’s coffers, which you know are running frightfully low, not for overages in costs of the wedding.”

It was not for that and it was an insult he was pretending she didn’t know it.

“That’s interesting,” she noted. “For I’ve read the proclamation with my own eyes and the king seemed to make a point of mentioning his son’s upcoming ceremony in the announcement of the latest tax increase.”

At that, Carrington was silent.

Mercy was not.

“It would seem to me the peoples of this realm will have a very clear impression the gold coin they must offer the collector was for that precise thing. At least, it seemed clear to me when I read the proclamation.”

Carrington’s mouth grew tight and he continued not to speak.