Chapter One (cont.)
Calvin looked as though he belonged among the court nobles. Grace was at his arm, allowing him to lead her to dinner. She never thought her cousin was one for such social gatherings, but it appeared now that perhaps he did belong here. However, she looked nothing like the other ladies. Grace was far from interested in this. She hoped Calvin would allow her to leave as soon as the feast was over.
“Young Calvin of Arganis?” An older woman snaked through the crowd and stopped before Grace and Calvin. Grace immediately disliked her, her eyes were condescending as she looked at Grace, her smile was fake, and her tone of voice made Grace think one word, “phony.”
“Oh Calvin, it has been some years since you have been here. Two years was it? When you earned your shield?” Calvin nodded politely, “And I hear you are competing this year. How exciting.” She clapped her hands and giggled, Grace forced out a smile when the woman looked at her, expecting some sort of response.
“And who is this lovely lady?”
“Duchess Katherine of Actis, may I introduce my cousin, the future Countess of Arganis, Grace Hilren.”
Something flashed in Katherine’s eyes as she looked upon Grace again. “Count Daniel’s only child? I am surprised; I thought you would look more like your mother, dear. Countess Dedre was one of the most beautiful women in Cesarnan, you are so plain and you have your father’s eyes, far too wide for a woman.” Katherine smiled again, “I do hope you will sit near us at the feast, Calvin, but I must be off now.”
Grace watched her rush to a group of other women, ranging in age from girls nearer to her age to old grandmothers. She could hardly believe someone had so casually insulted her and then acted as though nothing has happened.
“Do not mind the gossip, the women will except you soon enough.”
Grace looked over at the gaggle of women Katherine was with. The younger ones were giggling as they glanced her way and the older ones were shaking their heads as though Grace was somehow a disappointment.
“Somehow, I highly doubt that.”
* * * *
Grace found herself between Calvin and an extremely fat count from Egona during the feast. Katherine was seated across her and kept giving her disapproving stares. It made Grace so nervous and angry she just picked at her food.
“No wonder you are so skinny,” Henry of Egona said, brandishing a turkey leg at Grace as someone else might shake a finger. “You are missing out on a fantastic feast; King Frederick really went to great lengths this year.”
“I am afraid the atmosphere in this room has caused me to loose my appetite, Count,” She said quietly flashing her eyes quickly in Katherine’s direction.
Henry seemed to understand and nodded, “Do not mind Duchess Katherine. She is a hound and you are simply a fresh piece of meat. She will talk about you and there is little to do that can change it. All the court women are like that, even our fair Queen Bethany takes part in the gossiping around here. But you, you will hopefully be different,” Henry said helping himself to Grace’s roll, “Most ladies let it go and soon join Katherine, but you are disapproving and I do hope you stay that way. It would be nice to have a conversation with a female and not have to worry that what is said is going to be repeated in some circle.”
“I will keep that in mind, though I think you have little to fear. I plan on returning to Arganis as soon as the tournament has ended.”
“You should try to stay a bit longer, the tournament is such a small part of what happens here during the spring and summer months. And if rumors be true you have not been outside your province since Count Daniel died. Think about staying for a while.” Grace nodded and Henry smiled.
“What about you, Grace?” Grace looked up and found a good number of people were staring at her, expecting some sort of answer. In her conversation with Henry, they had missed the larger conversation going on around them.
“Pardon me?”
“You are from Arganis, what do you think of this Death Dealer who rides around the north and deals with those robbers?” Katherine asked. Grace knew she was waiting for her to stumble over her response, to say something unacceptable.
Grace had little time to think of an answer that would be completely accepted by those around her, so she quickly said what she believed they wanted to hear.
“It is a vulgar name for someone who had not yet killed to our knowledge. But I believe he is doing a service by helping rid our fair kingdom of some of those who live only to harm others.” Grace paused, all eyes remained fixed on her.
“I agree,” Henry piped up, taking a break from his food. He gave Grace a quick smile before continuing. “This Death Dealer may be going over the king’s guard and army, but he is protecting the common folk and what is a kingdom without its common folk?”
There were a few nods and words of agreement. Grace looked at Count Henry and smiled; if nothing good came of this trip at least she had found a friend at court.
* * * *
Tristan Anders wished he had been closer to Katherine. He would at least have the chance to get a better look at the young countess of Arganis. She had spent much of her time locked away in her chambers and had been late coming to join everyone else for the feast. He would have to have Katherine introduce them, even though from the looks of it, Katherine was not too fond of the young woman.
Tristan leaned over and whispered to Prince Drake, “The girl, from Arganis, is that Daniel’s only child?”
Drake nodded, “A reserved thing isn’t she? I have hardly seen her to speak to anyone but Calvin and Count Henry. But there is something about her,” Drake paused and looked Grace over from across the feast hall. Her face was turned away and she seemed completely immersed in a conversation with Henry.
“I saw her first,” Tristan gave Drake a light punch on the arm.
“You did not, I saw her when she first arrived and I’m your prince. Do you really want to anger your one day king over a woman?”
“Perhaps over that woman.” Tristan and Drake both looked directly at Grace. As though she sensed eyes upon her she looked up and met their wandering eyes. A shiver ran down Tristan’s spine, a woman had never held his gaze for so long without looking away or blushing. This one just stared back with a great intensity. It seemed unnatural for a woman to stare so.
* * * *
It bothered Grace to have people staring at her, but she would stare right back to make them uncomfortable. It had worked the prince and the other young man both looked away from her piercing stare. She sighed and looked away from them.
“Trying to scare of the lads, are you?” Henry was finishing up the last of his dessert, as he spoke a bit of pie dribbled down his chin and into his beard. He laughed a bit and wiped it off.
“Trying to stop their staring.”
“Let sleeping dogs lie, I always say. If they want to stare let them, might show Katherine and thing or too if Tristan of Escion and Prince Drake are after you. For one thing she might think you plain anymore.”
Grace nodded, she was far from plain, but no one here really knew that. As far as anyone was concerned she was the late Count Daniel and Countess Dedre’s reserved daughter, who did not share her mother’s looks and had her father’s eyes. The less everyone knew the better.
A few guests had begun to get up and follow the king and queen into the great hall for some after dinner dancing. Grace pushed herself away from the table and bowed her head to Henry.
“It was a pleasure to speak to you this evening and hopefully I will have the opportunity again, but for now I am tired and am going to retire.”
Henry rose from his seat and took Grace’s hand, lightly kissing it. “Do not fret about the ladies of this court, young one, it will improve for you, I promise.”
Grace smiled and headed to bed.
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