Valiant (*On Hold*)

16 Agitation - Adelaide

I'd spent a good portion of the previous evening staring up at my ceiling and tossing and turning amongst twisted up sheets soaked with sweat. Why was it so hot in this room? What was keeping Brigham up and away from his rooms so late into the evening? And why had I actually nearly given in to Tyne of Vyndoli's half-assed attempt at flirtation?

I groaned when the morning sun filtered through the curtains, tossing my arm over my eyes to shield them from its onslaught. I'd only just fallen asleep and now it was already morning. I contemplated the possibility of sending word that I was feeling unwell, blaming it on my monthly cycle to ensure that neither my brother nor my husband would question my absence, but then my handmaiden strolled through the door and tossed open the curtains and sleep slipped right through my fingers as I was blinded by the morning light.

I sat up slowly, my unbound hair falling around my bare shoulders, and blinked at her. She was already bustling busily about, gathering my gown for the day, another frilly court dress I would undoubtedly loathe once I was in, some cosmetics and a hairbrush. She took one look at my clammy, gleaming skin and frowned before sweeping into the bathing chamber. I heard her filling the tub a moment later and sighed.

I didn't say a word as the woman helped me into the tub and assisted me in bathing, then dressing, but as she sat behind me, brushing through my long curls and arranging them atop my head, I could hold my tongue no longer.

"Are you a virgin?" I blurted and then immediately berated myself for the question as the girl flushed crimson, eyes going wide at the same time she cast them downwards, focusing more on my hair than she ever had. I cleared my throat. I had to try again. "My apologies. I shouldn't have been so blunt. I know that it's a... sensitive subject. But I find myself quite without anyone to truly speak to about it. I promise not to tell anyone your secrets."

The girl only raised her head, watching her hesitantly in the mirror.

"You don't have to tell me," I told her, softly, silently cursing myself again. Of course she wouldn't trust me. Why would she? I had no doubt she'd been treated unfairly by some royal or noble at some point in her life of servitude. And I'd done nothing to earn her trust. "Of course you don't. Let's try this again. Have you ever felt... need? For someone, for a man."

Now, I was blushing as she met my gaze again and her lips spread into a knowing smile.

"A particular man, princess?" she asked, eyes sparkling with mischief. And that was when I remembered I was married.

"Tell no one," I said just as a knock on the door sounded and I nearly leapt from my seat as I called the visitor in. I could have sworn, though, as I turned in my seat to face whoever had come to call, the handmaiden was grinning behind the hand she had clasped over her mouth.

"Princess," Captain Ridley said with a slight bow as he stopped at the threshold of my room. "The King has summoned you to his chambers."

I stood from the chair, nodding back at the handmaiden before exiting into the hall with the Captain. Ridley didn't say much and he seemed to be in a fouler mood than usual. When I tried to question why that was, he only grunted in response, dropping me off at the door to my brother's room just down the hall and turning on his heel to storm off in the other direction. I watched him go, feeling dread pool in the pit of my stomach at the realization that, whatever this was about, I most likely wasn't going to like it.

Acton was pouring himself a glass of water when I entered. He was dressed for the day but his hair was still a mess, sticking up in every direction as he took a sip. When he saw me, he gulped it down and beckoned me in. I closed the door behind me, strolling forward to stop casually in front of him.