Threatened [W&W Book 2]

Chapter 21

Anya moved swiftly through the halls of the castle and found Lady Daphne in the first place she looked.  She was lounging on a sofa in small room by a half played game of chess.  "Lady Theresa is looking for you," Anya said tentatively.

"Where is she?" Daphne asked.

"In her rooms."

Lady Daphne rolled her eyes.  "Did the king take Lord Wildwood off to his meeting too?  That man can be so inconsiderate.  Let's go."

Anya obediently followed Lady Daphne through the halls.  They passed Missus White and the woman barely even acknowledged Lady Daphne's presence.

Lady Daphne pushed open the doors to Lady Theresa's room.  "I don't know how you tolerate her," she exclaimed dramatically.

"Who?" asked Lady Theresa with a raised eyebrow.

"That wretched housekeeper.  She's absolutely rude to anyone who isn't good enough for her precious estate.  Lord Wildwood would fire her if you asked him to."

Lady Theresa shrugged.  "If we fire her, we'll have to replace her.  I'll talk to her about her attitude.  Is she nasty to you, Hanna, Anya?"

Hanna shook her head feebly and Anya searched for adequate words to express their interactions.

Lady Theresa exhaled deeply.  "I'll talk to her later about her attitude.  Where's Thomas?"

Lady Daphne sat down on the chaise opposite her sister.  "He's meeting with the king along with Lord Wildwood and the Wizard Jim.  It seems that our previous adventure brought them into the king's line of sight."  She looked almost as sour as Lady Theresa at the prospect.  Hanna moved towards the back of the room and Anya followed her.

Lady Theresa frowned.  "I don't know why he doesn't get his other subjects to do something."

"It sounds as if loyal subjects are in short supply," Lady Daphne supplied.

"What?" Lady Theresa asked sharply.

"You haven't heard?"

"What haven't I heard?"

"I guess you were tucked away with Lord Wildwood all day so you would not have heard," Lady Daphne said with a bit of a smile.  Lady Theresa turned her face away while Lady Daphne continued in a more subdued tone.  "It's really quite terrible.  Lord Reid was murdered."

"Lord Reid?  Why does that name sound familiar?"

"He's the Duke of Reid.  He came by Waldwick a couple of times when we were young.  He was really old even then.  He had that mop of grey hair.  I only remember now because I was thinking about it all morning.  The memories are still really fuzzy."

"I think I remember him.  Didn't he give us candy that one time?"

Lady Daphne nodded.  "Hmmm.  I think I remember that.  Aunt Francine must have been livid.  Anyway, Thomas tells me that that his lands are in the eastern part of the kingdom and that he was a vital part of the defense.  He was also apparently an unfailingly loyal supporter of the king," Lady Daphne explained.

Lady Theresa looked concerned.  "Do they know who killed him?"

"The rumors say that it was his heir, Heathcliff.  He's like a first cousin once removed or something.  Anyway, Thomas doesn't think it was him though, or at least not him alone.  He thinks that it is a move to destabilize the king," Daphne added helpfully.

Lady Theresa face looked weary when she looked back at her sister.  "And that's why the king summoned them, isn't it?"

"I'm guessing so."