Arutha shook his head. ‘Not at all. We just lack a fitting welcome, that is all.’
The duke smiled and James felt no warmth from that expression. The man was polished and his education was obvious, but at heart there was that brawler James had recognized at once. ‘I’m sorry, Highness, I assumed the gala tonight was to welcome us.’
Anita’s face froze for a moment, then the duke turned to her and said, ‘Highness, I jest. The matter is one of scant importance. We call only out of courtesy to your office and your husband’s. We are bound for the Keshian port of Durbin. From there we will venture into the Trollhome Mountains, where we understand the hunting is both plentiful and exotic. Any small gesture of hospitality on your part is a boon beyond our expectation.’
James saw Jerome go slightly rigid. The fussy ex-squire was a stickler for protocol and the duke had managed to brush aside an apology from Arutha and return an insult, without making it obvious. This man obviously felt no timorousness being in the presence of a Prince.
Anita had been court bred and knew the intricacies of court manners. She knew that anything she said in response to the slight would only worsen her situation socially. She merely inclined her head and said, ‘I suspect the subtleties of the east are lost upon us here in the west. Would you present your companions?’
The duke bowed and turned to the younger of the two men. ‘Your Highness, may I present my nephew, His Highness, Vladic, son of my brother the Archduke, heir to the throne and Crown Prince of Olasko, Prince of the House of Roldem by blood.’ On cue the young man stepped forward and bowed in greeting to the Prince and Princess of Krondor. Then the duke said, ‘And this is Kazamir, my son and heir to my house, also Prince of the House of Roldem by blood.’ The other son bowed effortlessly, with exactly the proper deference for one of his rank before Prince Arutha. Smoothly, the duke turned and said, ‘And this is my daughter, Paulina, Princess of the House of Roldem by blood.’
Arutha nodded greeting. ‘You are all welcome in Krondor.’ He made a small gesture to Jerome, who hurried off to ready guest apartments for the duke and his entourage. James was again forced to concede that Jerome was good at what he did. He had no doubt the rooms would be aired, with wine and other refreshments on hand, and a squad of pages ready to do the duke’s bidding.
Arutha said, ‘We are celebrating a safe return from troubles to the north. You are most welcome to remain for the gala.’
The duke smiled. ‘My thanks. From the reports and gossip we heard along the way from Salador to Krondor, I suspect the troubles were not trivial. A gala is most appropriate to celebrate a Prince’s safe return.
‘I am tired from the journey, however, and will beg your forgiveness and retire. The children, perhaps, might enjoy some music and revelry after our long journey.’
James realized this was not an option, but an instruction. The two youngsters turned to their father and bowed, while the Crown Prince merely looked on for a moment, then inclined his head. Radswil bowed to the Prince and withdrew before Arutha had time to do more than wave agreement. Master de Lacy intercepted the duke and his retainers at the door and escorted them to the guest quarters.
Arutha turned to James and said, ‘Squire James, would you please see that our guests are refreshed?’
James bowed and stepped down the dais and presented himself to the duke’s children with a courtly bow. Keenly aware the introduction of the three youngsters revealed the Olaskans’ formality in matters of rank, James said, ‘Prince Vladic, Princess, Prince, may I offer you refreshments?’
Vladic studied James a moment, his dark eyes narrowing slightly, then he nodded.
With as deft a movement as James had seen, he found himself with the Princess Paulina’s arm through his, before he had even had the chance to offer his hand, a far more courteous gesture. The familiarity almost caught him off guard. ‘Tell me, squire,’ said Paulina, as they moved towards the large table where refreshments were offered, ‘how do you come to serve the Prince, personally?’
James was struck by two things at once. There was something about her, a scent, perhaps an exotic perfume, that caused his blood to race. He suddenly experienced a fierce desire. And that in turn caused what James had long called his ‘bump of trouble’ to start bothering him. Paulina was a pretty enough girl – many would even say beautiful – and easily one of the most attractive at the gala, but James was long used to the wiles of women and she was not so extraordinarily attractive that he should find himself being so irresistibly drawn to her.
He glared at the two young men, saw what he took to be a slight sense of amusement in Kazamir’s expression, and a mask of neutrality in Vladic.
Forcing his attention back to her question, he replied, ‘I was granted my office for service to the crown.’
Ever so slightly she drew away. ‘Oh?’ she said. If a single word could convey volumes of meaning, hers did.
James smiled his most charming smile and said, ‘Yes. You wouldn’t know, of course, being from so distant a land. Before coming to the Prince’s service, I was a thief.’
It took a massive application of will power on the Princess’s part not to push herself away from James. Her frozen smile looked almost painful as she said, ‘Really?’ while behind her, Kazamir suppressed a laugh. Even Vladic betrayed a slight upturn of his mouth, the hint of a smile.
Just then James spied William, who had been stationed by the table of refreshments, and said, ‘Allow me to introduce someone to you, Highnesses.’ He signalled for the young cadet to approach and when William did, James said, ‘Highnesses, I have the honour of presenting William conDoin, son of the duke of Stardock and cousin to our Prince. He’s about to be commissioned Knight-Lieutenant in the Prince’s army.’ He quickly named his companions in order of rank.
Instantly the Princess’s manner changed once more and again she was the vivacious charmer. William’s colour rose and now James was convinced there was something more to this Princess than her more obvious physical gifts. ‘Perhaps the cadet could show me some of the palace, while you entertain my brother and cousin, Squire James?’
James glanced at Swordmaster McWirth, who stood near the dais and with a nod of his head communicated the need for William to act as host to the visiting nobility. The old swordmaster’s expression turned slightly sour, but he nodded and James said, ‘William, I’m sure the Princess would love to see the tapestry gallery and Princess Anita’s gardens.’
As smoothly as an eel slipping through water, the Princess disengaged herself from James’s arm and attached herself to William. ‘And what shall I call you, young knight?’ asked the Princess.
‘Will, Your Highness. My friends call me Will.’
As William led the Princess off towards the tapestry hall, James indicated the food and wine to Prince Vladic, then Prince Kazamir. The Crown Prince took a goblet of wine and sipped it. ‘Very good,’ he said. ‘Darkmoor?’
James nodded. ‘I believe so. Most of our best wines come from there.’
‘You’re not having any?’
James smiled. ‘I’m on duty.’
Kazamir nodded. ‘I understand. By the way, you handled that very deftly. Not many young men would give up my sister’s company so easily.’
‘I can well believe it,’ said James. ‘There’s something about her …’
Vladic studied James a moment, again appraising him, and James could not help but feel again that he was being sized up as a possible opponent. Vladic said, ‘You’re perceptive, squire. My cousin has a need to be admired by a great many men. She employs additional supplements to augment her natural appeal.’
‘Ah,’ said James. ‘Magic. A charm or a potion?’