Chapter 1 38

CAMILLA’S P.O.V

Christine left very early the next morning and if anyone had any questions about where she was going, they kept it to themselves. She assured us that she would be back as soon as possible and it wasn’t until after she was gone that I realized just how much she helped us with Aurora. Audrey was in school but Christine spent most of her time with Aurora and I didn’t even realize it, carrying around an infant while trying to work was another special kind of dedication.

“Do you want me to take her for a while?” Ryker asked but I shook my head. I was just getting the hang of things and he had a lot more on his plate at the moment.

“I can take her, don’t worry,” I assured him as I looked down at her. “She isn’t as frolicky as I thought she would be. I’ll just put her in a bassinet while I work.”

“Camilla,” there was something in the way that he said my name, something raw and exposed that had me looking up at him.

He didn’t say a single word, he just looked at me and I didn’t realize when I handed her over. He needed her comfort and presence a lot more than I did and I didn’t even notice. His eyes thanked me when his mouth couldn’t and he placed a kiss on my forehead. It was at times like this that I wished I could help Ryker, times like this that I wished he would let me into his head and allow me comfort him the way he does with me but Ryker is nothing if not proud and he loved to do things by himself. He loved having a firm grip on everything including his emotions and it didn’t matter how much I tried and probed, he would only reveal his cards when we were ready.

I didn’t know when my hand touched his bicep in encouragement but I gave him a small smile and turned on my heels. I could feel his eyes on me as I walked away and all I could do was hope that he would be fine. I had to speak to some of the maids and guards to find out what I could about Alara. Christine suggested that it might help.

When I got to my office, the head maid was waiting for me. I didn’t know her name and if she had told me then I had forgotten it. She was an older woman with dark brown hair that was tied low at the base of her skull in a bun. Her eyes were kind but sharp and she reminded me of that kind aunt who would give you cookies but also smack your hand if you were playing too/rough.

“Your majesty,” she bowed the moment she noticed me walk in. “I was surprised to receive your summon. What can I do for you?”

“Please sit,” I waved my hand in the direction of the chair and I saw her hesitate.

Surely, she had figured out that if it was something little, I would have just asked about

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Chapter 13

it but the fact that I asked her to sit meant that it was of importance- at least to me. She sat down and kept her hands clasped in front of her. She wouldn’t look me in the сус but I knew that she was definitely paying attention.

“You were the one who gave Alara a place to work with the maids, right?” I asked and she nodded.

“I was told that it was at the behest of his majesty. If I had known that he didn’t order that then I would have.”

“He did,” I cut her off. “We asked for her to join so she wouldn’t be idle but that isn’t why I am here right now. I want you to tell me about her. There is no one in the entire palace who would know her as well as you do.copy right hot novel pub