— CHAPTER NINE —

  A Fracture as Fine as Hair

  I paced from one end of my sitting room to the other, counting steps to pass the time. Twenty-three from the bookshelf to the window. Nineteen if I cut diagonally past the settee. The clock on the mantle ticked on and on. Where was Elara? She should have brought word from Raphael by now. Or at the very least, she should have come to help me dress for breakfast. Something wasn't right.

  I glanced at the clock again. Nearly noon. My stomach twisted, not from hunger but from anxiety. Elara had never been late before - not once in all her years of service. Had something happened? Had someone discovered Raphael's plan?

  Enough waiting. I straightened my morning dress - which I'd had to put on myself, quite poorly - and marched out into the hallway. Two guards stood at attention, bowing as I passed.

  "Has anyone seen my handmaiden this morning?" I asked.

  "No, Your Majesty." one said. "Would you like us to send someone to find her?"

  "No, thank you. I'll look myself."

  I descended the grand staircase and took the servants' corridor that led to their quarters. A few maids and footmen passed, eyes widening when they saw me. They scurried into hasty bows and curtsies.

  "Have any of you seen Elara today?" I asked a cluster of kitchen staff carrying linens.

  They exchanged glances. "No, Your Majesty." one finally said. "Haven't seen her since yesterday."

  "Is that unusual?"

  More glances. A shrug. "We don't all keep the same schedules, Your Majesty."

  I thanked them and continued down the narrow hallway. I passed Elara's door and hesitated. Would it be an invasion of privacy to look inside? Before I could decide, a stern-faced woman I recognized as the head housekeeper approached.

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  "Your Majesty! This is most unusual. Is there something you need?"

  "I'm looking for Elara. She didn't come this morning."

  The housekeeper's face creased with concern. "I haven't seen her either. Perhaps she's visiting her family? I'll send someone into the city."

  "Thank you. If you do see her, tell her I've gone to breakfast. I'm sure Lady Marigold will be wondering why I'm late."

  I made my way to the dining room. Even if Elara were out of the palace, she would have sent word. And if Raphael had contacted her with a plan... would she have disappeared without telling me? It made no sense.

  The dining room was surprisingly empty when I entered. No Lady Marigold at all, just the head butler waiting near the sideboard.

  "Your Majesty." he bowed. "Shall I have the chef prepare your breakfast now?"

  "Yes, please." I said, taking my usual seat. "Where is Lady Marigold this morning?"

  "She had some correspondence to attend to, Your Majesty. Quite urgent, it seemed."

  I nodded. "And have you seen my handmaiden today? Elara?"

  Something flickered across his face - so briefly I almost missed it. "I'm afraid I have not, Your Majesty."

  "She hasn't been herself lately, has she? Do you know if something's troubling her?"

  "It would not be my place to speculate on the personal matters of the staff, Your Majesty."

  "Of course not. But you do notice things, do you not?"

  "The girl has seemed... preoccupied of late. But many of the younger staff are prone to distractions. Hormones and energy and the ilk."

  I recalled what Elara had mentioned about her father - injured, unable to work, her mother struggling to support him. Had something happened with her family? Could it have been too urgent to leave a note?

  A server arrived with a tray of food. I wasn't hungry but began eating anyway, pushing the food around my plate more than consuming it.

  The doors burst open, and Ariella swooped in, her face flushed with excitement. Her hair was coming loose from its pins, as though she'd been running.

  "Lavinia! There you are!" She rushed to my side. The butler cleared his throat but withdrew discreetly when I waved my hand.

  "What is it?" I asked.

  Ariella grabbed my hand. "I've done it! I've convinced Father to approve a provincial tour!"

  "What?"

  "You said you wanted to see beyond these walls, to visit the cities and meet your people." She squeezed my hands. "Well, now you can! Father has agreed that an official royal tour would be excellent for morale!"

  I stared at her, taken aback. "That's... wonderful!" I wasn't sure what to make of this. Could she have earnestly argued with her father on my behalf? I suppose it was possible she was honestly worried about my well-being in the city. "When would we leave?"

  "In two weeks' time. Commander Tiberius is already working on security arrangements." She tugged me to my feet. "Come on! Let's go plan what we'll do in each city. Oh, you're going to love Solstice Bay - the view from the castle walls is breathtaking!"

  I let her pull me along through the halls, upstairs to my study.