to corn. We will trade with the Gormu for oil and fruits and the Wenoi for silk and wax. The mines have produced enough coal to take every family through the winter in warmth. Our economy has flourished this summer and we are ready for the winter. It promises to be a bitter one, if we are to believe the soothsayers.”
“The soothsayers promise every winter will be bitter,” Sarea said dryly.
Garrick laughed. “True. But the signs say it as well. The muskrats build the walls of their nests thicker than ever I am told. The bears are large and their pelts thick.”
Sarea made no comment. She was feeling sullen, but she was also trying to think. Surely there was a way for her to turn the king’s attention away from her. Perhaps if she brought up a woman who was far more comely than she was. A woman he had shown interest in.
“How is Lady Dara these days?” she asked.
“Who?” the king asked blankly.
“Lady Dara. You were seated with her at the games,” Sarea persisted.
“Oh. I do not know. Are you friends with her?”
“Not really. But you seemed to be.”
Garrick read her like a book. “Not as close as some would think…including Lady Dara herself,” he said. “I but need to say two words to a woman these days before it is automatically assumed that I am on…intimate terms with her.”
“All the more reason for a woman of good reputation to steer clear of you.”
Her mother kicked her under the table.
Garrick laughed. “True. But I cannot help what other people will think.”
“You can avoid letting people assume such things by avoiding the woman altogether,” Sarea said, making sure to move her shins out of her mother’s reach.
Garrick narrowed his eyes on her. “But then I would never get to know a new and interesting woman.”
“Well, you could get to know her only in the bright light of day in casual conversation with many of her friends about. Surely then you can be satisfied and the lady’s reputation would be safe.”
“I could do that,” he said. Then very directly said, “Do you have many friends at court?”
“No,” she said, feeling victorious. Perhaps he will get the message now that she did not wished to be bothered by him.
“Then we shall have to change that. Tell me the names of some of your friends and I will invite them all to midday’s meal with us tomorrow.”
Sarea didn’t miss the “us” in that remark.
“Oh Sarea has many friends,” he mother jumped in. “Lady Juness, Lady Hycinth, and her very best friend Lady Isobol.”
“Can I ask you to see to it they are all invited to the castle tomorrow?” Garrick asked her mother. Of course her mother eagerly agreed.
“Of course! There now, Sarea, you see? The king is willing to make every effort to see to your reputation.”
So. They had dropped all pretense of what the king was really after.
“Yes mother I see,” she said glumly. “But if the king truly wished to spare my reputation he would avoid me altogether.”
“But then I would not get to hear any more of your thoughts on how my kingdom should be run or how I should be behaving.”
“Sarea!” her mother gasped, horrified to realize that was what her daughter had been doing.
“Oh it is quite all right, Lady Julea. I find your daughter’s opinions refreshing and welcome.”
“I am of the opinion that you should look for inspiration elsewhere. I am afraid I am quite out of suggestions.”
“Sarea!” her mother snapped. Her only alternative since she could no longer reach her daughters shins. “My king, you must forgive my daughter. I’m afraid her father has allowed her far too many liberties.”
“He has made her a forthright and educated young woman, of which, I am afraid, we are sorely lacking in this kingdom. I am of the mind that our daughters should be educated just as thoroughly as our sons.”
This surprised Sarea. “Then…you do not think it will make us discontented with our lot in life?”
“Has it made you
“The soothsayers promise every winter will be bitter,” Sarea said dryly.
Garrick laughed. “True. But the signs say it as well. The muskrats build the walls of their nests thicker than ever I am told. The bears are large and their pelts thick.”
Sarea made no comment. She was feeling sullen, but she was also trying to think. Surely there was a way for her to turn the king’s attention away from her. Perhaps if she brought up a woman who was far more comely than she was. A woman he had shown interest in.
“How is Lady Dara these days?” she asked.
“Who?” the king asked blankly.
“Lady Dara. You were seated with her at the games,” Sarea persisted.
“Oh. I do not know. Are you friends with her?”
“Not really. But you seemed to be.”
Garrick read her like a book. “Not as close as some would think…including Lady Dara herself,” he said. “I but need to say two words to a woman these days before it is automatically assumed that I am on…intimate terms with her.”
“All the more reason for a woman of good reputation to steer clear of you.”
Her mother kicked her under the table.
Garrick laughed. “True. But I cannot help what other people will think.”
“You can avoid letting people assume such things by avoiding the woman altogether,” Sarea said, making sure to move her shins out of her mother’s reach.
Garrick narrowed his eyes on her. “But then I would never get to know a new and interesting woman.”
“Well, you could get to know her only in the bright light of day in casual conversation with many of her friends about. Surely then you can be satisfied and the lady’s reputation would be safe.”
“I could do that,” he said. Then very directly said, “Do you have many friends at court?”
“No,” she said, feeling victorious. Perhaps he will get the message now that she did not wished to be bothered by him.
“Then we shall have to change that. Tell me the names of some of your friends and I will invite them all to midday’s meal with us tomorrow.”
Sarea didn’t miss the “us” in that remark.
“Oh Sarea has many friends,” he mother jumped in. “Lady Juness, Lady Hycinth, and her very best friend Lady Isobol.”
“Can I ask you to see to it they are all invited to the castle tomorrow?” Garrick asked her mother. Of course her mother eagerly agreed.
“Of course! There now, Sarea, you see? The king is willing to make every effort to see to your reputation.”
So. They had dropped all pretense of what the king was really after.
“Yes mother I see,” she said glumly. “But if the king truly wished to spare my reputation he would avoid me altogether.”
“But then I would not get to hear any more of your thoughts on how my kingdom should be run or how I should be behaving.”
“Sarea!” her mother gasped, horrified to realize that was what her daughter had been doing.
“Oh it is quite all right, Lady Julea. I find your daughter’s opinions refreshing and welcome.”
“I am of the opinion that you should look for inspiration elsewhere. I am afraid I am quite out of suggestions.”
“Sarea!” her mother snapped. Her only alternative since she could no longer reach her daughters shins. “My king, you must forgive my daughter. I’m afraid her father has allowed her far too many liberties.”
“He has made her a forthright and educated young woman, of which, I am afraid, we are sorely lacking in this kingdom. I am of the mind that our daughters should be educated just as thoroughly as our sons.”
This surprised Sarea. “Then…you do not think it will make us discontented with our lot in life?”
“Has it made you
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