Owen snorted a laugh from behind us.
Krew chuckled. “I think we need to make sure Wylan is safe for a child first, then I am all for it.” He stole me a glance that promised all sorts of things.
My mother decided the best way to break in the new bakery was with tea. After fetching the proper supplies, we were laughing at the table before long. It wasn’t the same table, and the new one was slightly taller than the old one. Even that felt stuffier. Like we were farther away from each other.
“I mean, I only had the other designers look down their noses at me for three-quarters of the time I was at the castle,” Flora laughed.
My mother snickered. “I lost count of the times I heard the phrase,‘Just a baker.’“
I winced. “I still get rude comments made to me or about me, so it is safe to say, particularly should either or both of you live in the castle someday, you have that to look forward to.”
“I rather enjoy being underestimated,” Flora commented as she tucked a stray strand of her red hair into her bun. “It is fun to watch people eat their words.”
For a seamstress, Flora could be quite brutal sometimes. She took her artform seriously. And I couldn’t blame her. They were magnificent.
There was a knock on the backdoor that interrupted our lighthearted chatter.
My mother got to her feet, but Krew put a hand up to stop her. Owen instead walked from his post at the window over to the backdoor.
“It is Mr. Jones,” Owen offered as I heard the door creak back open.
“Please let him in,” I said, rising to my feet. We had planned on seeing him after our trip to the orphanage anyway.
Owen came around the corner and there he was. Beau Jones. A successful man in Nerede for all intents and purposes. He had always been well put together. But today? Today he looked... exhausted. Dark circles looked at home beneath his eyes, and he looked as if he had been pulling at his hair frequently.
He stalled in the doorway. “I just saw the carriage and wanted to stop by to say something.” He paused, swallowing, and then his eyes went to mine. “Thank you for trying to help my son.” He swallowed hard. “Thank you for taking care of his murderer so that I never even have to consider my revenge.”
“I am so sorry,” I gasped out. “I—” I shook my head. “It isn’t fair. Theodore should still be with us.”
“I know. That is also why I have come to ask that you send the other two Nerede men home. Just in case they are considered accomplices by default,” Beau pleaded.
“Of course. Of course I will give them that option,” Krew nodded. “I am not sure if they will listen after recent events, but I will offer it. And do my best to be persuasive.”
Beau gave him a nod of appreciation and turned back to me. “They—” he cut off, his voice cracking. “They say you stayed with him. It was your wedding banquet, yet you stayed with my son.” A tear trekked down the old man’s cheek. “So that my son wouldn’t die alone.” He looked to me, his green eyes full of the torment of grief I knew well. “Is that true?”
I nodded, my own tears joining his. “Of course it is true. He was from Nerede. He’s family.”
Beau gave me a nod as his chin crumpled. “Thank you for that, too. Thank you for staying with him.” And then he lowered himself to a knee. “Long may you reign, Our Princess.”
I rushed over to him, and went to my own knees, throwing my arms around his neck. He must have been in shock, but then in a moment he put an arm across my back and hugged me back.
“I am so sorry I couldn’t save him,” I whispered.
His voice whispered back, “Me too, but I am glad that you stayed.”
A full minute passed and then my mother’s voice asked kindly, “Beau, would you like some tea?”
I removed myself from him and stood, offering a hand up for him. As he stood, Beau’s eyes went to each of us in the room. “I do not mean to intrude or dampen the mood. I just wanted to see Jor—Her Highness before they returned back to the castle.”
Krew let out a sigh. “Please sit and have some tea, Beau. There is something I need to tell you in regard to the disloyal if you feel up to it.”
Beau’s brow furrowed. “More bad news?”
Krew gave a nod. “Afraid so.” He very quickly explained what had occurred that morning, Beau’s eyes going wide with the information.
“I had considered,” he began, “giving it all up. The day that Theodore returned home to us, I wanted nothing more to do with the disloyal.” He paused. “But I must warn Nerede of this.”
I gave him a nod. “None of us are safe anymore.”
