Page 57 of Legacy of Glass
“If she’s not able to fit in here,” his mother continued sadly, “then it will make your life very difficult. You already have such a challenging role, and your father I want to help you with our choice of wife, not hinder you. There are other ways we can secure the goodwill of the populace.”
He glanced sideways at his mother. Apparently, it wasn’t Olivia’s well-being that concerned her after all. Not that he should be surprised—she had always been a very doting mother.
“Olivia seems to be adjusting quickly,” he said lightly, hoping his mother wouldn’t read too much into his words.
She turned to examine his face, and he kept his expression neutral. Whatever she saw there must have satisfied her because she nodded and smiled.
“We’ve certainly been fortunate. The situation could be a lot worse. You would never guess she was a servant from her quick wits and level of education.”
Julius frowned. “She wasn’t a true servant, Mother. You know that. She’s a farmer’s daughter, and the niece of a successful businessman. And I’m sure even true servants are sufficiently educated. Sovar requires decent wages to be paid for the job.”
“Yes, yes, but you know what I mean,” his mother said. “I’ve been asking about her history, and she sat in on many of her cousins’ lessons since her arrival in the capital. So that will explain some of it. Servants just don’t have much opportunity to broaden their horizons.”
“Well, she’s certainly having them broadened now,” Julius muttered. “Whether she wants it or not.”
His mother’s words didn’t sit comfortably, and he suspected he knew the reason why. It wasn’t long since she had lamented about his own lack of experience outside the court, a strange mimicry of her words now about servants. Maybe it was Julius who had failed to broaden his horizons.
“In fact, Olivia is doing so well,” his mother continued, oblivious, “that I’ve decided she’s ready for social functions. I’ve already started planning a soiree as her first event. After that she can join court life freely.”
“That’s excellent news,” Julius said. Olivia had been sequestered long enough, and the people of court were growing impatient to properly meet her. “I’ll let her know. Is she in lessons at the moment or in her suite?”
His mother’s brows rose slightly, but she accepted his offer without question. “In her suite, I would assume. She only had morning lessons today. She can join us at the evening meal tonight where it will be just the four of us. A rehearsal, if you will.”
“Thank you, Mother.” Julius threw her a final smile as he disentangled his arm and turned down the corridor that would lead him to Olivia’s suite.
When he glanced back his mother was watching him with an expression he couldn’t read. His quick steps soon took him beyond her view, however, and he was knocking at Olivia’s sitting room door within minutes.
For the second time there was no answer, and he was forced to let himself in. When he was once again greeted with an empty suite, he rocked back on his heels, considering where she might be. She hadn’t had the opportunity to make friends at court yet—unless he counted Cade, and he preferred not to count Cade. It was a beautiful day, however, and his eyes were irresistibly drawn to the row of windows with their view of the grounds below.
He could see no sign of her from the window, but if she had gone for a ride, she would be out of view. He hurried straight for the stables, where the stable master greeted him with good humor and confirmed that Olivia was out riding.
“The mare can be trusted to keep her head in traffic,” the old man remarked, clearly seeking to assuage any concern Julius might feel for his betrothed. Instead, his words awakened the first stirrings of Julius’s alarm.
“Has she gone outside the grounds?” he asked.
The stable master nodded. “Requested an escort as pretty as you please, Your Highness.” He gave a gruff chuckle. “I suspect there’s not many as could gainsay a young thing like her.” He gave Julius a reassuring smile. “I sent one of my steadier lads.”
Julius nodded absently, relieved.
“Did she mention how long she expected to be with her aunt and uncle this time?” he asked, playing with the idea of riding out to meet her.
“Aunt and uncle?” The stable master rubbed his chin. “I don’t know about that. She sounded as if she was planning an excursion into the city.”
Julius’s eyes snapped to the man’s face. “The city? She went into the city with just a groom? No guards?”
The stable master frowned. “She didn’t say anything about guards, Your Highness.” The creases on his brow deepened. “Are you expecting trouble, Prince? You often ride out with a single escort.”
Julius bit back a low growl. The words were true enough, and the situation wasn’t the stable master’s fault. A rush of anger toward Olivia filled him, but he recognized it for what it truly was—fear.
This time he wasn’t going to rush to blame her. She had followed his instructions exactly—he was the one who had failed to be clear about what escorts she would need for what activities. Worst of all, he had a sinking feeling that he knew what had sent her into the city. If she was poking around looking for hardened criminals known to abduct young ladies, he would have liked a whole battalion at her back.
“Saddle my horse as quickly as possible,” he bit out, turning on his heel without waiting for the stable master’s acknowledgment.
Racing across the open yard between the stables and barracks, he snapped out an order for an escort of guards. The sergeant on duty didn’t waste time with questions, bellowing for his chosen men to fetch their mounts.
As Julius mounted his own stallion, he told himself he was probably overreacting. He hoped he was. If Olivia was merely riding around the city for some fresh air, she would probably be fine, even with a single groom. But he didn’t believe his own reassurances. Olivia had been too passionate about finding Marigold for that, and he should have questioned her sudden quiet on the topic.
Riding out of the palace, at the head of two rows of brightly dressed guards, he tried to think where to start his search. In the end, at a loss, he directed his horse toward the city’s central market.
