Page 68 of The Tempest
“As do I,” Elisiana said. “My father is theConte de Pondevedra.”
Astria perked up. “That is Galicia,” she said. “How did I not know that about your father?”
“Much like your royal connections, it never really came up,” Elisiana said, winking at her. “We’ve only known each other a few short days. We cannot know everything all at once.”
“That is true, but I am ashamed I did not ask you more about yourself.”
Elisiana smiled. “Not to worry, my dearest,” she said. “Time will have us knowing everything about each other someday. That is what friends do. But in regards to my father, he has names and titles longer than anything you’ve ever heard. They fill up an entire page.”
She giggled as Astria shook her head. “Not as long as mine.”
“Go ahead,” Elisiana encouraged her. “Tell me your full name. Let us see if it is longer than my father’s.”
Astria laughed softly. “You’ll be sorry you asked,” she said. “My full name is Maria Astria Julia, Princesa Real, Princesa of Beira, Duchess of Braganza, Duchess of Barcelos, Countess of Faria, Countess of Neiva, dowager Duchess of Tarragona, and Countess of Lismore. Now you know. Do I win?”
By the time she finished, both Athdara and Elisiana were laughing. “You have,” Elisiana said. “Your name is longer than anyone’s. Congratulations.”
The three of them laughed all the way into town.
And it was glorious.
Once they reached the village, Elisiana wanted to go to the merchant who carried the thread and other incidentals, and Athdara elected to go with her. She reasoned that it might be better if she wasn’t there when Astria and Maude first sat down to talk, since the situation was rather delicate, so she thoughtthat perhaps she and Elisiana would come to the tavern later. Enough time for any tension between Astria and Maude to ease.
So they hoped.
As her friends headed toward the eastern side of town, Astria walked over to the Black Cock. It was early enough that it wasn’t busy except for the people who had slept in the tavern the night before, so she opened the door to the usual burping and grunts of men who were rising to face the morning. Hobbes was over by the kitchen, supervising the food preparation, but he saw her enter. Having seen her when she had first arrived at Blackchurch, and knowing she was Payne’s wife from Margit, he went to greet her.
“Good morn to you, Lady Lismore,” he said, using Payne’s new title, something the entire village knew about now because word got around quickly. “It is early for you today.”
Astria smiled at the man who had been genuinely kind to her. “I’ve come to see my husband’s mother,” she said. “Can you send word to her and tell her that I am here?”
Hobbes shook his head. “No need, my lady,” he said, pointing to the semiprivate alcove frequented by the Blackchurch trainers. “She is there, breaking her fast.”
Astria could see the chamber and part of the table inside, and just a hint of Maude’s right side. “Thank you,” she said. “Will you please bring me some food as well?”
“A pleasure, my lady.”
Taking a deep breath for courage, because she truly wasn’t sure how this was going to go, Astria headed over the alcove and stuck her head in. Almost immediately, she and Maude made eye contract and Maude froze for a moment, eyes wide.
“Good morn,” she said. “Ye… ye came. I dinna think ye would.”
Astria stepped into the chamber. “I thought it would be rude not to.”
Maude smiled timidly. “Of course,” she said. “Thank ye for coming.”
“You are welcome.”
“Will ye sit?”
Maude indicated the chair at the end of the table and Astria accepted. From that position, she had an unobstructed view of the common room and the entry door, but she wasn’t paying attention to either. Mostly, she was looking at Maude.
She had a few things to say.
“I am hoping you will let me speak first,” she finally said. “May I?”
“Please.”
“Payne thinks you want to smooth what has been a rough relationship between us,” she said. “He said you wanted peace. Is that true?”
