I glanced at my father.
“Do you need to go somewhere too?” I asked.
“Yes. I need to speak to three of the Councilors. I believe they are more inclined to side with us, than the rest of the Council, and I’d like to bend their ear while I can. We only have three days, after all.”
I grimaced out a smile.
“And I suppose I’m still on house arrest?” I asked even though I already knew the answer.
Even though the arrest warrants had been retracted. And my name had been cleared...
My father frowned.
“Technically, no, you’re not,” he said. “But I would prefer you don’t go anywhere without one of us, Ava.” He glanced at Tavlor, who nodded in agreement, then looked back at me. “Even into the town. There are too many people who will be jealous of who you are, and worried too. It’s too uncertain a time for you to be safe. Especially since you haven’t made a decision yet.” He paused. “I know you want to explore, and it’s not fair to keep you locked away, but I think it’s safer if you stay here. I hope you understand.”
I nodded. “You’re probably right.”
I didn’t know what people would do to an illegitimate heir that just popped up out of nowhere.
Look what Mallory had done, turning me in to the Council, and she’d allegedly been my mother’s friend!
“I’ll rest for the afternoon,” I told them. “I probably need it.”
Some alone time might be good. I’d been craving a good conversation with my mother. I missed having the necklace on. I missed knowing she was with me if I simply touched the necklace with my fingertips.
“I won’t be long.” Tavlor said, coming over to take my hand and kiss my knuckles. Every part of my body tingled. He had that sort of effect on me. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to it.
“Me neither, Ava. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” my father said as he stood.
“Don’t worry about me,” I said. “I have some sleep to catch up on, and I might write my sisters a letter, or something.”
The men nodded and headed out the door.
I spoke an enchantment and locked the door behind them.
Tavlor had put a lot of work into the guards around this room, and my bedroom, but I still hated the fact I had so many enemies. People like my step-mother still wanted me dead.
Speaking of mothers....
I piled my plate with a couple of finger sandwiches and a quiche and headed into my bedroom. Now that I could eat freely without talking, I wanted to get as much in my stomach as I could. The next time we traveled, I wasn’t certain when I’d be able to eat so I wanted to do as much of it as I could now.
I loved the feel of the room my father had created for me. The large bed, the rugs underfoot, the photos I’d put up. The books lining the shelf and my jewelry box, sitting by my bed.
Everything I needed.
I walked over to the bedside table and opened the lid of the jewelry box. My eyes focused on the necklace and I sagged my shoulders in relief. There it was. I picked up the gold locket and sighed. I still hadn’t told my father about my mother’s essence being trapped in this locket.
I’d never allowed anyone else to wear the necklace, or try to talk to her, except my sisters. And the magic had failed at that time.
Part of me was worried that it wouldn’t work for him either, that I would lift his expectations, and then he’d be disappointed.
Another part of me was strangely possessive of the necklace. I didn’t want to share my mother and her thoughts with anyone else. But after seeing how much her journal had affected him, when this was all over, I would give the necklace to my father.
He needed to talk to my mother more than I did. Well, at least, he would in the future.
Today, I needed her.
I lifted the locket and placed the necklace over my head, then lay down on my bed. I groaned as my tired body relaxed into the soft mattress and I got comfortable on the pillow. My eyes began to droop even though I wasn’t tired. I picked at some of the food, but the effort was halfhearted at best.