Chapter 426: A Request for Coin

Chapter 425: A Request for Coin

Lyria’s POV

I turned to Duke Valenridge.

"Might you h-help me discover w-where these commoners are t-to be released? And w-whether they are r-released at all?"

He gave a nod. "That presents no difficulty. I shall bring you the intelligence you seek before this undertaking begins."

I nodded, grateful once more for his aid, and then spoke again.

"There i-is one m-more matter," I said. "You m-must take the greatest c-care. I have no d-doubt there shall be g-guards set to watch over t-these commoners."

Duke Valenridge inclined his head.

"You need trouble yourself over that not at all, curious wolf. Leave the matter to me."

I nodded once more, grateful, and then spoke on.

"Though, t-there is a-another r-request I h-have of y-you."

Duke Valenridge regarded me for a long moment.

"You ask a great deal of me," he said, and then sighed. "Very well, curious wolf, I am entirely at your disposal. What is it you require?"

My lips twitched, though I did not quite permit myself the liberty of a smile.

"M-money," I said.

His eyes widened at the request.

"Money?" he asked.

I nodded.

"S-surely you have n-not forgotten that I am a p-princess in name only?" I asked. "That I possess n-nothing whatsoever to g-give unto anyone? T-there is not a s-single property to my n-name. And now I am a-about to undertake a t-task to aid the c-common people, who were so ill-used for a-another’s selfish g-gain."

I paused, then added:

"I w-would have applied to Duke A-Aurelgrave, but you are the w-wealthiest suitor within these palace walls. A small s-sum leaving your accounts w-would scarcely trouble you in the l-least."

Duke Valenridge’s brow lifted.

"And Lucian, you suppose, would be troubled?" he asked, mirth colouring his voice.

I paused, considering this a moment.

"I am n-not entirely certain," I said at last. "But still, it s-seems better that I s-should take from y-you."

He regarded me quietly, amusement swimming in those eyes of his.

"The others are wealthy also," he said. "Benedict, Alistair, Julian — each of them possesses a considerable fortune."

"B-but they a-are not so wealthy as y-you," I told him.

His lips twitched at that, and he shook his head.

"I know not whether that is meant as a compliment or otherwise. How much, precisely, do you require?"

I considered the question a while longer.

"I d-do not know, Your Grace. I should s-simply have you t-take charge of the f-finances of this whole u-undertaking. Every e-expense shall f-fall upon your account," I told him.

He gave me a long, considering look.

"You mean to bleed me dry, do you not?"

I shook my head at once.

"That i-is not possible, Your Grace. I am r-rather certain that all the s-eas within this kingdom d-do not amount to the f-fortune you possess."

Had it been possible, I am certain his eyes should have widened further still. He laughed at my words, his shoulders shaking with it.

"Very well," he said finally. "I shall see to it that you may draw upon it freely. Though I ought to tell you, I customarily receive twice again whatever I invest."

"That p-loses no difficulty, for I a-am quite c-certain your a-aid shall prove to your own b-benefit," I said. "You n-need not fear on that account. You s-shall receive double w-what you g-give."

He tilted his head.

"And how, precisely, do you intend to accomplish that?"

"I d-do not yet know," I replied at once. "But I s-shall know it s-soon enough."

Duke Valenridge regarded me a moment, then laughed once more, and for some reason I found I quite liked the sound of it.

"I suppose, then, that I must place my trust in you," he said.

I nodded.

"I must take my leave now, that I may carry word to my people. But I shall return presently — I did say, after all, that I intended to pass the whole of the day in your company, and the day is not yet spent."

Bridget made a face of disgust at that.

Duke Valenridge turned towards her at once.

"You are perfectly welcome to remain throughout, should you be so concerned for your mistress," he told her.

Bridget composed her expression immediately and bowed with proper respect.

"I dare not presume so far, Your Grace," she said. "Your time with Her Highness, though spent quite privately, is precious."

Debbie spoke up directly after, offering her own bow.

"I should dare, Your Grace, were you to permit it," she said.

Bridget stepped upon her foot and not with any great subtlety.

"Feign disinterest," she hissed sharply.

Debbie winced, but did not retract her statement.

Duke Valenridge only laughed at their antics, and thereafter took his leave of my chamber. I knew he should return before long.

When the door had closed behind him, I turned to my maids and my guards.

"We shall have n-need of provisions," I said. "And word must be s-sent to K-Kathryn, for we shall r-require her aid also. We ought to b-begin our preparations at once."

They each bowed, and one by one filed from the chamber.

Bridget paused at the door, casting one final glance over her shoulder to be certain that Debbie, who limped somewhat, followed close behind. Finding this to be so, she smiled, whereupon Debbie gave chase at once — I had supposed her injured, given the limp, but this certainly was not the case — and Bridget fled from her without delay.

Margery and Pippa departed together, their heads bent close in whispered conversation.

And then only Elara remained.

Zephyr approached me, meowing softly, and I bent to gather him up. He settled against my shoulder, purring in satisfaction.

Elara watched me a moment, then spoke.

"What is your opinion of Duke Valenridge, Your Highness?"

I paused, not having anticipated the question.

"I b-beg your pardon?"

"I asked what you think of His Grace," she said.

I tilted my head, considering it.

"I q-quite like him," I said.