Chapter 458: Unbecoming For People of Their Standing

Chapter 457: Unbecoming For People of Their Standing

Lyria’s POV

The common room of the Wandering Hart had grown considerably crowded.

I stood before the whole of our party — the gentlemen, the maids, the valets, the guards — and I confess I took a certain quiet satisfaction in what I was about to say. For I had anticipated resistance, and I had prepared myself to meet it accordingly.

"I m-must propose, that we all c-change," I said, "into garments suitable for l-labour in the f-fields."

A silence followed my words, which I had likewise anticipated, though it was Corvin, predictably enough, who broke it first.

"And what, precisely, do you mean by labour in the fields, Your Highness?" he asked. "Did you not say you intended to procure cleaning supplies and basic necessities for us? What, pray, do you mean by labour — and in the fields, no less?"

I regarded him steadily.

"The only m-means by which such s-supplies might be obtained," I said, "is t-through labour. And yes, in the f-fields."

Corvin opened his mouth to protest further, but I continued before he might speak.

"You know well enough w-why we have come to G-gallowshill, do you n-not, my l-lord? Our purpose is to r-render aid. The p-people of this t-town stand in dire need of it — their f-fields lie ruined, not merely w-with debris, but w-with water besides. Their c-crops are destroyed entirely. These p-people require every measure of h-help we can give them."

"You truly intend that we should work in the fields?" Corvin asked, a glare directed squarely at me. "In fields where crops are planted?"

I very nearly rolled my eyes at that. No — where crops are discarded, surely. He knew precisely what I meant by the fields, yet he put his questions as though wholly ignorant of the matter. I should dearly have liked to answer him as I truly wished, but instead I only nodded, quite calmly, awaiting whichever reaction he should offer — an argument, a protest against a gentleman of his standing labouring in the fields, or...upon further reflection, that was the only reaction I felt certain he was capable of giving.

And, precisely as I had expected, Corvin gave a short, incredulous sound that bore some resemblance to laughter, though it very nearly made my ears bleed to hear it.

"With all due respect, Your Highness, field work is unbecoming of a gentleman of my standing," he said. "Perhaps, since you have but recently come into the position of princess, you are unaware that persons of our rank do not perform such labour. It is meant for those of lesser station."

Had I been engaged in some manner of contest, I daresay I might have won some prize for predicting precisely how Corvin should behave. I confess it was no small satisfaction, to find I could read him so readily.

"My l-lord," I began, "contrary t-to what you may s-suppose, I know p-perfectly well w-what duties fall to persons of our own s-standing. F-for are we not l-leaders? And in all m-matters, the p-people must come first — their aims, their needs. I d-daresay soiling one’s garments need not m-matter in the least."

"With due respect, Your Highness," Marquess Silverwyn spoke up, "I must concur with Marquess Hale. Gentlemen of our standing do not perform field work."

"My garments," Corvin announced, "might purchase this entire town outright. And you would have me labour in them? I cannot, for they are beyond price."

Well, if I am to be perfectly honest, I had no wish for his company regardless, for he should plainly undo whatever plans I had laid.

I nodded slowly.

"I u-understand," I said. "What, then, of your s-servants?"

Corvin pulled a face at this, but Marquess Silverwyn spoke first.

"My valet must remain with me," he said. "But I shall permit my guard to join you."

I nodded, then turned towards Corvin.

"My guard and my valet shall join in nothing whatsoever," he said. "My valet shall assist in dressing me, and it is plain enough my guard must keep me properly guarded. Gallowshill is a strange enough place, after all. I must be protected from whatever dangers may lurk within it."

I did not argue the point.

I merely nodded.

Then I turned to Daniel.

"And y-you?" I asked. "Shall you r-refuse to join as w-well? For, after all, t-this is precisely what you are m-meant to supervise. Surely you s-shall not decline so fine an opportunity to j-join in?"

Daniel swallowed.

I could perceive plainly enough that the man had no wish to join us. His countenance had grown pale, and there was a certain tightness about his jaw that betrayed considerable discomfort.

"Do you mean to refuse your very office now, Daniel?" Duke Thorncrest asked, loudly, a lazy smile upon his face. "After all, were you not the very one who insisted upon following Her Highness earlier? Surely you should not now decline what you were so eager to observe."

Daniel passed a cloth across his perspiring brow.

"Of course I shall follow, Your Grace," he said. "It... it is my office, after all."

Duke Thorncrest nodded.

"I too shall join," he said. "My own territory is one of mountains, and labour of this nature is no stranger to me. Besides, I possess garments that could not buy the whole of this town, which I might well afford to soil."

My lips twitched at that.

"I too have some acquaintance with field work, given the nature of my own territory," Lucian said. "Though I confess I possess rather more money with which to purchase fresh garments, for mine are not nearly so priceless as the whole of this town."

I turned to Duke Valenridge then, fighting back the smile threatening to break free at Lucian and Duke Thorncrest’s words.

But unlike the other two, Duke Valenridge merely stared at me.

"Do tell, Your Highness, why do you regard me so?" he asked.

"A-are y-you willing to j-join us, Your Grace?" I asked him.

"Of course I am joining," he said, a frown upon his face. "As are my own people. You need not ask it of me at all. After all, you and I are rather alike in this."

"A-alike, how?" I asked him.

"As Marquess Hale so kindly insinuated," he said, "it must be noted my family was not born into nobility. Which renders us alike, Your Highness, for neither of us had knowledge of noble bearing from the very outset. I must confess, then, that I know very little of what it means to be a noble — or, as the Marquess would have it, a person of ’our standing.’ For my own people have always done things the common way. Field work is the very least of it."

He paused, then added:

"Besides, should my garments happen to be soiled, Duke Aurelgrave may procure me another set."

I could not help the smile that broke free at that.

Lucian turned to him at once.

"When, precisely, did I ever say I should purchase you one?" he demanded.

Duke Valenridge regarded him, then asked, "You possess money enough, do you not?"

"Yes?" Lucian replied.

"Then the matter is settled. Should you refuse, there remains Duke Thorncrest, and a great many others besides, who might purchase for me instead."

Duke Thorncrest laughed. "Rather than bicker further, we have work before us," he said. "Work which may well result in our purchasing garments for someone else entirely."