7

The kitchens were huge and immaculate. Entire rooms were devoted to baking, butchering and processing vegetables. There were sinks and stoves in each room, as well as various kinds of pantries and cold storage. The staff was polite, though they only stopped when directly addressed. It was hard to believe the amount of food they processed in a day.

“The Citadel is vast. The kitchens supply all the food for our garrison, my personal household as well as their own families,” Jayems explained. “There are many young apprentices here, learning how to provide for their own families. It’s not just a kitchen, it’s also a classroom.”

“Wow.” Wiley thanked a young man who handed her a tiny tart, then took a bite. Warm citrus curd and buttery shell melted on her tongue. “Mm! Where do I sign up?”

Jayems grinned. “You’re welcome to take lessons here in the kitchens, or I’ll be glad to arrange a private tutor.”

Unwilling to acknowledge she’d be there long enough to attend the lessons, she made a noncommittal sound.

As she snacked her way around the kitchens she acquired knowledge of many new foods, and of a surprising array of familiar ones like carrots. Food being a subject dear to her heart, she couldn’t keep from asking questions.

“We brought many seeds and plants when we came; others are natives to this planet. Some of the plants didn’t thrive, but others loved their new home.” He gestured to a monstrous parsnip on a cutting board.

“Tell me Brussels sprouts didn’t make it,” she begged.

“Never heard of it,” he said with a smile.

“Sweet.” Even drowned in cheese sauce, she’d never been able to stand Brussels sprouts. Martian heads, they used to call them.

He led her out another door and into a formal herb garden, smiling at her exclamation of pleasure. “The pride of our kitchens,” he said, gesturing to the knot garden. “We have fifteen varieties of thyme alone.”

“Cool.” She bent to sniff a hedge. “Mint! I love this stuff in cocoa.”

The herb garden led into the orchards. It was long past noon by the time they’d toured the vegetable gardens, greenhouses, seen the berry plot and done a quick walk through the livestock area. Tired, but more relaxed than she’d been that morning, she let him lead her back toward the Citadel.

They’d nearly reached the entrance when they met up with a group of three young ladies and a matronly sort. One look at Jayems and the young ones were all shy smiles and giggles.

Wiley rolled her eyes. Those girls were around her age and old enough to have more sense. Granted, Jayems was good looking in a brutal sort of way, but anyone could see he would be a totally domineering husband, completely unsuited to any woman with a brain.

It didn’t stop the giggling trio, who looked like they spent half their day preparing to wow men. Their hair trailed in elaborate braids down their backs, as if a maid had spent at least an hour on each of them. They wore subtle makeup, expertly applied, and their perfect nails had surely never seen hard labor. Grecian-style gowns of flowing silk adorned perfect bodies, and all of the girls were pretty.

Wiley disliked them on the spot.

Smiling in a sweet, demure way that had never come naturally to Wiley, the girl with the light brown hair greeted them. “My lord. It’s good to see you again.” A light shown in her blue eyes as she looked at him. “Who is your guest?”

Jayems looked at the girl gravely. “Good afternoon, Lady Nilla. May I present Lady Rihlia, daughter of Lady Rhapsody and Lord Crewel Sotra.”

The smile froze as if she’d been hit by ice-cold water. Gradually the light drained out of Lady Nilla’s eyes. She stared at Wiley for a long moment and said hollowly, “The pleasure is mine, my lady.”

“Wiley,” Wiley interjected. “My name is Wiley.”

Jayems ignored her. “This is Lady Carr, Lady Nilla’s mother. Her companions are Lady Stair and Bella, daughter of the chief cook.”

“Pleasure,” Wiley said politely.

Lady Carr, a slightly plump woman with too much jewelry, looked Rihlia over quickly and then stared reprovingly at Jayems. “I’m sorry for any discomfort, my lord. We had no warning.”

“It happened quickly. Lady Rihlia was only discovered last night,” Jayems answered, his tone even.

Lady Nilla looked down and seemed to be blinking rapidly.

Wiley was no slouch. Nodding to them all, she said, “If you’ll excuse me, I have to use the ladies room.” They were in the path, so she detoured around them. She got two strides before Jayems’s hand closed around her elbow.

She glanced at him. “Don’t you have things to talk about here?” It was obvious his girlfriend had just received a blow. He ought to at least explain things to the poor girl.

He looked back at the women, who were no longer smiling. Lady Nilla looked ready to break down. He spoke gently to her. “If you’ll return to your apartments, I’ll meet you there in a few minutes. I must escort my lady to her room.”

Wiley shook off his grip as soon as they’d stepped into the Citadel. He wouldn’t turn loose one second sooner. “Hey, if you need protection from a woman, don’t be looking my way. I’m not now, nor will I ever be, your lady.”

“It was a figure of speech.” He looked distracted.

“Sure it was. Let me guess; Lady Nilla was in the picture before I turned up. No problem. Just tell her that I have no intention of marrying you. She’s welcome to you, with my compliments.” She ignored his silence. She was feeling flippant. It was her best defense against feeling guilty. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Jayems had messed up his life by dragging her here. If he’d just left her alone, they’d all be happy now.

They reached his rooms and he stopped inside. He looked at her for a moment, then stared out the window, his gaze unfocused.

With a shrug, she tuned him out and went to her room. She shut the door, though curiosity nipped at her. What would he do now?

To her surprise, some of her gear from the campsite had been left in her room. Thrilled to see her backpack, she rifled through it and came up with her MP3 player and spare battery pack. She clutched it like Monty with the Holy Grail and sent up a prayer of thanks as she plugged in.