Idina nodded. “She’s in one of the guest rooms.” She led Gordon and Ackley upstairs.
“We don’t have any servants in the castle,” Kamden said. “When Leigh and Idina arrived, Father sent the cook away.”
Reid laughed. “Don’t tell me you’ve taken over the duties of feeding everyone?”
Kamden flipped her hair over her shoulder. “I have. And I must admit, I’m quite good at it. If you’d like to have a seat in the sitting room, I’ll make us some tea.”
“Thank you,” Duke Ellington said, kissing his daughter’s cheek. “However, I am going to speak with my soldiers.” He headed toward the kitchen where the back door was located.
“I’ll take you up on that offer,” Reid said. “First, though, I’m going to bathe.”
Kamden nodded. “It’ll take about twenty minutes to prepare anyway.”
“Come,” Reid said to Dexter. “I’ll show you to your room.” She led him upstairs to a guest bedchamber. “You can stay in here.” She pushed open the door, but remained in the hallway.
He nodded.
“Down there,” she pointed to her right, “is the bathing chamber. It’s not nearly as fancy as the ones at your palace.”
“Do you want to bathe first or should I?” His deep voice rumbled through her.
In the dim hallway, she had the sudden desire to brush her lips against his. However, there were too many people nearby to be so bold. “I’ll go first,” she replied, her voice breathy. “That way I can have a few moments alone with my sister before you join us, and she inundates you with questions.”
Instead of smiling as she thought he would, he reached out, plucking the hat from her head. His eyes flashed with intensity. Reid held still, afraid to move.
“Try not to be in there too long. I only have so much self-control.” And with that, he went into his room, closing the door behind him.
Reid let out a long breath. Maybe she should have put him farther away from her own bedchamber.
After a quick bath, Reid dressed in pants and a tunic. She supposed she could have borrowed one of Kamden’s dresses, but she didn’t see the need to worry about what she wore since they were staying in the castle for the rest of the evening.
Reid entered the sitting room, finding Kamden perched on one of the sofas.
Smiling at her sister, Reid poured herself a cup of steaming tea before sitting next to her.
“Father looks exhausted,” Kamden observed.
“He’s been through a lot.” Reid realized her sister had no idea their mother was alive. Setting her cup on the low table, she twisted to face her. “There’s something you need to know.” She wasn’t sure how to reveal the truth in a way that wouldn’t be shocking. Best to just come out with it. “Kamden, when I was in Axian, I met—”
“There you are,” Ackley said as he sauntered into the room. “I remember one of our first conversations took place in this very room.” He slid his hands in his pockets. “This is where you tried to convince me that you were a man. Only, you’d stuffed your pants with a stocking, which had fallen to the side.” He chuckled.
She wanted to ask him if Anna had told him that she was a woman or if he’d figured it out on his own.
“Lady Kamden, I don’t mean to be rude, but I must steal your sister for a moment.”
Rising, Reid followed Ackley to her father’s study.
He closed the door. “I need you to send your sister away.” He left no room for argument.
“You don’t trust her?”
“It’s not safe for her to be near us right now.”
Reid hadn’t considered coming here would put Kamden in harm’s way.
“I’ve already spoken to your father on the matter. Royce is going to escort Kamden to your sister’s house. Which one is the closest?”
“Bailey.” Her sister’s home was less than a day from the castle.
“Tell Kamden to pack. She leaves in fifteen minutes.”
“Even though she knows Idina and Leigh are here?”
He went over to the window, gazing outside. “Yes. It’ll be safer. It’s only a matter of time before Victor or someone else shows up looking for you.”
The thought of Victor or anyone interrogating Kamden didn’t sit well with Reid.
“I know it’s hard,” Ackley murmured. “I know you want to spend time with her. But sometimes, because of the position we are in, the power we wield, we have to do things we may not want to for the betterment of others.”
“I understand.” Reid had already been doing that her entire life.
On her way back to the sitting room, Reid heard Kamden giggling. When she stepped into the room, she found Dexter—with wet hair—sitting across from Kamden. He was telling her some hunting story. Reid hadn’t even known he hunted.
She cleared her throat, capturing their attention. “Sorry to interrupt. Kamden, I need you to go pack. You’re going to Bailey’s house. Now.”
Eyes wide, Kamden stood. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes.” Reid forced a smile. “This is simply a precautionary measure. Nothing to worry about.”
“If I leave, who will cook for you and your guests?”
“We’re not staying here long.”
“Then why send me away?”
“War is brewing. I need you somewhere safe.”
Kamden nodded. “I always enjoy going to Bailey’s. While my niece may be a terror, the watchman’s son more than makes up for any inconvenience.”
Reid pursed her lips, deciding not to reply. Father would never allow Kamden to marry a commoner. Shaking her head, she watched Kamden hurry from the room.
Dexter managed to start a fire in the hearth. The wood crackled as it took. “It’s wise to send your sister away.” He sat back on the sofa.
“You’re agreeing with Ackley again? You must be ill.” She took a seat next to him.
Running a hand through his damp hair, he grinned. “So this is where you grew up.”
“It is.” Suddenly nervous at the idea of revealing so much of her life to this man, she became tongue-tied, not sure what to say.
“I think we should stay here until we have a formal plan in place. Once we know what we’re doing, then we can travel to the City of Buckley.”
“Should I send word to any of my other sisters to tell them to be on guard?” While they’d all married well, none were in positions of importance.
“No.” He stretched his arms along the back of the sofa. “They should be safe. The king is after the dukes. Anna is after the king.”
Kamden came down the stairs, pausing at the entrance to the sitting room. “I’m packed.” She sighed. “It looks like it’s going to pour. I hate riding in the rain.”
“Then I suggest you hurry,” Reid said. Since they didn’t own a carriage, Kamden had no choice but to ride.
Duke Ellington came up behind Kamden. “Change of plans. Instead of Royce, I’ll be escorting Kamden. Along the way, I plan to send messages to my men, readying them for war.”
“Are you ordering them to convene here?” Dexter asked.