The reverse had a gold unicorn embossed on the heavy paper.
I shouldn’t have been surprised it was Meredith who stepped forward to help. She’d also been the one to initiate sewing time in the ladies’ solar, creating works of art to send to soldiers.
Groggily, I found blankets and clothes from the suite to add to the boxes, and then fetched the Ospreys.
When we arrived in the solar, the duchess was surrounded by baskets and crates overflowing with donations.
“Oh, thank saints!” she cried. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
It wasn’t the usual reaction to my arrival, but I hazarded a smile. “We brought a few items.” Which was silly, perhaps. All these things had been given to us by King Terrell or Tobiah. None of it was ours to give.
But if we didn’t want it or need it and there was a better use . . .
“How kind of you.” Meredith cleared a place on the floor for our boxes. She flitted about the room, placing large, empty crates along one wall. “We’ll fill these for shelters in the Flags. Try to put an even number of every type of item in each crate. There are lists for which shelters are requesting specific items; some we might be able to accommodate, but most are requesting everything.”
“Sounds simple.” I waved for Theresa and the boys to begin. They rushed through the room, each of them taking charge of a group of crates.
“I’m so glad you came,” Meredith repeated, watching the Ospreys work. “I invited a dozen ladies. I don’t know why they aren’t here. They all said they wanted to help.”
“Did they know I’d be here?”
She hesitated, almost like she wanted to lie, but she was incapable of dishonesty. Her shoulders dropped. “I mentioned I’d sent you an invitation.”
“We don’t have to stay if it will affect your time with your friends.”
Meredith waved that away. “It was their decision to put their personal feelings above the needs of our people. I would like you to stay.”
I eyed her askance, searching for hidden agendas, but she appeared genuine.
“It is human nature to avoid what makes us uncomfortable.” Meredith took a pair of slightly worn dancing slippers and placed them in a nearby crate, though what use those would be in the Flags, I wasn’t sure.
“And Chey?” I asked. “What about her?”
Meredith pressed her mouth into a line, thoughtful. “Her absence isn’t surprising, and not entirely without justification. You gave her hope that her friend was alive. You attempted to deceive her, along with the rest of palace society. But she wasn’t honorable, either. She should have confronted you directly, rather than allow the deception to continue. She shouldn’t have tried to humiliate you.”
I’d probably have done the same thing in Chey’s place.
“The others likely followed her lead. That’s something she and I and the others will have to work on later. For now, we have boxes to fill.”
King Terrell had been correct: Meredith was exactly what this kingdom needed.
Heart heavy with guilt, I worked with her for three hours, taking only a short break for lunch.
Carl and Connor held an eating race, both trying to impress Meredith by how quickly they could shovel food down their throats without chewing. Theresa tried to hide a vaguely sick, embarrassed look, and Kevin made fun of the younger boys in a way designed to make Meredith laugh. Of course, she didn’t.
“Where will your wedding be held?” Theresa asked as we finished with the last of the day’s work. “Since the cathedral is”—she glanced at me—“gone.”
I pushed away the memory of last night: Tobiah’s hands on my back, his mouth on mine. . . .
That couldn’t happen again.
“The palace has a lovely chapel.” Meredith didn’t miss a beat as she pulled a lid onto a full crate. “We’ll use that. I prefer a smaller, more intimate wedding anyway. My parents are paying for much of the ceremony, feast, and ball, but with the kingdom in such a state, I don’t think an extravagant wedding would be appropriate.”
“Oh, of course not.” Theresa shot me a look asking how that wasn’t extravagant.
The clock chimed thirteen, and Meredith turned to me. “His Majesty’s first audience is going to start soon. I thought we should be there to offer a pair of friendly faces.”
“Good idea.” I turned to Theresa and the boys. “Lessons or audience? It’s your choice.”
“Lessons.” Kevin had the gleam of infatuation in his eyes. “Audience will be boring. Just a lot of problems and people talking.”
Grudgingly, Carl and Connor agreed, and I sent the three of them back to their apartments with a guard.
“I hope you don’t mind me coming with you,” Theresa said. “Their company gets exhausting sometimes.”
“Saints, I’m sure.” Meredith hooked her arm with Theresa’s. “I’ve never seen sweeter, more hardworking boys, but they do require constant supervision, don’t they?”