The Ducal Detective (Ducal Detective Mysteries Book 1) Page 2

  “You’re not a bother, you loon. Goodness, I just don’t know what I can do to make it all better.” Arnie brushed aside pieces of escaped hair, wiping tears and makeup off the duchess’s cheeks.

  “Just don’t leave me, at least not tonight.” Jax grasped the woman’s arms, pulling her close.

  Curling up around her trembling body, Arnie clutched her dear friend, singing sweet whisperings until the duchess was fast asleep.

  Chapter Two

  “Remind me never to drink any Hestian wine ever again. My head feels like I’ve been crushed by horses.” Jax moaned, rolling away from the sun’s streaming rays assaulting her through the crack in her bedroom curtains.

  “How about you remember to eat some food first, instead?” Arnie pulled her off the rumpled bedsheets, forcing her aching body to attention. “If I had known you wouldn’t be able to take care of yourself, I would have stayed by your side.” Sounding miffed and amused at the same time, Arnie motioned for the ducal maid, Uma, to enter the chamber and help Jax dress for the day. “I’ll wait out in the sitting room.”

  Jax nodded, still feeling as though she were asleep underwater. Uma, a quiet, petite girl with mousy brown hair and the brown eyes of a commoner, quickly removed the coronation gown, stripping the duchess down to her britches. A quick sponge bath ensued, for Courtier Jaquobie had informed Arnie earlier that morning that they would be receiving a delegation from the duchy of Pettraud, leaving Jax no time to recover from the cruel effects of the wine.

  “Uma, I’d like a bath drawn for me before bed tonight, if you will. Even if it is rude to leave my guests without a hostess.” Jax knew that the change in plans was not the girl’s fault, but she couldn’t keep her dismay in check.

  “Of course, Your Grace. I will have it ready at a moment’s notice.” Uma squeaked meekly, busying herself with securing fresh undergarments. “I’ve prepared the Pettraudian blue gown for today’s visit.”

  “Seems fitting enough. Although leave the corset off it this time. It makes me feel like I’m a collared dog.” Jax requested, letting her maid go to work on dressing her. The gown was really quite lovely, made of Pettraudian silk. It was more form-fitting than she normally wore, but with her curves, it was stunning. The periwinkle blue accented her purple eyes all the more, and as she appraised herself in the mirror, she complimented the striking figure she resembled. Joining Arnie out in her private sitting room, she smirked lightly. “Do I look like the disaster I feel inside my head?”

  Arnie laughed. “If only we all could look as divine as you do with a hangover, poppy.” She approached Jax with a plateful of tantalizing pastries. “I figured you might need some of this to sop up the wine in your stomach.”

  The duchess lunged at a cherry popover, stuffing nearly the whole thing into her salivating mouth. “Oh my goodness, this tastes like a million gems,” she mumbled through stuffed cheeks.

  Chuckling, Arnie placed the tray onto the tea table. “Ever the most elegant girl in the room.”

  Jax flopped down on a red and gold sofa, motioning Arnie to take one of the armchairs. “Uma, will you come get us once the delegation has arrived. I don’t need Courtier Jaquobie being the one to greet them.”

  “As you wish, Your Grace,” Uma bowed lowly, taking her cue to exit the room, leaving the two women alone.

  “So, before I rudely disintegrated last night, you were about to tell me about you and Hadrian,” Jax dove right back into their conversation, grabbing another popover.

  Arnie’s face flushed at the mention of Hadrian’s name. “Oh goodness, Jax, it might be best to wait until after you’ve received the delegation. Jaquobie says this visit is extremely important, a test, if you will, as to how the duchy will continue on under your leadership.”

  “Posh, forget Jaquobie. If anything, if you don’t tell me now, I’ll be so distracted for the rest of the day that I’ll likely start a war between us and Pettraud.” Jax waved a hand at Arnie’s concerns, continuing to munch on the tray of pastries.

  “Very well, then,” Arnie sat up primly, wiping her dress nervously. “Hadrian did ask me when I thought would be the right time to get engaged. He wanted to know when I may be able to leave the duchy’s service, after only just becoming your lady-in-waiting.”

  Although she did not want to appear shaken, Jax felt herself stiffen at the thought of Arnie disappearing on her.

  If she sensed the growing tension, Arnie ignored it and continued on, “I told him that while it would be a dream to become his wife, there was no way on this green earth that I could possibly leave my post now. I told him that I would like to stay here at least a few more months.”

  “A few more months?” Jax exclaimed, her shock overshadowing her concern. “Peach, you know I love you more than anything and never want you to go, but making that man wait a few months might spell disaster! What if his uncle makes him marry someone else? What if someone else comes here and asks for your hand? If it’s advantageous for Saphire, you know I wouldn’t be able to say no.”

  Arnie smiled sadly at her duchess, her face pale with remorse. “I know, and if any of those things were to happen, I would accept it. It is not in the best interest of the duchy that I abandoned it now.”

  “I hope you don’t mean to abandoned me now.” Jax’s tone was cooler that she intended.

  Arnie threw her hands up in sudden exasperation. “Well of course I mean you, poppy. What kind of friend would I be if I left the woman I love like a sister to figure this whole mess out on her own?” Jax was surprised to see tears in her friend’s golden eyes. “I can’t leave you now, Jax. And it’s not because I feel obligated to stay and help. It’s because I love you and I loved your parents as if they were my own, and I don’t want to leave.”

  Jax dropped her pastry and rushed over to Arnie, scooping her up in her arms. “Oh, dear one. You know that I want you by my side for as long as you will have me. I just don’t want you throwing away your own happiness because of me. I will be all right. I will, I promise.”

  “I know you will be. And as much as I care for Hadrian, right now, my place is with you, poppy.” Arnie whispered into Jax’s shoulder, burying her face into the duchess’s gleaming hair.

  Pulling away from the embrace, Jax looked excited. “Did Hadrian leave this morning?”

  Arnie nodded. “He left at the top of the hour. Why?”

  Jax paced the length of the room. “Send him an invitation on behalf of the duchy. Invite him as our guest next week. I have an idea.”

  Arnie gave her a questioning look, but Jax feigned sewing her lips shut. “All in due time, my pet.”

  Arnie’s requests for more information were interrupted by Uma’s reappearance. “The delegation has been spotted, Your Grace. Jaquobie is in a meeting with the town courtiers, so he has not been alerted of Pettraud’s arrival.”

  “Excellent work, Uma. Thank you. Please make sure the throne room is in order, whilst I receive our guests in the courtyard.” Jax hurried across the sitting room, shaking her dress free of bread crumbs. “Lady Aranelda, you will join me once you have sent a formal invitation to Earl Crepsta.”

  Arnie bowed her head in understanding and left the chamber with Uma, leaving Jax a rare minute alone to compose herself. She knew nothing about who was traveling with the delegation, only that Courtier Jaquobie had received word from a page this morning that the duchy’s representatives would be stopping by on their way home from a tournament with neighboring Mensina to pay their respects. It surprised Jax that Mensina did not postpone the grand knights’ tournament, with the death of a Mensina daughter being mourned. Bitterly, she realized her grandfather was never one to let love and emotion get in the way of things. The more she thought about it, her mother would have been mortified if tradition was uprooted over something as trivial as her death. Amaryllis Mensina always put duty before her own needs, that was one thing always certain.

  Surveying her figure one last time in the mirror, Jax made sure her crown sat secure
ly on her golden hair before leaving her chambers. She marched to the luscious courtyard, taking her place at the top of the sandstone steps to await her guests. The gardens looked impeccable in the late morning light, purple flowers blooming everywhere. She stood proudly, knowing that her castle did not look the least bit affected by death. If anything, the warm spring air made it appear more vigorous than ever.

  A horn trumpeted in the distance, signaling the Pettraud delegation’s arrival at the lower gates of the city. Perched at the top of a small mountain, the pristine palace overlooked the city of Sephretta, the capital of the duchy. No doubt, the delegation would admire the bustling market and busy banks, for Sephretta was one of the wealthiest cities in all the duchies. Her father’s strong trade agreements over the past few years caused the economy to boom, something Jax was particularly proud of because she was instrumental in making it happen. If anything, her time abroad had trained her in the art of negotiation, and she’d often put her skills to the test arranging these contracts on behalf of her father.

  She waited, soaking in the sun, as the delegation lazily made its way to the gates of the courtyard. They obviously did not expect the duchess herself to greet them, for she noticed the group scramble to attention as they walked into the gardens. “Your Grace, we humbly ask your apology if we have made you wait.” A pudgy man, likely a courtier, came to the front of the column and bowed lowly, his face red with embarrassment.

  “No apologies necessary. The sun’s rays treated me nicely, especially after being cooped up all day due to the coronation activities.” Duchess Jacqueline smiled genuinely at the man, hoping to relieve him of unneeded stress.

  “Thank you, Your Excellence. On behalf of all of Pettraud, I extend our greatest sympathies for your sudden loss. Your parents were good friends of the duchy.” The man straightened, regaining his composure.

  The duchess nodded, hesitant as to how to address the man speaking to her. “I hope to continue that friendship, Sir?”

  “Oh goodness, how silly of me. I am Courtier Rence, Your Grace. I serve under the High Courtier of Pettraud.”

  “Welcome to Saphire, Courtier Rence. I understand you are traveling home from the Mensina tourney?” Jax skillfully surveyed the rest of the group, made of up various knights. Rence seemed to be the lone statesmen among them.

  “Yes, Your Grace. The Knights of Pettraud represented their duchy well. Several of our men took home a trophy.” Rence wiped sweat from his balding head, growing red under the light of the sun.

  “Then we shall have a celebratory feast to honor their greatness,” Jax looked over the knights assembled, knowing that her own guards were watching from hidden spots all around and above the courtyard. “Please, do come inside and recover from your journey.”

  “That would be most excellent, Your Grace. We are still waiting for one more in our party to arrive.” Rence sputtered, looking back through the gate.

  As if on cue, a well-crafted carriage rolled through the entryway, pulled by two blindingly white horses. Jax stiffened, wondering who would be traveling in such lavish style on the way home from a knight’s tournament.

  “If I may, Your Grace, introduce Lord Pettraud.” Courtier Rence bowed, this time on his knees, as the carriage door swung open and a figure emerged.

  Jax sucked in her breath, taking in the form approaching her. Lord Pettraud was dashingly tall, his pale purple eyes glittering in the sun. His ceremonial tunic clung to his strong chest, his arm muscles rippling underneath the expensive fabric. Pushing his dark, curly hair away from his warm, friendly face, he smiled and bent at the waist before the duchess. “Greetings, Your Grace. I have heard tales of your beauty from my brothers, but I have never had the fortune to gaze upon one so fair. Their words did not do you justice.” His voice was a soothing baritone, sending shivers down her spine.

  Hoping her Duchess of Saphire mask was well in place, Jax extended her hand for a kiss. Lord Pettraud took it tenderly in his own, bringing her fingertips to his lips with almost eye-rolling swagger. “I am pleased to welcome you to our humble duchy, Lord Pettraud. Do come inside.” Jax turned on her heel and led the intriguing party into the grand hall.

  “Forgive my surprise at being greeted by the duchess, Your Grace. We did not expect to see you up and about the castle.” Lord Pettraud, rather imprudently, walked directly beside her.

  Jax turned her face towards his, raising her eyebrows. “And why did not you expect to see me in my own home?”

  Lord Pettraud’s face suddenly reddened, knowing he’d made a fatal error. “I simply meant, well, with the death of your parents, we did not expect you to be in the state of mind to receive visitors.”

  Knowing he was coming from a place of concern, Jax replied with a light tone. “I believe your father received my grandfather’s delegation the day after his dear brother passed away. I do not remember my grandfather being surprised to see your father up and about.” She spoke curtly, internally repulsed by the double standard.

  Lord Pettraud’s face flushed even more. “I did not mean to suggest anything, Your Grace.”

  She smiled tightly. “While my parents’ passing was a devastating blow, please do not assume that I am weak and at the mercy of my emotions.”

  Lord Pettraud shook his head, clearly overwhelmed with the direction their conversation had taken. “Of course not, Your Grace.” He fell silent as she continued to lead them towards the open throne room. “Please, I have completely made a fool of myself and my duchy. Could you perhaps give me a chance to reintroduce myself?”

  Not immediately answering, Jax strode to her political throne, different than the one she had sat in last night in the ballroom. Her political throne, whilst still made from gold, was much simpler, yet still imposing in its size and elegance.

  “Your Grace?” Lord Pettraud asked again.

  “Is this your first royal delegation, Lord Pettraud?” Jax responded, draping one arm on the arm rest.

  At this question, Lord Pettraud’s face broke out in a sheepish grin. “Is it that obvious?”

  His boyish candor made her chuckle. “Just a bit, I’m afraid.”

  The knights and Courtier Rence shuffled into the throne room, standing a respectable distance to allow the two ducal lines to speak in private. Looking back at his men, Lord Pettraud shook his head at the absurdity of the moment. “I’m the brawn, not the brains, one might say. My father thought that it was time I assume some responsibilities other than jousting for the entertainment of the kingdom. Hence, he thought that I couldn’t possibly mess up a congratulatory visit regarding your new title. But of course, who wants to offer congratulations to a person who’s just lost their family?”

  Jax wasn’t sure if he was talking to himself or to her, so she didn’t reply. She appreciated him sharing his opinion at his father’s rather callous request. She certainly did not feel like being congratulated.

  Turning back to make eye contact, Lord Pettraud bowed again. “I’d like to introduce myself again, Your Grace. While I am the seventh son of Duke Pettraud, I am known to my friends as Perry. I hope you will come to think of me as a friend.”

  At the sincerity in his light lavender eyes, Jax smiled. “Welcome, Sir Perry, to the duchy of Saphire. I am Jacqueline Arienta Xavier, Duchess of Saphire, but my friends call me Jax.” She winked at him, a shared connection from their similar upbringings quickly taking root. She admired the man’s humble nature and the ability to admit he was wrong.

  “Jax.” Perry simply confirmed with a nod, motioning to Courtier Rence to join them. The courtier puffed out his chest, readying himself for an audience with the duchess. “I’ll let this man speak on behalf of my homeland, for fear of causing a war between our nations. Besides, he’s the one who receives all my father’s missives, not me.”

  Jax laughed, thinking about the comment she’d made to Arnie this morning. “Please, before we do anymore conversing, let us all have a refreshment.”

  Hearing their cue, the palace staff
appeared from the shadows bearing water, juices, fruits and cheese, the worn-out knights eagerly drinking and stuffing their faces with the goods. Jax tried to restrain herself, but cheese was always her downfall, especially when fighting the remnants of a hangover. She demurely nibbled on bits of cheese, and had a sneaking suspicion that only Perry detected just how many bits of cheese she’d hidden in the folds of her skirts. Amidst the refreshments, Arnie appeared by Jax’s side, taking in the scene. She nudged Jax impishly, nodding her head in the direction of Lord Pettraud, her eyebrows raised suggestively. Just because she was in love with Hadrian, didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy the sight of other attractive men.

  “He is quite gorgeous, isn’t he?” Her lady-in-waiting mumbled from the corner of her mouth.

  Jax giggled, quickly filling her in on Perry’s disastrous first impression. “But I will give him credit for owning his behavior entirely. I can only imagine the horror Jaquobie would have expressed if he had been present.”

  “As I indeed should have.” From out of nowhere, the slimy courtier appeared at her other side, his face a mask of displeasure. “Why was I not informed of the delegation’s arrival?”

  “Because I am perfectly capable of greeting my guests on my own. Don’t worry, Courtier, I have not forgotten the endless lessons you have burned into my memory on how to behave like a lady,” Jax said through gritted teeth, feigning a smile towards Courtier Rence.

  Taking this as his signal to approach, Rence reached the throne before Jaquobie could snap a retort. “This must be the legendary High Courtier of Saphire. Courtier Jaquobie, I am honored to meet you, sir.” Rence reached out a hand for an eager shake.

  Rolling her eyes discreetly while Jaquobie greeted his fan, Jax turned to Arnie. “Legendary? There will be no living with him now.”