CHAPTER SIXMordhile seemed unusually cheerful the following morning, coming to the table with her veil held in its place with a silver pin.
She chided Konstantina for not having dressed her hair and even cautioned her against a second piece of bread and honey in case she grew fat.
“Still,” she rambled on, “that is hardly likely with such a frame like yours. I noticed your trim ankles last night when you tripped outside the pavilion.”
It was a pointed reference to Prince Gregor and Konstantina stiffened.
The Countess, knife poised mid-air then stared the length of the table at her Ward and asked,
“Do you think that Gregor is a handsome man?”
Konstantina toyed with her spoon.
“How could any woman think otherwise, cousin?”
“How indeed!” The Countess began buttering her bread. “You sho
