Chapter 30 – End of Parliament

“We thank Our loyal lords and the good representatives of the church, the cities and guilds for their service to Our realm,” King Edmund said in his deep voice, sounding quite satisfied. “In the past few weeks, you have advised Us well and debated decisions that will secure Sommerland’s strength for many years to come. We are delighted with these results.”

He let his gaze wander over the assembled crowd, and Valentina could have sworn that his brown eyes rested on Duke Cosimo for a moment.

“Now return to your lands, your duties, your businesses, and your families. May the Martyr watch over you and yours. We declare this Parliament closed.”

He lowered his scepter, and almost immediately, a flurry of activity broke out. Lords turned to each other to make plans, or perhaps to exchange farewells.

“And so ends the great spectacle,” Vyxara remarked dryly. “Until next time.”

In the days that followed, Vandercourt emptied of magnates as quickly as a wineskin during a feast. Every morning, dozens of carriages rolled through the city gates, loaded with luggage and impatient nobles who could hardly wait to finally return to their own estates.

And the Greystone Affinity was no exception, even though the duke was still basking in his success and was not in as much of a hurry as the duchess, who seemed very weary of the capital.

“We’ll take our time on the way back,” he announced at dinner. “There’s no need to rush. Maybe we’ll visit a few of the estates along the way.”

Valentina helped where she could, although the servants of the house did the actual work, of course. Her own possessions had once again multiplied in an almost mysterious way during her stay, and small tokens of affection and respect not only from the duke but also from the duchess had accumulated in her chests.

On the eve of her planned departure, she received word that the Ashbournes also intended to leave the next morning. They would return to Timberpine, high in the mountains of the northwest, and Innogen would accompany them part of the way before continuing on to Bridgewater with her own escort.

On the morning of their departure, Valentina stood at the window of her room and watched the busy and slightly chaotic activity in the courtyard below. Servants hurried back and forth between the house and the waiting carriages with chests, while the stable master barked orders and the horses pawed restlessly at the ground.

Duke Cosimo stood in the middle of the action, watching the packing and occasionally shouting brief instructions. He was already wearing a relatively simple travel coat in greystone grey, but even in this simple attire, he exuded authority.

The duchess, on the other hand, sat quietly on a bench near the front door, chatting with Lady Beatrice.

Valentina took one last look in the mirror and then made her way downstairs. As she stepped into the courtyard, another carriage was rolling through the gate. The Ashbournes!

Marquess Merrick Ashbourne stepped out first and helped his wife out of the carriage. Then Innogen followed, wearing a traveling dress in a soft mint green, and when her blue eyes found Valentina’s, everything else became meaningless for a heartbeat.

“Control yourself,” Vyxara warned gently. “Her father is standing right next to her.”

Duke Cosimo strode toward Marquess Ashbourne, and the two men embraced warmly.

“Ashbourne! A successful Parliament, I think. At least in the end. Perhaps they will call it the Laboring Parliament.”

“The end crowns the work, and your work was undoubtedly successful, Greystone. The crown is deeply indebted to you.”

Valentina watched as the duchess conversed with the marchioness, while Lady Beatrice remained discreetly in the background. Lord Jasper, Innogen’s younger brother, was not present, since he was still being fostered at the royal court and would remain there.

“The wedding will be magnificent,” the marquess had just said. “I’m looking forward to spending some time in Dusktown next summer.

“My wife is already making plans,” Cosimo confirmed with a satisfied smile. “It will be a celebration that will be remembered for decades to come.”

Lorenzo, who would not be leaving until a few days after them, appeared from the house at that moment. He went first to his mother and kissed her on the cheek. “Have a safe trip, Mother. I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

Then he turned to Valentina. “Valentina. I wish you a pleasant journey to Bridgewater.”

“Thank you, Lord Lorenzo.” She was surprised at herself for managing to sound so nonchalant. “I hope you have a pleasant stay in Vandercourt.”

“Perhaps we’ll see each other in Dusktown,” he said casually. “At the latest at the wedding next summer, of course.”

“Of course.” Valentina bowed her head. “That would be lovely.”

“Cosimo is watching you,” Vyxara whispered.

Valentina could feel the duke’s gaze burning into her back. She took a step back and gave Lorenzo space to turn to his betrothed. He was allowed to be warmer with her. In fact, it was expected.

Lorenzo took Innogen’s hand and raised it to his lips to kiss it. “Lady Innogen. I will count the days until we meet again.”

It sounded almost genuine. And perhaps there was even something genuine in it, Valentina realized.

“So will I, Lord Lorenzo,” Innogen replied with a gentle smile. Her performance had also improved greatly.

Marquess Ashbourne and the duke nodded with satisfaction.

“If you’ll allow me,” Lorenzo then said, “I would like to correspond with my betrothed during our separation. To get to know each other better, of course.”

He was speaking to Innogen’s parents, but his gaze flicked to Valentina, just for a moment.

“An excellent idea,” said the duchess warmly. “Write to each other often.”

Innogen understood immediately. “I would be delighted, Lord Lorenzo. And perhaps I could also tell you about my studies in Bridgewater. The advice of such an experienced Essence Weaver would certainly be invaluable.”

The farewells continued, final courtesies were exchanged, and somehow Valentina and Innogen found themselves a few steps away from the group. The duchess, Lady Beatrice, and Lorenzo had positioned themselves as if by chance, allowing the two a moment of relative privacy.

Valentina reached for Innogen’s hand and squeezed it briefly.

“I know we’re only apart for a few days,” Innogen whispered. “But I’d love to pack you in my travel chest and take you with me.”

“Look forward to Bridgewater,” Valentina said softly. “No one looking over our shoulders. Just the two of us.”

“And our studies.” A small smile flitted across Innogen’s lips. “And Crispin.”

Valentina sighed softly. Crispin. Who knew nothing about any of this.

“He’ll be fine,” she murmured, without sounding entirely convinced.

Innogen looked her in the eyes. “Val, to be honest, considering his newfound piety and his, um, infatuation with you, I’m not sure we should tell him.”

“She’s right, little Weaver,” Vyxara agreed.

“Innogen!” The marquess’s voice cut through the moment. “We must be going.”

“See you in Bridgewater,” Innogen said.

“See you in Bridgewater,” Valentina confirmed.

She watched Innogen return to her family, climb into the Ashbourne carriage, and then the driver whipped the horses. The carriage rolled through the gate and disappeared into the streets of Vandercourt.

Valentina stood still, watching the empty driveway until a hand on her shoulder snapped her out of her thoughts.

“We’re leaving too,” said the duchess gently.

Valentina nodded and turned around. The Greystone carriages were already waiting, loaded and ready for the long journey, the horses pawing impatiently at the ground.

The duke first escorted his wife to her carriage and helped her in with casual gallantry, then he helped Lady Beatrice and wished them both a pleasant journey. Then he turned to Valentina and led her to his own carriage, where he also helped her in.

“After you, my dear.”

Lorenzo stood at the front door of the townhouse, surrounded by the servants. He raised his hand in a final farewell as the carriage began to move.

The carriage rolled through the gate and out onto the streets of Vandercourt, and Valentina leaned out of the window to watch the city pass by.

The capital was bustling with activity. Everywhere, carriages rolled through the alleys, loaded with the luggage of departing nobles. Horsemen jostled between the carts, shooing the common people aside, and merchants tried to sell their wares to the wealthy customers at the last minute before they disappeared.

Traffic was congested at the South Gate. Dozens of carriages, horsemen, and pedestrians crowded in front of the massive gateway, and the city guards struggled to keep the flow reasonably orderly.

In front of them, rising above the crowd, stood a massive figure on a huge stallion. He was dressed in simple traveling clothes, but his shoulders were as broad as ever, and his armor was stowed on a mule trotting behind him. No escort and no entourage was with him, it was just the man alone.

His gaze wandered over the crowd, brushing the Greystone carriage, and for a heartbeat their eyes met. He nodded briefly to her. Then he urged his horse on and rode through the gate.

Valentina watched his massive silhouette disappear through the gate amid the throng of travelers, and a small smile stole across her lips.

The road south led through the fertile heartland of Sommerland. Golden fields of wheat and barley passed by the carriage windows, interrupted now and then by small villages whose inhabitants stepped aside reverently as the ducal convoy rolled by.

Cosimo was in an excellent mood.

“I am quite pleased with how Parliament went,” he announced, pouring red wine into his crystal goblet. “I can’t reveal too much yet, but His Majesty will show his gratitude to House Greystone in his own generous way.”

Valentina took a piece of dried fig from the richly filled silver tray that stood between them on the upholstered bench. “So, His Majesty is also satisfied with the results?”

“You could say that,” Cosimo laughed. “His Majesty would do a little dance of joy if he could. But kings don’t dance, so instead he nodded graciously and pretended he never doubted it.” He took a sip. “Which, of course, he did. Repeatedly. Farnsworth is lucky to be alive, the stubborn old goat.”

“Finally, he’s letting us in on some secrets!” Vyxara said happily, listening attentively.

It was a pleasant journey. Cosimo spoke at length and with surprising candor about the secret negotiations during Parliament, about agreements and plans made, and made Valentina laugh heartily several times with his incredibly authentic imitations of various magnates.

At dusk, they reached the estate of a country nobleman, some small, round-faced baron with a red nose who fawned over Cosimo the entire time and mentioned at least five times how honored he felt to host the Duke of Duskenshire.

Dinner was sumptuous, and the baron talked incessantly about the quality of the sheep he was breeding and the merits of his apple wines. The duchess listened politely and asked many questions, while Lady Beatrice and Valentina exchanged bored glances.

“I’m afraid the journey has exhausted me,” Rosalind finally said with a smile that brooked no contradiction. “Beatrice, Valentina, please accompany me.”

“I’m sorry, but I really couldn’t bear it any longer,” Rosalind said after they had left the dining room. “But I had the impression you felt the same way.”

Valentina waited patiently until the duchess and Beatrice had disappeared into their chambers, then she fetched a few things from her room and made her way to Cosimo’s chamber.

She knew he would call for her later anyway.

The room was relatively modest, but a warm fire was already crackling in the fireplace. Valentina washed herself with the rose water provided, combed her hair, perfumed herself lightly, and put on a silk nightgown before throwing a sheet over herself.

Then she sat down in an armchair in front of the fireplace and waited. Down in the hall, she could still hear the muffled voice of the baron, who was probably still telling the duke about his damn sheep.

She smiled slightly. Cosimo would soon have had enough too.

And indeed, half an hour later, the door finally opened. Cosimo entered, already unbuttoning his doublet, and paused when he saw her sitting in the armchair in front of the fireplace. Surprise flitted across his face, followed by a warm smile.

“Valentina.” He closed the door behind him. “This is a pleasant surprise.”