Eliane stared at herself in the mirror with nervous anticipation. The chamberlain would be here soon to take her to the main hall for another day of stressful, incomprehensible work. She wished she could savor the few more moments of peace she was accorded as she got ready after waking. But she just couldn’t relax. She was still in her thin nightgown. Hair messy. The pale morning of dawn making the room look peaceful. She took a deep breath and got up, strolled to the wardrobe and picked her outfit for the day. She slipped it on, slowly and carefully. Appearances mattered most, as her mother had taught her.

A measured knock sounded at the door just as the last fastening settled beneath her fingers. The chamberlain entered with a sealed leather folder held against his dark coat, bowed, and said, “My lady, the council has brought three petitions—and the grain steward refuses to release the winter stores without your order.”

She ran a thumb along the folder’s sealed edge, testing it carefully.