“I … I just had the feeling, sir, that His Majesty might find it necessary to … listen to people he had invited to court. To hear what they said, whether they were loyal to him. I just had the feeling that … it would be a mistake to say anything at all negative.”
“You had this feeling in our own carriage! And just how would he manage that?”
She thought of the scattered booklets by the throne, wondering if she should mention them. No. She didn’t know what they portended, her father had paid no attention, but even he knew about doctors. Let her speak then of doctors.
“The Lord Paramount . . . the Lord Paramount and some of the nobles hire off-world people and buy off-world products, Father. Medical personnel and supplies, for example. We all know that. And when you fight on the Lord Paramount’s behalf, I’m sure he gives you off-world weapons if you need them. People near to His Majesty, those charged with his security, are no doubt also given special tools to keep track of people. You would not necessarily be told of these things, just as they would not be told of the weapons you use.”
“Which has nothing to do with spying on people!”
“I am sure such technology exists, Father.”
“In our carriage?” he said mockingly.
His eyebrows were lifted, his lips twisted in the lofty manner that she dreaded. Still, it was important that she warn him . . . without telling him how she knew.
Keeping her voice as level as possible, she said, “Our carriage was there, at the palace, for several hours. And not only our carriage would be vulnerable. We had a lot of work done on this house, before our dinner party. And . . .”
“Ridiculous,” he snorted angrily. “You’re like your mother! Imagining things! Making up ridiculous stories!”
“Perhaps,” she said submissively. “But, wouldn’t it be a good idea to be careful?”
Now that he had a target for his wrath, he exploded. “Genevieve, you’ve never given me any real trouble, as your mother did all too often, and if you are wise you will not start now. I’m sure the Lord Paramount does whatever he needs to do to keep order, but you’re ignoring who I am! I have always been one of his most faithful supporters! I have fought in his behalf, borne wounds in his behalf. Though his underlings may be thoughtless enough to waste half a day of our time on a mere triviality, His Majesty would never feel it necessary to spy on me!”
His face forbade her saying anything more. She clenched her hands into fists and kept quiet. He went on in a more moderate tone, “You have pleased me with all you’ve done since we’ve been here, particularly since it is new to you and there is a good deal more to this business of being a courtier than I had been informed. I cannot allow you to go on in this spirit, however, seeing threats under every bush and around every corner! From now on, my dear,you will not concern yourself with your safety, or mine,you will not invent conspiracies to make me aware. I am always aware! Our covenants make the care of women the duty of their husbands and fathers. You can rely on my care and protection as you always have, and you are to set all such concerns aside. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Father,” she said meekly, biting her tongue. He wasn’t aware, he was blind to the dangers here in Havenor, but there was no way she could make him see. She knew he collected intelligence on the battlefield for she had heard him speak of its importance, but he ignored it here, where the battles were no less deadly. He thought the only enemies worth worrying about were the ones with weapons pointed at him, weapons he could see! How much more deadly the ones that were invisible!
He took a deep, simmering breath. “Good. Now go change that costly, ridiculous gown while I change my equally ridiculous garb, and we’ll say no more about it.”
Certainly she said no more about it. The next day passed simply, and on the day following, Alicia came to call. Almost defiantly, Genevieve took her into the garden, though it was probable that her father was watching. “My house has ears,” she explained. “I do not know the servants well. I cannot swear they would not repeat anything they heard in my house.”