Naamah's Blessing

with one finger. “She did it just to please me.”
    “What did she wear?” she inquired.
    I smiled. “White, just like you. She was dressed as the Snow Queen, with a white cloak trimmed with ermine. And after the pageant when the lights were rekindled, tumblers from Eglantine House came and begged her to come to the Night Court. Every year, they would come, and every year, your mother refused. But that year your father told her she should go, and take me with her, since I’d never seen the Night Court’s masque.
    There was a yearning to hear more in her gaze. “Did you go?”
    “We did,” I said. “And when the night was over, we went up to the rooftop terrace to watch dawn break, your mother and I and all the beautiful adepts of the Night Court, none of whom were as beautiful as she was. It was cold, very cold, and your mother wrapped her ermine cloak around me to keep me warm.”
    “I bet that’s not all she did,” Bao commented in the Ch’in scholar’s tongue. I chose to ignore him.
    “I wish I could have known her,” Desirée said in a wistful tone.
    “I know, dear heart.” I stroked her fair hair. “She wished it, too. Do you know what we did the very next day?”
    “What?”
    “We rode in a carriage to a Temple of Eisheth called the Sanctuary of the Womb,” I told her. “There’s a hot-spring pool with water as warm as a bath, and as white as milk. And there, your mother waded into the pool and lit a candle to Eisheth, praying that the goddess would send her a child. You.”
    Desirée slid her hand into mine. “I’m glad you were there, Moirin.”
    I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “So am I.”
    She searched the bright hall. “My father isn’t here tonight, is he?”
    “No.” I shook my head. “His grace the Duc de Barthelme, the Royal Minister, is here in his stead.”
    “Because it makes my father sad to remember?” she asked.
    “Aye.” I swallowed against a sudden lump in my throat. “I’m afraid so. But there is joy in remembering, too. That’s why I shared my memories with you tonight, so that you might share my gladness.”
    Together, we watched the peers of the realm in their gorgeous, glittering costumes mingle and dance. Sister Gemma hovered in the background, ready to intervene if Desirée grew tired and fretful.
    The Duc de Barthelme came to pay his respects to the princess. “Joy to you on the Longest Night, young highness,” the Royal Minister said, offering her a formal bow. “Is the ranking member of the royal family here in attendance enjoying herself?”
    Somewhat about his choice of words made my skin prickle, and I caught Bao frowning.
    “Oh, yes!” Desirée said politely. “Thank you.”
    He inclined his head to me. “I see you take your duties seriously, Lady Moirin.”
    “I do,” I said, laying a hand on Desirée’s shoulder. “But it is also a pleasure to see the Longest Night through fresh, unspoiled eyes.” I held his gaze. “I recall Prince Thierry saying much the same thing to me.”
    The Royal Minister’s eyelids flickered briefly, and I thought to myself that Duc Rogier did not care to be reminded that I had the favor of more than one member of the royal family; and one whowould be returning to a position of influence come spring. Still, his expression remained pleasant. “No doubt.” He turned back to Desirée. “Do you plan to stay all the way until the pageant, young highness? It will be quite late, you know.”
    She nodded vigorously. “Oh, yes! I had a very long nap.”
    He smiled. “Well, then, I will be sure you have a chance to meet the Sun Prince himself. Would you enjoy that?”
    She nodded again, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Yes, thank you!”
    “The pleasure is mine.” Duc Rogier gave her another bow and a wink. “I think you will like him.
I
certainly do.”
    It was an odd exchange. We did not speak of it in Desirée’s presence, but it weighed on my thoughts as we plundered the banquet table heaped high with delicacies. I didn’t know what this business with the Sun Prince was about, and it seemed strange that Duc Rogier had made such a deliberate point of noting Desirée’s rank. I had assumed that his resentment of my appointment as her oath-sworn protector had to do with the fact that it was an honor of which he felt me unworthy, and one he had desired for himself, but mayhap there was more to it.
    Desirée de la Courcel was a Princess of the Blood, and in Thierry’s absence, her father’s