Now What?

Al and I had to wait another month and a half for Mariela to go into labor. We did a whole lot of nothing, not unlike when I first came to the palace for bridal lessons.

All of the nobility were going crazy at this point because she was two weeks after her due date and still hadn't given birth. I was forced to attend odious tea parties every morning with women I couldn't care less about, including my fake mother, and all they could talk about was the royal baby or how inconvenienced they were by staying in town so long.

What did they have to do back in the country that was so important? Their social connections weren't nearly as readily available back at their estates.

Besides, they drank tea and gossiped no matter where they were so I didn't see the difference it would make. These women baffled me. I didn't understand them and I hoped I never would.