Free The Reign of Trees by Lori Folkman Page B

chuckled. “He said you would say as much, but I have strict orders to leave it here with you. Good day, My Lady.”
    Illianah waited stubbornly until half the day had passed before she turned her eyes in the direction of the gift. It was a stack of several different types of fabric. The top piece was black, but there was also red, green and yellow. She quickly got out of bed to inspect the fabrics, only to find that her head did not like her moving about so quickly. She sat on the floor next to the chest where the fabrics had been set and ran her hand along them. They were exquisite. The quality rivaled the finest fabrics imported from Arugua. She wondered where Donovan had found such fabrics, and wondered at his intention. She reached for his letter, only to find that it was not just a letter from him: the letter from Madame Partlet was included as well. Illianah had left Madame Partlet’s letter that day when she had hastily left the solar to get away from Donovan’s insults.
    She opened Donovan’s letter:

    Forgive me, but you left Madame Partlet’s letter open on my table and I could see that she sent you her designs. I thought you might be in need of some fabrics akin to her designs. I had these brought in from Ticugua, who had imported them from Arugua. I hope you will find them pleasing. Our royal dressmaker will be in to take your measurements this afternoon. You will need something suitable to wear to the celebratory banquet tomorrow. I do hope you will join me as my personal guest. Perhaps we can forget, if for only a moment, that we are on opposing sides of this war.
    Yours,
    Donovan

Chapter Six
    Illianah entered the great hall late after all the other guests had arrived. She wanted to spend as little time with the Deltegrans as possible.
    Donovan’s face looked aglow when he saw her. “Princess,” he said as he bowed. He reached out to take her hand, but she refused to offer hers, keeping it close to her side. She would not give him the honor of taking her on promenade. She expected to see anger flare in his eyes, but it did not. His smile did not diminish; in fact, he looked amused. He walked by her side as she made her way through the room toward her seat at the head of the table. The lords and ladies and other dignitaries bowed as she passed, but she did not let her eye befall on a single one of them. They were not her people. This was not her court. While Donovan had stated that she was not his enemy, she knew, however, that these people viewed her as the adversary. And she them.
    He held her chair for her, and though she wished he had not done so, she had no choice but to take the seat. She had supposed that he would sit on the other side of the table, at the king’s right, but Donovan took the seat next to hers. “You picked the yellow,” he whispered. “I suspected you would. The lady’s maids said you kept requesting a yellow dress.”
    “Yes,” she said, keeping her chin high and her eyes away from his. “I loathe yellow. It makes me look ill … as if I belong in a casket.”
    She turned her head to her left, just slightly, and saw his eyebrows furrow. Then Donovan laughed. “You hope to make yourself unappealing.” He leaned his head closer to hers and whispered, “That is impossible. You always look ravishing, no matter what color you wear.”
    Her first instinct was to stiffen and move farther away from Prince Donovan, but she did not want him to know that he vexed her. She leaned closer and matched his hushed tone. “Are you going to behave yourself, or do I need to report you to your father?”
    Donovan chuckled and his whole face smiled. Crow’s feet gathered at the corners of his eyes, showing that he was no longer the boy who had once suited her. He also showed his royal smile, something that distinguished him from the commoners who did not have the means or the need to care for their teeth.
    Illianah leaned back in the other direction and felt her heart tighten. She was not