Free The Pyramid Waltz by Barbara Ann Wright Page A

fingers.
    “Ah, we’re back to that.”
    “What did your…admirers think of your pin?”
    “It’s going to be all the rage.” Katya stuck her long legs out and crossed her knee-high boots at the ankle. “I expect to see several of the courtiers in full butterfly costumes by the next ball.”
    Starbride chuckled, and across the room, one of the monks gave her a dirty look that he hadn’t bothered, or dared, to give Katya. “I’d enjoy seeing that, especially on Lady Hilda.”
    Katya prodded Starbride’s slipper with her boot. “Jealous?”
    Starbride sniffed and turned back to her book. “Absolutely not.”
    “Of course. I didn’t really think so.”
    “So glad to hear it.”
    “Anyway, Lady Hilda is not a courtier.”
    “What is she?”
    “A pain in the ass.”
    Starbride had to clap a hand over her mouth. This time, all three monks gave her dirty looks. She shifted her chair and leaned close. “Isn’t everyone a pain in the ass sometimes?”
    “Of course, but courtiers are pains in the ass who are at least paying to be here.”
    “Nobles don’t have to pay?” Starbride’s jaw dropped as she thought of the exorbitant price her family paid to keep her at Marienne.
    “Not directly. Nobles are landowners. Their ‘rent’ is taken out of the taxes they collect.”
    “Then why do the nobles stay here? If they’re landowners, don’t they have homes elsewhere?”
    “Undoubtedly, but court is the place to be. It’s so boring in the provinces.” Her head lolled to the side as if the mere act of talking about living outside Marienne put her to sleep.
    Starbride grinned. “A place without courtiers and nobles? Sounds delightful.”
    “Would you like to get out of here?”
    “What? Out of the palace?”
    “Too late in the day for that, I’m afraid. No, out of here .” She nodded toward the pack of monks, who still gave Starbride the occasional angry glance.
    “My concentration is broken.”
    Katya put a hand over her heart. “My apologies, Miss Meringue.”
    Starbride secured her scroll and pencil inside one of her voluminous sleeves and narrowed her eyes as they stood. “You’re not going to try to seduce me, are you?”
    Katya’s mouth slipped open before she blinked several times, and Starbride fancied she saw a slight blush in the royal cheeks. Katya gestured at the mint-colored dress. “In all that, I wouldn’t know where to start.”
    “Where are we going?” Starbride asked. “One of the many activities for aspiring social climbers?”
    “Funny you should mention climbing.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “Follow me.”
    Starbride followed, spurred on by Katya’s infectious grin. Katya led her to the upper levels of the palace, through long winding hallways and narrow stairways. They passed many bowing servants, but every time they heard chatter from down the hall, Katya guided her into another passage. “Are you trying to avoid someone in particular?” Starbride asked.
    “Any group of courtiers would stick to us like leeches.”
    “Ugh. How do you know who the voices belong to?”
    “Well, servants don’t linger in the halls to stand around or gossip. They do that behind closed doors so they won’t be caught, same with guardsmen. That leaves courtiers. Nobles don’t linger in the hallways unless they’re searching for royalty.”
    “Like Lady Hilda might be looking for you.” Starbride sniffed as she said it, but inside, she wanted Katya to call Lady Hilda another foul name.
    “Come on. We’re nearly there.”
    They ascended to a short hallway with no rooms leading off it and only a tapestry to mark the end. No servants rushed through the area; no courtiers loitered in the hall. “Where are we?”
    “Near the royal summer apartments. Very few people here at this time of year, thank the spirits.”
    Starbride gestured to the hanging six-foot tapestry, wondering if that was what she was supposed to be looking at. “Seventh century, if I remember my art