บท 257: Violet: Garden of Shadows

The banquet hall was only slightly less crowded with dancers when Violet eventually made her way back in. She moved stealthily along the fringes of the crowd and then approached the high table from the direction of the dancers.

"May I be of any service, Your Majesty?" she asked the queen. The older woman glanced over her shoulder.

"Ah, Lady Violet. I didn't see you return to your table. Enjoying the music and dancing, then?"

Violet nodded politely, praying she wasn't asked who she'd been dancing with.

Queen Celia pressed her fingertips to her temple. "I think I will retire soon. I don't have the energy of my younger days for these kinds of evenings. Have you seen Lady Kathryn Danner? I'll get her to accompany me back to my chambers."