One Good Knight by Mercedes Lackey Read Free Book Online Page A

around her in shock.
    Only three pieces of furniture were left in what had once been crammed full of old, outgrown, nursery furnishings: One low stool, one small table and a chair. The table and chair were already occupied by Lady Thalia; beside the stool were Lady Charis and another woman.
    â€œCome stand on the stool, Princess, so we can measure you,” said Lady Charis, when she didn’t move. “That is a very good hairstyle for you. I believe that your new maid is a great improvement.”
    â€œI thought she would be,” Lady Thalia observed with satisfaction.
    â€œWhere did all the furniture go?” Andie asked, feeling as if she had stepped into someone else’s rooms.
    â€œWe’ve had that wreckage taken away,” said Lady Thalia. “You’re to have your wing properly refurnished. You aren’t a child anymore, after all. You don’t need nursery furniture.”
    â€œNo,” she said, feeling dazed. “Of course not…”
    Obediently, she stepped up onto the stool, where the second woman, probably a seamstress, measured every possible part of her that could be measured, drew outlines of her feet, then made a rather good sketch of her face and took measurements of that, noting the measurements. Meanwhile Lady Charis held samples of fabric up to her face, making humming noises to herself, handing some to the seamstress, tossing most into a basket.
    And while all of this was going on, a parade of servants came into the room to be interviewed by Lady Thalia. Some, she had seen about the Palace, others were total strangers. As each interview was concluded, Lady Thalia looked at her with a most penetrating gaze; after the first one, Andie realized that she was supposed to show approval or disapproval, and the realization made her feel dizzy. She had never been allowed to pick any servant before, much less all of them!
    A very few candidates she liked immediately. Some she disliked even before they opened their mouths.Some seemed utterly unsuited to the positions they were applying for. On the rest—“I haven’t the experience to judge,” she said, deferring to Lady Thalia.
    She was afraid that this would lose her the Lady’s respect, but on the contrary, her new household Steward seemed to approve guardedly. It was altogether astonishing how many new servants it seemed she would need. She was going to have her own cooks and all of their helpers, her own housekeeping staff, her own gardener and his helpers, as well as maids and pages, footmen and Guards. Only with the Guards did she feel on firm footing; most of them she knew at least on sight, and several she’d known almost as long as she had known her faithful Six. She was supposed to choose a total of eighteen; she had no difficulty doing so. All presenting themselves were young, and she thought it was going to be rather strange to see no gray hairs among them. She chose two-thirds male, one-third female, a ratio of which Lady Thalia also approved.
    â€œThe men will stand guard at the door to your wing, and in the garden,” Lady Thalia announced. “The women will serve here within your rooms.”
    About the time that Lady Charis and the seamstress left and the interviews concluded, the new furniture began to arrive.
    â€œLeave my bed!” Andie cried in alarm, when she saw serving-men heading into her bedroom with empty hands and a purposeful look in their eyes.
    They stopped in their tracks.
    Lady Thalia took a quick look in through the door. “The bed is the only piece of furniture in this wing fit to be used,” she pronounced. “Take down the bed curtains, though, they’re a disgrace. And the window curtains. Bring new, in the Princess’s colors.”
    And in marched the servants; shortly thereafter, out they came, with every piece of furniture except her bed.
    â€œHave you any particular desires as to how you want things arranged, Princess?”