He returned from his daily session in sword work under the eagle eye of the Royal Arms Master, hot and sweaty under his armour and in much need of a bath. As he stomped into his quarters he saw with relief that his servants had prepared the bathing chamber. Steam was escaping from underneath the door and Elliot could smell the pleasing aroma of the herbs they had added to the hot water. Two servants were waiting to divest him of the armour and others were preparing the hot towels and his clothes. In another part of the palace Isobel was making her own preparations. She was also in a fluttering state of nervous anticipation. This was the afternoon of her betrothal when Elliot, Prince-Heir of the Kingdom of Murdoch would plight his troth. Her ladies for the day were in attendance. They were dressed in cream velvet. Isobel stood in the antechamber, outwardly serene and allowed Kellessa Anne Fullarton to make minute changes to her attire. Anne was twenty-three, at present a junior lady-in-waiting to Crown-Princess Susan, Elliot’s mother.
