Her head ached from too much sun, too much wine, and too much worry. But it was not that . . . She nudged Fay, who slept next to her. “Hmm?” Her friend and fellow guard pulled the blanket from over her eyes and blinked, reminding Mamie of a gray-eyed kitten, including the pink nose. “Did you hear the queen come in last night?” Fay jolted awake, and she leaped from the bed as if it were on fire. Her light brown hair streamed behind her, her knees pale as the chemise hitched upward. She went to the connecting door, which was shut when they’d had it open. She pushed at it as quietly as possible, peering into the room before dragging it silently closed and creeping back into the bed. “Eleanor is there, and Larissa is snoring in the trundle.” Fay’s somber tone reminded Mamie that they’d been right to worry. “We were up very late.
