Gyla returned to the bird room the next day to read a few books on the local wildlife. Naomi joined her with a basket of mending and Ajax and Phlad stood by the door. 

Queen Farida and Lady Sylvia returned to see more of the festival. Lady Cur remained at the castle. She had a scare in the marketplace with an almost robbery. It was why the duke had been so upset to find Gyla unguarded. 

Around noon, when Gyla finished the large volume on owls and readied herself for a quick dinner with Lady Cur, Duke Dominis walked in. She soured at his approach, unwell still from yesterday and unhappy with his harshness. 

“Gyla, may we speak?” 

“If you feel the need to clarify yesterday, do not worry yourself. Lady Cur explained what happened and I understand you are under strict orders to uphold my safety. There is no need to converse on the subject.” Gyla placed her book back and turned to give him a curtsey. 

“I only wanted to make it clear that your guards are to stay with you at all times.” Clipped and angry. 

“Of course, Your Grace.” 

“Why do you do that?” he asked with a clenched jaw. 

“Do what?”

“Call me Your Grace when you know I have permitted you to call me by my name,” he said in one rushed breath. 

“Because I am cross with you.” Gyla stepped forward before she turned to Naomi and nodded for the door. Her maid scrambled out. 

“Cross with me?”

“Yes!” Cheek flushing, she crossed her arms and nearly stomped her foot. “Why have you not told me no?” 

That only confused the poor duke who blinked at her. 

“Told you no?”

“You humor me on the queen’s desire then?”

“Humoring you? My only order is that of your safety.” Basil raked a hand down his face. “What are we discussing?”

Gyla couldn’t speak. She knew her soft approach might have bounced off his head. 

A panic lined his face as he could see the hurt plainly on her features. Gyla bit her cheek as tears welled in her eyes. 

“I had wished to pursue you…” He froze at her confession. “But I understand now that my approach was not seen and this had all been at the small nudges of Her Majesty.” 

“She mentioned you were homesick,” Basil fought with himself to try and understand this mess. “I only tried to make you comfortable.” 

“And the logging site? Were you upset I had gone?” She could ask plainly now. 

“Of course not. I appreciate your interest in my land and people, Gyla.” Basil approached with her cautious steps and hands outreached as if to hold her. “That day was misplaced ire and I thought we amended that.”

“So you didn't know I pursued you?” Gyla pressed on. 

“No… I thought you were amusing yourself and the ladies,” he spoke his confession softly. 

It ignited Gyla’s fury. 

“Why you!” She shoved the duke away and ignored Ajax’s warning shout. “I am no such a shallow and vapid lady.” 

“I did not mean to offend,” he tried to placate. 

“Well, offend you have! First, trying to order about my guards who were following my orders! I know very well the consequences of leaving their sight.” 

“Lady Cur had nearly been robbed! I could not see them anywhere near you!” Basil argued his defense. 

“I am armed, Your Grace, and capable of a blade.” To prove her point, she yanked up her skirt and pulled the dagger from her boot. “My father ordered all men, women, and children to be armed. I am no exception, but rather, an example of that order.” 

Duke Dominis blinked in shock at the news. He had not heard the baron’s decree. 

“I do not need a duke to humor me, either!” Gyla continued without pause. “You could have said no and I would have respected it. Instead, I have been forced to play a game and decipher every meaning of your words and actions, only to be told my approach is too soft and stupid to reach you.” 

Gyla returned the blade back to her boot and wiped at her dry cheeks. Her anger fled her and her stomach rumbled with the unmistakable signs of nausea. 

“I am ill and need to return to my rooms.” Gyla rushed past him to Ajax who gathered her up and led her out of the room. 

Once Gyla settled and Naomi tended to her with more tea, Ajax stepped out of the room and waited in the hall with Phlad. He watched as the queen approached on worried footsteps. 

“Is Gyla alright?” 

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Ajax bowed low. 

“I heard she fought with the duke over yesterday. She did not appreciate his ire,” gently, she nudged the guard into conversation. 

“My lady is armed and well aware of the dangers in a crowd. She was within Phlad’s sight at all times and I disappeared only for a moment,” he explained, a bit defensive.

“I know,” the queen assured him. “What else was spoken?”

“He said that he thought he was only amusement for her and the ladies.” Farida sucked in a sharp breath. “My lady refuted the idea of being so shallow.”

“I certainly hope so…” Farida shook her head. “May I enter, good Ajax?” 

Ajax opened the door for her and bowed his head as she passed. He waited for Naomi to join him in the corridor before he shut the door. 

“Your kind Ajax has informed me of the duke’s blunder.” Queen Farida sat on the bed where Gyla rested. 

“I am sorry, Your Majesty, but I feel incredibly ill at the moment.”

“I understand. You want to go home.” Gyla nodded to the statement and the queen brushed at her forehead with a cool hand. “Will you be fine to ride? I can see about getting a carriage for you.”

“I will ride,” Gyla assured her. “I feel played even if it was not entirely his fault.” 

“No, I would say he blundered this quite well. You said you called his smile beautiful and offered him honey paste for his scars. That seems like a good sign if I was a duke.” Farida sighed deeply. “I shall take some blame. I tried hard not to pressure him into returning your advances, but to speak with you because you had an interest in speaking with him. I did not mean to make it appear as though he had to humor you.” 

“It is okay, Your Majesty.” 

Queen Farida left it at that. Gyla needed to rest.