In the morning, Cassian woke to find Lilith still fast asleep beside him, her back turned to him as it had been the entire night. He had woken every few hours just to see that she was well, and had spent the rest of the time lying as still as he could manage.

Cassian did not yet know where she had hidden the dagger, but he was quite certain there was one somewhere on the bed, and he didn’t have any intention of startling her to reveal it.

There had been no disturbances through the night, which told him Virgil had not been found.

Cassian tilted his head towards the window. The sky was changing from night to morning. It was nearly time to rise and eat, given that Lilith had not touched a thing from their wedding feast the evening before.

"If you want to get up, you can," Lilith said, and her voice startled him.

"I didn’t know you were awake," Cassian replied, turning towards her.

"I couldn’t fully sleep knowing you were beside me. You survived the night without trying anything you shouldn’t have. You just might be a gentleman after all," Lilith said, making note of it. "Would you be so kind as to fetch my maid and have her prepare my bath?"

The thought of the garment had sat with Lilith through the night.

Cassian sat up and did as he was asked.

Lilith opened her eyes and watched him cross the chamber to the door. ’He is like a puppy, ’ she thought.

"Your Highness," Mary said, curtsying after she entered. "I have already told the maids outside to bring warm water for your bath. Shall I begin undressing you before it is ready?"

"Please do," Lilith said, sitting up. "And when I am finished bathing, I want all of the maids from last night brought here." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Why?" Cassian asked from the doorway.

"Virgil had to work with someone who dressed me last night to get that garment to me. Whoever it was must be sent away. It is also a good opportunity to address the maids. Many of them never showed me any respect when I lacked my father’s love," said Lilith.

"I see," Cassian said, leaving it in Lilith’s hands. "I will go and find out what the soldiers found last night whilst you bathe."

Cassian left, and the chamber became quiet.

Lilith moved to rise, then stopped as she caught Mary’s expression. "What is it?"

Mary lowered her head. "The air in this chamber is surprisingly calm this morning. And you did not attempt to harm His Grace in his sleep."

"He is useful. Why would I kill him?" Lilith replied and led the way to the bathing chamber.

Mary followed close behind. "May I ask about the garment and Virgil?"

"The garment you dressed me in did not come from Cassian. It came from Virgil. That cloth is the same as used for the priests’ robes. I recognised it too late," Lilith said, her jaw tightening. "It is past time I spoke to the maids and made it clear that my position here has changed."

"I remember the maid who brought it to you, but she said another had passed it to her, telling her it was a last moment gift from His Grace. They will all say the same, that they received it from someone else," Mary said, already certain of it.

"When they are all gathered, I will find the one who started it. You only need to threaten to kill everyone present, and the truth comes out very quickly," Lilith said and glanced over her shoulder. "Remove the blanket from the bed."

"At once," Mary said, and turned back to do it.

When Mary did not return in good time, Lilith went back to the bedchamber to see what was keeping her.

She found Diana standing just inside the chamber, and Mary standing nearby with the blanket held firmly in her arms.

"Good morning, Diana. Did Cassian send you in?" Lilith asked, stepping forward to stand in front of Mary.

"No. I was let in," Diana replied.

"That doesn’t seem quite right. Entering the chamber of the newlyweds without permission, even as his mother, is not something I shall overlook. I prefer that things be done with order and courtesy," said Lilith.

"You must forgive me for being so rash," Diana said.

"I will forgive you when you don’t let it happen again. Is there something I can help you with? As you can see, your son is not here. You have just missed him," Lilith said.

"I did want to see my son, but that is not the only reason I came. I am here for the blanket. I thought it might be easier on you to have a woman handle it rather than those men. The maid, however, will not hand it over to me," Diana said, with a glance at Mary that suggested she found this quite unreasonable.

Lilith looked back at Mary. "That is because I told her to bring it to me. I appreciate the thought, but it is not necessary. Your son stopped that tradition so that I would be comfortable. You may go."

"It is a tradition that existed not only in the castle but within our family as well."

Lilith’s laughter came out of nowhere, startling Diana. "I don’t concern myself with where else it existed. It no longer exists in this castle. I have had a rather unpleasant night, and I am asking you not to push me. I am making an effort to like you."

The confession caught Diana off guard.

Diana straightened, creating the appearance of a woman who had once held a title. "Your Highness, avoiding evidence of the consummation will only invite questions and difficulties later on. I came here to protect you."

"No. You came here because you care for your son, which I understand and hold nothing against you for. However, when you enter my space and begin giving orders to my maid, we cannot find a way to get along. Go back to your chamber and prepare for breakfast," Lilith said, turning her back.

"Your Highness," Diana said quietly, restraining her anger. "This does not need to be so difficult."

"I agree," Lilith said, glancing back over her shoulder. "So stop making it difficult, and leave."