The queen had ordered a trio of musicians to play during dinner, a novel idea never done before, as far as Kit could recall, and she supposed it might have something to do with the fact that Rona did not wish to speak to her daughter any more than the princess wanted to speak to her mother. Except, she did. There was a question burning in Kit’s mind, and she needed to ask it before she lost the nerve or common sense caught up to her.

Conversation was possible, though it needed to be of the shouting variety, which Kit didn’t appreciate. Her luck would be to have half a...