A lump formed in Kit’s throat. The idea that this accomplished young man, one who’d won many awards for bravery in battle, who had led men, who commanded her guard, was ordered into such a demeaning role by her own mother made her both melancholy and outraged at the same time. Eventually, she managed to say, “You’ve certainly done much more than that.”

He made a small sound in the back of his throat and the trace of a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth before it disappeared. “Thanks to you.”

“Me?” Kit leaned back in the chair, surprised to hear him say that. “Whatever do you mean?...