As the evening deepened, the royal celebration came to an end.
"Remember to be careful. Serve the king well. Your first goal should be to get pregnant for the king," Duchess Anita reminded her daughter as she prepared to leave.
She believed that the reason Princess Karen was so well protected was because she carried a royal heir. After all, the king shared a good relationship with his brother.
Elizabeth nodded in agreement, then allowed the maids to lead her to the royal chamber to await the king.
The scent of jasmine and rosewater hung thick in the air. Queen Elizabeth's maids helped her change into a silken nightgown of pale gold, and her hair was unbound, tumbling in soft curls over her shoulders. The chamber had been prepared to perfection—candles glimmered in crystal holders, and a fire burned low in the hearth.
