As she sat alone in her study with her cold tea cup beside her, Sade leaned back in her chair and rested her eyes. Such a long day. So much done but so much still to do.
Supper had been the highlight, without question. The barbarian princess couldn’t have provided a better performance if she had been coached to it. Still, the night was young. Sade rang the bell on the side table.
Izza entered promptly. “Yes, madam?”
“Is the steam carriage back yet?”
“Yes, madam. It only just returned from taking your dinner guests home.”
“I need to run a little errand in the morning. Very early. I want the carriage ready to leave at four-thirty. And have a couple of the porters ready to accompany me.” She paused as something hideous assaulted her nose. “What is that stench?”
Izza shifted uncomfortably. “I’m sorry, my lady. It was the Samaritan woman. I believe she spent some time in the sewers just before she arrived.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, madam.”
Of course she was serious. Izza was always serious. Sade sighed. “Well, it’s on you too. Please change your clothes. Burn them if you have to. Oh, and you did tell Shifrah that she is not to do any more tasks for Barika?”
“Yes, madam. Although I don’t know that you can trust her not to. She’s quite opportunistic, in my opinion.”
“No, you’re probably right. That’s fine. She’s proven far less than perfect today. She’ll be no great loss when this is over,” Sade said. “See to the carriage and porters, and then go to bed. Four-thirty, Izza.”
“Yes, madam. Good night.”