***

Back home, Travis sent word to his Father's secretary saying that Kate had taken the job, and would be there in the morning to interview the ambassadors. He trusted the man, Edmund, to set everything up. Edmund was the one who did most of the actual work of running the Palace, and quite possibly the kingdom. Travis had discovered in talking to other nobles from other Kingdoms that this was perfectly normal, expected and really kept things running much smoother than if Kings tried to do it themselves. At least, Travis figured, Edmund had been hired for ability and not just an accident of heredity.

In the morning, Kate didn't need to send for him because he was already waiting for her in the front parlor when she arrived. “Good morning. You look lovely,” he said, giving her a kiss. “Did you get breakfast?”

“I won't say no to tea.” She took his arm and let him lead her to the breakfast room. Servants they passed nodded to them both, and Kate smiled at them. Reaching the dining room, Travis let her take a seat and got them both tea cups and a pot from the sideboard, then sat across from her.

“Edmund says that he arranged for you to meet all five of the men from Arriland, separately. He set aside a room for you to use.”

“Wonderful. Edmund is amazing. When your father dies I’m stealing Edmund from you to be my secretary.”

“Oh no you aren't! Do you want me to be helpless and lost for my entire reign? You are a citizen here too, you know.” He threatened to throw a scone at her.

“Do you want to sit in on the meetings?” she asked, adding milk to her tea.

“Actually, I had the idea to sit in the main room with the others, see if they talk while anyone in particular is out of the room, talking to you. If nothing else, it might keep them from comparing notes.”

“A good idea, though if they have any brains at all, they have already compared notes and stories. Fine, you do that, and let me know what, if anything, they say. I'll do the same. Then we can decide where to go next. These scones are amazing, you know.”

“If you marry me, you can have them every morning.” Travis waggled an eyebrow at her playfully.

“Why, when I have a standing invite to breakfast anyway? I can have my scones and my freedom!”

Travis mocked being stabbed in the heart. Kate laughed at him and finished her tea.

***

Travis was bored and wondering why he'd agreed to this plan, and reminded himself that it had been his idea. The four men in the room with him weren’t talking about their missing fellow at all, or about each other. One, an undersecretary whose role had just been to write down what happened, was reading a book. An aged baron sent along for his knowledge of protocol was actually slumped in an armchair snoring. The noble with the interests in trade, who represented the investors, seemed to be taking the time to balance his accounts, and the fourth was talking Travis's ear off about how he was improving the landscaping at the manor house he'd recently inherited. He was the one who had been in with Kate last, and had been rambling on since he got back. The fifth, the one who was in being interviewed by her now, was the missing Count's cousin. He had no rank himself, and had been acting as the Count's advisor, companion, and valet. He had spent his time in the waiting room staring out the window at seemingly nothing, and humming quietly to himself.

He hoped Kate would be done soon. Mostly because he was falling asleep but also because he missed her and was curious to hear what she'd found out. The budding gardener at his side started to compare types of gravel for use in a road. Travis tried to be interested, but just couldn't.

He did glance up at a frustrated noise from the table where the businessman was working though, and saw that the man was glaring at his own ledgers with a frustrated and angry expression. The clerk reading looked up as well. “Troubles, Riley?”

“No concern of yours, Adgaster.“ Riley slammed the account book shut with more force than necessary.

Adgaster looked smug. “Anything I can help with?” he asked sweetly.

Riley sneered at him. “I really rather think a person with as little head for numbers as yourself would be of limited use.” Adgaster made a rude gesture and returned to his reading.

Travis took mental notes of the conversation but couldn't see any use in it. Still, Kate was capable of some amazing deductions.

Finally, the last man returned to the room and a footman followed him in, to announce that a luncheon had been prepared for them all, would they wish to follow him? The men from Arriland all muttered and filed out of the room. Travis followed, but went the opposite way down the hall to the private interview room.

Kate was still at the table, making notes. Sometimes she would refer back to a previous page in her stack, and then write something else. Travis didn't interrupt her but took the empty seat at the table.

Without looking up, she asked “Where were you on the night that Count Firth disappeared?”

Without flinching, Travis replied “Having dinner with you.”

She looked up and smiled. “Congratulations, you have the best alibi I have heard today.”

His heart fluttered at her smile. “I should hope so! Do you want what tiny, pitiful info I have for you, or should I just write it down?”

“Write it down please, so I can shuffle things around as I think. Nothing useful, huh?” Kate asked.

“Not for me. Maybe you can put the drabbles together with other things and make something out of them, but I can't. They are off to lunch now.”

“Good. I asked Edmund to arrange for them to go off as soon as I was done with them.”

Travis nodded, knowing she'd be going through her notes until she found something to check on next, and interruptions would only be minimally tolerated, unless she initiated them. He didn't mind, he was content to just sit and watch her read, and she was content to have him there if he didn't interrupt.

After several minutes she spoke again. “Could you order in lunch for us? Here? And then I want to talk to the guards that saw him leave.”

Travis got up and stepped from the room to talk to a waiting footman, then returned to his seat. When servants came in with a large tray of cheese, breads and cold meats, Kate looked up long enough to shake her head. “You and your nibble food.”

“Thank you for the excuse.”

“I pity your poor kitchen staff.”

Travis piled a toasted round high with a cured meat and topped it with a dollop of a soft cheese flavored with chives and other herbs. “Are you kidding? This is way easier for them than cooking something.”

“But they never get to experiment, get creative, or show off. Most cooks like that.”

“They can cook for my father. And they do experiment. I am pretty sure I have never tried this cheese before. Here, try some.” He spread a bit on a piece of bread and held it near her mouth until she bit it.

“Ehh, too salty. Give me the white one I like.” She reached over to take a chunk of cold sausage and popped it into her mouth before she went back to her work.

She continued to work, taking occasional bites and having occasional bites fed to her, until the food was mostly gone and a knock on the door announced a servant, who informed her that the guards were awaiting her pleasure.

Travis stood and the servant took the tray, and Kate put her serious expression back on and resumed the questioning.