"The gossip goes that she is in love with young Count Rames, who fought and killed the Prince of Kesh before her eyes, and now has gone to make amends to the king his father at the head of an army." "That may be true, Merytra.

Why not?
He is her foster-brother and of royal blood, bold, too, and handsome, they say.

Well, queens have no business to be in love.

That is the privilege of humbler folk like you and me, Merytra.

Say, is she suspicious--about Prince Abi, I mean ?" "I do not know, but Asti, her nurse and favourite lady, the wife of Mermes and mother of Rames, is suspicious enough.