The duke snorted. “It has nothing to do with love or understanding. It’s about power. As long as the king is the head of the church, he alone can decide who has offended his god and deserves death.”
Luciana regarded the duke curiously. “Then ye do not follow his religion?”
“I do, actually.” A corner of his mouth lifted with a wry look. “As does everyone in Eberon who values his head. You will have to, also, when you return with me.”
Luciana stiffened. “Ye expect me to change my beliefs?”
“I won’t tell you what to believe, but for your own safety you have to at least pretend to be Enlightened.”
“Nay.” She shook her head. “I cannot go. I would have to give up my beliefs, my home, and even my sisters.”
He tilted his head. “Sisters?”
“Aye. I have four sisters here.” Luciana’s eyes misted with tears. “I belong with them. We made a vow that we would remain together forever.”
The duke watched her sadly. “You … truly have no wish to come home with me?”
“My home is here. I cannot leave my faith. Or my sisters. I am the oldest. They need me self.”
He rubbed his brow, frowning. “And what if I need you?”
Tatiana snorted. “Why would Papa need you? You’re as coarse as a peasant, and your accent is simply horrid.”
Luciana sighed. “I don’t want ye to think I’m ungrateful for yer visit. I hope ye’ll come back often.”
He leaned toward her, watching her closely. “Have you been happy here? That is what I prayed for every day.”
She blinked back tears. “Aye. I’ve been very happy.”
Mother Ginessa rested a hand on Luciana’s shoulder. “Luciana and her sisters have been a delight to us who ne’er hoped to have children of our own.”
Luciana smiled up at the nun. “We’ve been blessed to have a loving home.”
The duke exhaled slowly as he leaned back in his chair. “All right, then. I will leave you here.”
Luciana grinned. “Thank you!”
Mother Ginessa stepped back, clearly stunned. “Bu—but, Yer Grace. Ye told me earlier that ye need her—”
“No. She’s happy here. And safe.” He rose to his feet. “I stand by my decision. When the ground dries, we’ll bury Tatiana, then I’ll be on my way.”
Luciana stood, growing increasingly concerned by the frantic look on Mother Ginessa’s face. “What is wrong?”
The duke took hold of her shoulders and gazed at her with tears in his eyes. “Luciana, live a long and happy life for me. That is all I can ask.”
“Ye’ll come see me self again, aye?” Her heart dropped when he lowered his hands and looked away. Was she going to be rejected once again?
Mother Ginessa paced across her office, then turned with a defiant look. “Nay. I will not have this. Ye will tell yer daughter—”
“She is my daughter,” he ground out. “That means the decision is mine.”
“Nay, the decision is hers!” Mother Ginessa pointed at Luciana. “This is not the mainland where the men order the women about. Yer daughter is well educated and perfectly capable of making a decision for herself.”
“I cannot ask her to do this for me!”
Mother Ginessa snorted. “Ye felt fine with it less than an hour ago.”
“I was wrong!” He grimaced, clenching his fists. “I thought I could do it, but I dare not. I’ve lost one daughter. I cannot risk losing the other.”
“Why would ye lose me?” Luciana asked, but he shook his head, refusing to answer.
Mother Ginessa scoffed. “Clearly ye don’t understand the way yer daughter has been raised. Here, in the Kingdom of Moon and Mist, a queen is our ruler. Women run the fish market while their husbands are away fishing. Women manage the shops while their men are away on their trading ships. Ye will tell yer daughter everything she needs to know, and then she will make the decision—”
“I will not endanger her,” he insisted.
“Then ye endanger yerself!” the nun yelled. “If ye go back without her, ye’ll be executed.”
Luciana gasped.
The duke gritted his teeth. “You overstep yourself, madam.”
Mother Ginessa merely shrugged. “My convent, my rules.”
“My daughter, my decision.”
“Nay.” Luciana lifted her chin. “Ye will tell me. I have the right to know.”
He sighed. “You’re so much like your sister.” His mouth lifted with a wry smile. “Every bit as stubborn.”
“Stubborn? Ha!” Tatiana turned her back.
Luciana sat on the footstool. “Tell me everything.”
With a groan, he settled back in the armchair. “All right, then. What do you know of Eberon?”
“Of the four mainland kingdoms, it is the closest to the islands,” Luciana began. “’Tis named after two major rivers—the Ebe River in the north and the Ron River to the south. The capital is Ebton, which lies on the Ebe—”
“Very good,” he interrupted. “And the history?”
“Seventy years ago, the nobles rose up in rebellion against a tyrant king. The leader was the Earl of Benwick. He became king and founded the royal House of Benwick.”
The duke nodded. “Then the king rewarded those who had helped him by giving them tracts of land. His greatest ally, Allesandro Vintello, became the Duke of Vindalyn. He received a large amount of land far to the south.”