ELAYNE'S POV

While Daddy leaves for his chambers, I stop briefly at mine then order a couple of serving Betas to let my dear 'friends'

Urgh.

... Know that I'll be coming to see them for tea and berries.

Of course they sent back word and agreed immediately; tea and berries are 'sneaky' words they use for saying there's juicy gossip.

That's one reason why it'll be so easy to manipulate them, why I've been doing that so easily with my 'goody loving girl' image for all these years.

They ...