Meredith glanced at the two knights, then back at the Grand Duke.
"As the former head of your admirers' gathering, I learned much about the strength of Gerhard's knights, and marrying one only confirmed what I believed," she said. "One knight is worth ten soldiers. Even if the group remains small, adding two more would not draw attention, but it would double your strength. Would that not make for a stronger strategy?"
Emily nodded firmly.
"And it's not that we don't love our husbands," she said, voice wavering. "Nor that we truly don't want them with us during childbirth. But we feel—truly feel—that they must be involved with the expedition."
She swallowed hard.
"To Gerhard, Lady Raychard and Mrs Amares may be figures of rank and title. But to us… they are our Anna and Callis… our dear friends," said Emily.
Tears welled once more in Meredith's eyes.
