Lady Tosha felt her heart pounding in her chest as the entire hall focused on her.
When Ashlynn tested her a few days ago, she'd failed utterly, especially when Ashlynn's test focused on preparing her late husband's barony for war. Riwal had been more than willing to step up to whatever was demanded of him, but Tosha herself had been unable to see that the demands Ashlynn made of her were unreasonable.
In the end, Lady Ashlynn had accepted her as Riwal's regent, and she'd promised to provide support and guidance for her, for which Tosha had been immensely grateful. But now, the burden had shifted from a regency to holding the title of Lord, or rather, Lady Gardener in her own right, and the support included someone that Empress Nyrielle wanted to recommend to her.
