Only after curtsying did Arya speak, somewhat breathlessly. "Your Majesty, it's getting late. When are we leaving? Are we going to camp outside the Kingswood tonight?"
As she finished speaking, she raised a hand to wipe the beads of sweat from her forehead. Her dirt-stained little hand left faint smudges on her fair cheek.
Standing beside her, Daenerys could not help smiling. She reached out to wipe Arya's smudged cheek clean, then spread her hands at Viserys, indicating that this restless young lady of House Stark had always been so headlong and impetuous.
Viserys merely glanced at the two of them before saying gently, "Don't worry. Varys has already arranged everything in advance. We'll arrive at just the right time if we leave now. If it gets too late, we can camp out for the night. There's no need to rush."
After a pause, Viserys turned toward Sansa and the others standing nearby. "Well, ladies, are the three of you planning to join us too? Those clothes aren't suited to hunting, though. You'll need to change."
"Your Majesty, we weren't planning to join the hunt."
Sansa hurried to explain, her voice urgent. "We were waiting here for you because we wanted to see you off out of the city. The three of us have agreed to go to the garden afterward to choose some newly dyed threads for the embroidered trim on Princess Rhaenys's birthday gown."
As soon as she finished, Jeyne pursed her lips beside her, though she tried not to make it too obvious.
Having overheard Arya and Viserys and learned that they might camp out overnight, she had already wanted to take Viserys up on his polite invitation and join them.
But since Sansa had already explained why they were there, Jeyne could hardly contradict her on