"Thank you, Megara. A bath sounds wonderful! I am definitely going to avail myself of this opportunity and go enjoy a soak. If you will all excuse me now, I shall return later."

I return to my quarters to find everything in readiness for me to enjoy a nice, long, relaxing bath. Megara has really outdone herself this time. She certainly knows her way around a household and with servants. I honestly believe she would be very good for my rather absent minded when it comes to matters of the home brother.

I undress quickly and sink down into the scented bathwater. I close my eyes and try to let my mind drift. However, random thoughts start sneaking their way back in. I hear my mother's voice saying, "You are a queen now. It is high time you married."

Where did that come from? I find myself sitting straight up in the bathtub rather than lounging as I was before. Mother has always said that though we have a duty to marry properly, she would like us to marry for love if at all possible. My one chance for a true love match seems to have drifted away out to sea recently. Do I dare hope that he will return any time soon? I may not have a choice but to consider other alternatives if he does not.

Prince Kamiros is naturally the first one that comes to mind. He is handsome and kind. It would also be a politically advantageous arrangement. But would I have to leave Crete?

Then there is Nikolaos, the General's son. He is about my age, but I know so little about him. He has yet to even meet his own father!

I sink down under the water over my head to try and remove all such disquieting thoughts. I re-emerge above the surface with an idea. Simply put, I am going to be on my best behavior, dress myself as attractively as possible, and may the Goddess guide a suitor to me. I need to just be myself.

After a time, I find the skin on my fingers becoming all wrinkled. It is time for me to dress and rejoin my company. As the servants fuss about helping me to become presentable for the rest of the day, I say a quick prayer to the Goddess in hopes that she will send to me a sign of my fate as soon as possible.