Cersei decided that the best way to get Father to relent his rule on her and Jaime being kept apart was to be the best behaved daughter she could possibly be.

She spent the rest of the afternoon concentrating on getting her needlepoint picture exactly right. She didn't say a word about her uncomfortably-laced corset, despite the steel busk digging under her breast until she was sure it had rubbed raw. She didn't look out the window once, despite the sun beams patterning the floor of the study. She didn't complain to Septa about stabbing her thumb with the needle, twice, nor about the cramp in her hand from painstakingly unpicking the lines of crooked stitches and re-doing them. When Father came up to check on her progress after supper (which was provided for her and Septa in the upstairs dining room), the needlepoint lilies stood perfectly in their bowl with stems as straight as arrows. Cersei held her breath as Father judged her work.

'Much better,' he commented. He looked marginally less dissatisfied than usual. 'You see. I knew if you applied yourself you could achieve something.'

'Thank you, Father.' She nibbled on her thumb nail. 'May I... ask something of you?'

His expression pained. 'Do stop that disgusting habit, Cersei.'

'Sorry, Father.' She looked suitably contrite and put her hands behind her back. 'I was wondering if I may be allowed to have dinner downstairs tomorrow, with you and Jaime. And... Tyrion.' She twisted her fingers together anxiously while waiting for his reply, which was its usual long time in coming.

'We shall see. Tomorrow I have arranged for an etiquette and a dancing tutor from Lannisport to arrive early. They will occupy you until after noon, when your languages teacher will be here. I will of course discuss with them all at length how you are progressing.'

'And then may I... join you for meals downstairs?'

'As I said. We shall see.' Father regarded her for a long minute, his eyes dropping to her chest to where her flesh bulged out over the top of the corsetted mantle. 'Your figure is becoming soft from sedentary pursuits. I think it may be best if from now on your meals are tailored accordingly. You cannot continue to eat like your brother, who is active all day.'

He turned away from her and addressed Septa. 'I expect to see at least two finished embroidery patterns tomorrow. Perhaps something a little less... simple?' Septa nodded and he walked out, closing the door behind him.

Cersei fumed with frustration. I will go mad tomorrow with this schedule. And when can I talk to Jaime? Surely he will tell me this whole idea of taking me to KingsLanding is just a ruse to make me behave? She brought her hands back up to her mouth again and began chewing her nails. Septa gave her a disapproving glance.

'You look ugly when you screw your face up like that, Septa,' Cersei said, her eyes wide with sincerity. 'You can really see how many lines you have.' She stood up, stretched. 'Now, take me to my room it's time for my bath.'

That evening dragged on into the next day. A guard had been stationed outside her bedroom door from dusk until dawn. Cersei ate all her meals upstairs with Septa, she practised dancing until her feet ached in the ridiculous pointy slippers, she studied languages and improved her penmanship. She arranged sprigs of apple blossom in vases and embroidered two new patterns, only one of which she had to re-do when Father pointed out that the fruit bowl was missing a cherry. She bit her tongue and did everything she was told, but she did not once see Jaime.

She heard him talking outside, through the window of the study late in the day, along with the sound of hoof beats. She threw down her sewing and ran over to the window, despite Septa's objections. For a brief moment Cersei imagined Jaime riding right up under the window and calling out for her to climb down, whereby they would ride off together. But by the time she got there and peered over the sill, he'd already gone. Probably hunting with Father. She tried not to dwell on it.

Nor did she see Jaime the next day, which followed a depressing similar schedule. Except dance was replaced with singing. Her singing tutor was a dandy with lot of oil in his hair, which he'd fashioned into a quiff. Cersei amused herself by enquiring innocently whether he had bad teeth because 'Your breath smells', after he introduced himself. She then pulled a face every time he spoke, so that by the end of the lesson he was holding his hand self-consciously in front of his mouth whenever he talked.

She saw one of her brothers the day after that, but it was the wrong brother. She was being escorted to her room after supper by Septa, and the dwarf was on the stairs with his nanny, hanging off the bannister and kicking his feet in the air while Nanny unsuccessfully attempted to prise him off.

'See Sisi!' Tyrion squealed, as Cersei passed by above him. He ducked between the handrails, easily evading Nanny's grasp. Then he came clambering up the stairs, using his stumpy hands to climb. Cersei stopped and waited for him, pasting a smile on her face.

'Tyrion!' she said, forcing enthusiasm. Remembering what Jaime had done, she got down on her knees as he galloped up to her. 'How are you, little brother?' He flung himself into her lap, and she put her hands around his stunted form and patted him gingerly on the back.

'Sisi! Come outside with me? Come play with me? Read book with me?' Tyrion was a manic bundle of energy as he romped around. Nanny finally made it to the top of the staircase and came puffing towards them, her face red.

'I'm sorry M'Lady. He... he's been a handful all day. Come along now, Tyrion. I've got a book for you, in the nursery.'

Tyrion ran behind Cersei, and when Nanny went to grab him he ran around the other way. Cersei watched as Nanny floundered about like a bear trying to catch a midge. 'Are you always this useless?' Cersei giggled. 'His legs are shrunken but he's still faster than your fat old arse.'

'Cersei!' Septa remonstrated. 'That's just rude.'

'But it's the truth.' Cersei looked vexed. 'Her arse is like a barge.'

Nanny panted and leaned forward hands on knees to get her wind back. 'Lady Cersei is right, Septa. His little Lordship is too quick for me. He needs a leash on 'im.'

'I'll read him a story, Nanny,' Cersei offered. 'I'll bring him to his room afterwards, if you'd like.'

'I'm not sure your father would -' Septa began.

Cersei rolled her eyes. 'Oh piss off, Septa.'

Nanny intervened hastily to make peace. 'That would be lovely, M'Lady. I'm sure your little brother would love to spend some time with you, he never stops talking about you and Jaime. And the gods know, your dear Lord Father has precious little time to spare for him. I'm sure Lord Tywin wouldn't object to your reading him a short story.' She smiled at Septa. 'And it would give me a break from 'im and all.'

Septa frowned, but said nothing else. Cersei took Tyrion's hand triumphantly and walked into her room.

Tyrion stabbed a stubby finger into the page where he wanted her to start reading from, snuggling up against her as they sat on her bed. She didn't move away from him even though his touch made her shudder slightly. His little legs stuck straight out in front of him.

'What have you been doing lately, Tyrry?' Cersei asked in a sweet voice, using Jaime's pet name for him. 'Have you been playing with Jaime much?'

'Read!' Tyrion said, stabbing the page again.

Cersei sighed and began to read. '"The Knight was barely a boy, and he was wearing a haubert made of -"'

'Hauberk,' said Tyrion.

'What?'

'Hauberk. Not haubert. Sisi say wrong.'

Cersei scowled and snapped the book shut. 'I'm done reading. Let's play a better game. It's called... 'Secrets.''

Tyrion looked momentarily disappointed about the story, but then perked up. 'Play secrets!'

'Yes, but we can't tell Father, alright?' Cersei held a finger to her lips. 'We have to keep this game a secret from everyone, especially Father. It's very, very important. Can you play this game, Tyrry?'

'Yes,' Tyrion nodded seriously. 'Tyrry good at secrets. Keep Stripy a secret, in box.'

'That's right. A secret, like Stripy. You wouldn't want Father to find Stripy would you?'

Tyrion was distracted by her bearskin rug, and started growling at it.

'Tyrry!' Cersei said sternly. 'Listen! You wouldn't want Father to find Stripy, because he would kill Stripy. Squish him into a little ball, like this.' She clenched her fists together to demonstrate. Tyrion looked suitably aghast. Cersei smiled. 'So, no telling Father. Or Stripy will get...' She scrunched her hands up again.

'No kill Stripy,' Tyrion whimpered. He looked confused as to how this game had come to involve his puppy. But he was at least listening attentively now.

'I want you to play secrets with Jaime. Only me, you and Jaime play this game. I have a secret to tell Jaime, and tomorrow you have to go find him and tell him, alright? Can you do that, Tyrry?' Cersei asked. Can you do this one thing for me, you loathsome little half-wit? Can you be actually useful for once in your useless life?

'Secret for Jimi,' Tyrion nodded, eager to please.

'Good boy. Alright. Here's the secret you have to tell Jaime. Tell him to meet me, Cersei, on the beach tomorrow after supper.' She stared intensely into Tyrion's eyes. 'What is the secret?'

'Jimi meet Sisi on beach. After supper,' Tyrion repeated.

'Very good,' Cersei clapped her hands. 'You're a very clever little imp aren't you? Now, we must be getting you back to Nanny.' She stood up and grabbed his hand, dragging him off the bed and towards to door. Tyrion stumbled a little. 'Sisi play 'nother game with me?' he asked, hopefully.

'No, no more games,' Cersei said. She paused, then spun around to face him. 'But if you tell Jaime the secret, I'll get you another puppy.'

Tyrion gasped in wonder. 'Nother Stripy?'

'Not a stripy one, a white one. A pure white puppy, like snow. He can be friends for Stripy. Would you like that?'

Tyrion nodded happily.

'Good. Well just make sure you tell Jaime my secret tomorrow. And say nothing to anyone else. Only Jaime.'

Tyrion nodded again, happy to have his sister's attention, his little face alight with dreams of a white puppy.