SIX
THE CARRIAGES ARRIVED as the sun slipped into the west, lighting the city’s mirrors with orange flame.
Melanie and I waited in the front hall with handfuls of others, everyone clothed in their most elegant attire. Men strode around in their tailcoats, looking impatient. Ladies glanced at mirrors to make last-minute adjustments to their coiled braids or shimmering gowns. Finally, guards hauled open the heavy glass doors and nobles poured outside, into the waiting carriages.
“This one is yours.” A valet led us toward a white carriage at the end of the line, a silver cresting wave painted onto the door: the sigil for House of the Sea.
I tipped up my chin and stepped into the carriage, not bothering with his offered hand. Once Melanie was inside, the door shut and ours followed the other carriages down the palace drive and into Hawksbill.
We drove by columned mansions with intricate reliefs carved into the stone, and long, winding drives bordered by generous gardens and fountains. Roses and ivy hung on iron trellises, and flags bearing house sigils fluttered in the breeze. Dragon. Sea. Unicorn. Sun.
The caravan of carriages turned along the winding streets, and reflected sunlight shone straight through our window, forcing us to close the curtains or go blind. For the moment, we were alone. “We’re still reeling from our trek through the wraithland,” I said, even though Melanie didn’t need the reminder. The clip-clop of horse hooves covered my voice.
Melanie nodded. “But we’re trying to fit in like nothing’s wrong. We don’t want to talk about our experiences. We don’t even want to talk about home. We’re afraid if we do, we’ll show weakness.”
“Perfect. We’ll remain the enigmatic beauties of the evening.” I held my face straight for a heartbeat, until Melanie cracked a smile and we both fought off a fit of giggles.
It wasn’t a long trip; it’d have been quicker to walk than wait in the carriage line for ours to reach the front door, but walking would have been unseemly. Practicality almost always was.
But when the door opened, the vision of lights was worth the wait.
The Chuter mansion boasted a dozen columns carved from marble, each with a sprinkling of tiny mirrors, which threw off the sun’s light. Cold torches waited for dusk, still over an hour away, but the buzzing of crickets already filled the air.
Wind breathed through the surrounding gardens and trees, spurring me to follow the others as they entered the mansion. The whole place reeked of opulence, and so did Chey’s guests. No one stopped to look or admire, like such a display of wealth was an everyday occurrence.
It was for them. Melanie and I were the only ones trying not to gape as we hurried after everyone.
“I didn’t see Tobiah,” she muttered as we entered the mansion.
Good. “Maybe he wasn’t invited. Or didn’t want to come. I heard he refuses to attend most social events.” Warring scents of rose and honeysuckle filled the mansion’s front hall, making my head spin.
“The dining hall is through here.” A footman gestured to the left, his tone holding all the enthusiasm of having said those exact words five thousand times tonight; we were among the last to arrive.
One of the house staff led us through the dining hall, resplendent with crystal chandeliers and glossy wood panels along the walls. A string quartet sat in the corner, their music nearly drowned out by the several dozen guests talking.
“Here are your seats.” The footman pulled out two chairs at the lower end of the table, next to a handful of men in military uniforms.
A surge of disgust made my face hot.
I saw soldiers of the Indigo Army every time I came to Skyvale, but I’d never been forced to share a meal with men who might have been there during the One-Night War. With men who might have murdered citizens of Aecor City, high nobility, and my parents.
Focusing on calming breaths, I accepted the cushioned chair and arranged the russet gown over my lap.
“Oh, thank saints.” A young man wearing the uniform of the Indigo Order offered a wide smile. His hair was short, in the style of most soldiers, but the top buttons of his jacket were undone, as though he hated even that much confinement.
He was too young to have fought in Aecor. Maybe he’d be all right.
“I was afraid I’d be alone with these old men all evening.” He motioned at the four other men surrounding us, who all grumbled good-naturedly. “I’m Lieutenant James Rayner. The old men are Clint, Ethan, Eric, and Bryce. They all have ranks more impressive than mine, so I’ll just skip over those, if that’s all right with you. I do, however, have the distinction of being Crown Prince Tobiah’s principal bodyguard.”
Maybe he wasn’t all right, after all.
But the last bit of information snapped him into my memory; he’d been in the king’s office yesterday. “I’m pleased to meet all of you. I’m Julianna Whitman. And this is my companion, Melanie Cole.”
“I remember. My most heartfelt condolences for the loss you’ve both suffered.” James offered a deep nod, almost a bow. “I, too, know the pain of losing someone close.”
Rayner. That was the queen’s maiden name, which made James Tobiah’s cousin. If I recalled, there was a scandal around James’s birth, which was why he carried his mother’s name, rather than his mysterious father’s. Later on, his mother had married a prominent lord, but he’d died in a fire at the Rayner family home; that must have been the loss James spoke of.
“It seems you’ve had no trouble securing places in society,” said one of the other soldiers. He looked about the king’s age, though he wore the years with more grace. It was entirely possible he’d been in Aecor ten years ago. Any of the four older men, actually. They all wore medals on their jackets, but I couldn’t tell what they represented.
My stomach turned over, but I managed to say, “Thank you.” I wanted to make the tablecloth slither alive and hurl dinnerware at the soldiers. I wanted to instruct forks and knives to—
Melanie reached for my hand under the table, and squeezed. “We’re fortunate for Lady Meredith’s and Lady Chey’s consideration. We don’t know anyone here, but we’re eager to make friends.”
“I don’t think that will be a problem for either of you.” The soldier smiled easily.
“Lady Meredith said this is an engagement ball. Who is her fiancé?” she asked.
Everyone swung his head around, eyebrows lifted and mouth slightly agape. “You don’t know?” James looked incredulous.
Melanie paled slightly. “Unfortunately, our invitation came only minutes after we arrived, and we weren’t informed of any details.” She shot a glance toward the head of the table, where Lady Meredith sat. “I suppose we’ll find out soon, won’t we?”
At her easy, palpable charm, the men seemed to relax. “That you will, my lady.”
“We’re also eager to see the whole palace and the parks behind it. If only we could find someone willing to give us a tour or two.”
James grinned. “Well then, you’ve been seated with the right people. If I’m ever given a day off duty, I will beg for your company.”
“Aren’t you off duty now?” she asked.
James gestured toward the head of the table. “At events like this, I’m not important enough to sit by the crown prince, but I can see him from here. If anyone threatens him, I’ll just cut down everyone between us. I’m not worried.” He winked as though it had been a joke, but there was a hardness to his expression that revealed otherwise.
“We’ll be sure to stay out of your way, in that case.”
So the prince was present after all. I glanced in his direction and saw the distracted, sullen expression of someone who didn’t want to be here. He sat between Lady Meredith and his father, who looked very gray this evening. The queen sat on the other side of the king, her face turned away from me.
James caught the prince’s bored look, too, and flashed an awkward smile at me. In a low voice, as though sharing a secret, he said, “His Highness doesn’t usually come to balls and parties. He’ll make an appearance when he must, like tonight, but often he spends his evenings alone with his father.” James cast another look toward the crown prince and shrugged. “His preference for staying in gives me plenty of nights off, but it is good for him to be out in society.”