I was one of the first to hurry out, hoping if I escaped Mistress Masterson’s eye, she’d eventually forget about the scene she’d witnessed. Surely she had better things to worry about. The other girls turned toward the spiral staircase, but just as I was about to, a flash of color caught my eye at the opposite end of the foyer. Everyone was preoccupied going their own way and paid little attention when I turned from the stairs. At the far end of the great hall was the entrance to the drawing room, and beside it hung a painting of surpassing beauty.
I recognized the artist as I drew nearer. Florencio. The National Gallery in Osfro also held one of his paintings, and I’d studied it many times. He was a Sirminican renowned for painting landscapes in his own country, and I was surprised to find one of his works in this country manor. Closer scrutiny made me think it was one of the artist’s earlier works. Certain techniques weren’t quite as refined as the gallery portrait. It was still exquisite, but those imprecise details might explain how the painting had ended up here.
I admired it a little longer, trying to puzzle out some of his methods, and then turned around to go back to the staircase. To my astonishment, I saw Jasper and Cedric headed my way down the corridor. Neither had noticed me yet. They were too engrossed in their own conversation. I quickly stepped around a corner, cringing back into a small nook to the side of the drawing room’s entrance that was out of sight of the main hall.
“. . . knew it was too good to be true,” Jasper was saying. “You had two chances. Two chances, and you blew them both.”
“You don’t think you’re being a little extreme?” asked Cedric. His tone was light, laconic even, but I could sense the tension underneath it.
“Did you hear the mouth on that girl?” Jasper exclaimed. “Atrocious.”
“Not really. She was quite polite about it all. No improper language.” Cedric hesitated. “And her grammar and diction are quite excellent.”
“It’s not the language so much as the attitude. She’s bold and impertinent. The men in Adoria don’t want shrews for wives. They want mild, compliant young woman.”
“Not too mild if they’re going to survive in Adoria,” Cedric said. “And she was defending Mira. I thought it was noble.” Well, that answered one question. They’d heard the whole exchange after all.
Jasper sighed. “Oh, yes. Defending the Sirminican—that justifies it all. That one’s going to have to get used to being put down. Clara’s not going to be the only one to do it.”
“I don’t think Mira’s the type who will ever ‘get used to’ being put down,” said Cedric. I thought about the dark glitter of her eyes and was inclined to agree with him.
“Be that as it may, you’ve thrown away both commissions. You’ll be lucky to get anything for them in Adoria—unless you can get Adelaide to close her mouth long enough for us to marry her off. She’s pretty enough to snare some fool. The Sirminican is too,” Jasper added, almost grudgingly. “There’s nothing wrong with your eyes, I’ll give you that. It’s the rest of you I don’t know about. Letting you procure this year was a bad idea. You should’ve stayed here with your classes. Maybe a few more years would have taught you some sense.”
“What’s done is done,” said Cedric.
“I suppose so. Well, I have to finish up some paperwork, and then I’ll meet you at the carriage. We need to check on Swan Ridge.”
I heard the sounds of Jasper’s footsteps departing and waited for Cedric to do the same. Instead, he moved forward, coming into my view as he looked at the same painting I’d admired before. I froze where I was, praying he wouldn’t look off to his side. After several moments, he sighed and turned to follow his father. And as he did, he caught sight of me in his periphery. Before I could draw another breath, he darted into my little alcove, trapping me between him and the wall.
“You! What in Ozhiel’s name have you done?” he hissed, pitching his voice low. “What are you doing here?”
“Um, getting ready to be part of the new nobility.”
“I’m serious! Where’s Ada?” he demanded.
“Long gone,” I said, with a shrug. “Guess you’re stuck with me. Besides, I thought you wanted to see me again?”
“When I said that, I meant that I wanted—” He stopped that thought, looking only briefly flustered as countless unvoiced possibilities lingered tantalizingly in the air between us. His composure was back in moments. “My lady, this isn’t a game. You have no business here! I was supposed to get Ada.”
“And I’m telling you, she’s long gone. I gave her some money and sent her on her way. She’ll be happily milking cows in no time.” My words were bold—impertinent, as Jasper would no doubt say—but inside, I was panicked. Cedric had covered for me in Osfro, but this wasn’t over yet. “I helped you by coming here. Ada would’ve probably bolted on her own. Wouldn’t you have gotten in trouble for showing up short a girl?”
“Do you know how much trouble I’ll get in for smuggling away a countess? They’ll imprison me! Presuming your husband-to-be doesn’t just kill me himself.” Seeing my surprise, he said, “Yes, I know about your engagement, my lady. I read the society papers.”
“Then you should know you’re in no real danger from Lionel. He’s not the violent type—unless you’re an itch.”