Chapter 7 #5
“Anyway, Lord Blackbane only did this to curry her favor, of course, as she owns the largest fleet of merchant ships in Valnar and he is most eager to get a slice of that business. His father recently died and left all his money to his infant half-brother, if you can believe it. No one expected it, of course—vampires have a hard enough time conceiving as it is—so the young thing’s arrival was quite an unpleasant surprise for his lordship.
At least he was allowed to retain his title.
“In any case, Lady Kerr passed along the information to one of Martin’s apprentices on the condition that he alert her the moment old Ansell Volorthen turns to dust, as her husband, Dorian, is just ravenous for a position on the council.
Not to mention Ansell looks like he’s about to croak any minute now.
Dear Dorian hasn’t stopped trying to bed me for the last three decades, despite the fact that nearly everyone at court is aware that my interest lies with Viscountess Georgia Harring.
Well, everyone apart from her bumbling baboon of a husband.
” Her silver eyes slid to a breathtaking raven-haired vampiress with dewy copper skin.
The viscountess slipped a spoonful of caviar between her lips, looking decidedly bored beside a lanky vampire lord with dark, slicked-back hair. Her husband, I presumed.
“Anyway, it was through the apprentice that I learned that you, my dear, are a courtesan from Salsworth come to Valnar to swindle the King out of his rule and fortune.” She smiled triumphantly as my jaw dropped.
“I am not a courtesan,” I protested. “I’m not even from Salsworth!” I lowered my voice as I became painfully aware of the furtive glances that were being cast in our direction.
She giggled, taking a swig from her crystal goblet. “Obviously. However, true or not, gossip is currency at court and you, my dear, simply by arriving on the King’s arm tonight, just became enemies with nearly every man, woman, and vampire in this room.”
I gripped my glass tighter as my palms grew clammy. Perhaps I hadn’t imagined the stares I had earned from the court as I entered the ballroom with Mordric earlier this evening. I eyed Vesper warily. “I suppose there’s a price you’ll demand from me for sharing this information?”
She grinned widely. “Not at all. Unlike the rest of these shrews, I have no desire for a higher station or larger fortune, so gossip is essentially worthless to me. It’s still good fun, mind you.
No, I’m just happy to have a new, most interesting friend.
It doesn’t hurt that everyone already hates you since they tend to hate me, too. ”
I supposed I wasn’t exactly in the position to refuse friends right now. “I’ll drink to that,” I conceded, smiling as we clinked glasses. The sparkling wine in her goblet fizzed wildly.
“Happy to hear it,” she said. “So, tell me. What is your opinion of the King so far?”
I cast her an alarmed glance, mulling over everything she’d just told me. If gossip was currency, then I wondered what my opinion of Mordric was worth. “His Majesty has been very kind to me, for which I am grateful,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “What is yours?”
She flashed a tight-lipped smile, eyeing Mordric across the room where several courtiers were practically hanging from his arm. “The King is adored by all his subjects, he’s a brilliant politician, and he seems quite taken with you.”
Mordric grinned at me then, raising his glass. I returned his smile, although I found Vesper’s response to be rather cryptic. He detached himself from his admirers and approached us, a warm expression on his face. “Vesper,” he said, bowing to the silver-haired vampiress. “You look lovely as ever.”
“As do you, Your Majesty,” she replied, ducking into a curtsy. “I must congratulate you on your new adviser. She’s certainly brought some excitement to court. You must let me steal her away from you for tea some evening soon.”
“If she wishes it, then it will be done,” he said. “Finn, you’ve managed to attract a fierce ally in Vesper. I couldn’t have chosen better myself.”
“You flatter me, Your Majesty,” she quipped. “Until we meet again, Finn.”
I stuck to Mordric’s side like a burr for the rest of the evening.
Several times throughout the night, a flurry of waiters cleared and reset the tables with new exotic foods, as if performing a choreographed dance.
The moment you were about to take the final sip of your wine, a goblet filled to the brim would appear beneath your nose.
I couldn’t wait to tell Niamh about what I’d seen here.
Most of the guests remained in the ballroom until a rosy-hued dawn broke through the clouds.
I didn’t think I had ever been so content, stuffed with food and drink and hanging on the arm of the King himself.
When the crowd finally thinned, Mordric inclined his head toward the door.
“Allow me to escort you to your chambers?”
I regarded him for a moment, my mind groggy with wine. I couldn’t imagine his hulking figure in the cellars. Mrs. Cathers might waste away on the spot at the sight of him.
“I hope you like them,” he continued. “After all, they are yours from now on.”
“Oh!” I exclaimed. “You mean the guest chambers.”
“Of course,” he replied. “I can’t have my new adviser living with the servants.”
My cheeks warmed. Only a few days ago, I had been one of those servants. I brushed off the thought as he offered his arm.
Stragglers lingered outside the ballroom, many of them with drinks still in hand. Lovers, vampires and humans alike, peeled off in search of privacy. I imagined their beleaguered footmen would arrive soon to drag them back to their chambers.
“So, what did you think of your first solstice?” Mordric asked as we strolled through the corridors.
“It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” I admitted. “I felt like I couldn’t want for anything more.”
He chuckled. “There’s a reason Martin has kept his seat on the council for nearly a decade. He’s excellent at what he does, don’t you think?”
I nodded. A clink echoed through the corridor and I glanced over my shoulder to see a trio of guards trailing us. Their hands were clasped behind their backs, and I found it was a small comfort that they didn’t rest atop the broadswords at their belts. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to this.
When we finally reached my door, my heart sank despite the sleep that tugged at my eyelids.
I reluctantly untangled my arm from his, hovering awkwardly at the threshold.
Nerves twisted my tongue in knots as Mordric stared down at me, his black eyes twinkling.
I sucked in a breath as he reached for my hand.
His touch alone, circling my pulse, was enough to send shivers down my spine.
I stared wordlessly as he brought my fingers to his full lips, brushing a kiss against my knuckles.
“Your skin is quite warm,” he observed, as if to himself.
I stiffened, resisting the urge to wrench my hand from his grasp. “I, er, I run hot,” I muttered.
“And I, cool,” he said, straightening. “We make a fine match.”
I bobbed my head, concealing my grin.
“I’m afraid I must bid you good morning, Miss Erramun,” he said, a hint of disappointment in his voice that made me want to squeal. He smiled down at me. “Sweet dreams.”