Page 5 of Happily Ever After
“What?” she managed to say, her usual eloquence apparently deserting her.
I gestured towards where the boy had been beaten, raising an eyebrow and reminding her again since she lost her wits. “That was very generous of you, Lady D’Arcane. I must say, I’m shocked to see you lowering yourself to help the common folk.”
I watched her closely, searching for any crack in her armor, any hint of the schemes I knew were constantly churning behind those beguiling eyes. She had always been easy to see through and predict. So I had written her off. Not dangerous enough for me to meddle.
But now I was seeing her in a new light. Maybe I had underestimated her.
“M’lady,” I continued, flashing the golden smile that I knew people fell for half the time but Ilyana always saw through that carefully crafted mask. “I must apologize for missing your wedding. Royal duties, you understand. But allow me to extend my congratulations now.”
Her green eyes met mine, a flicker of wariness passing through them before she schooled her features back into a neutral expression.
Good. She should be wary.
“Thank you, My Lord,” she replied, her voice dripping with honeyed politeness as she dipped into a curtsy that was just a hair too shallow to be entirely respectful. “Your kind words are most appreciated. I didn’t realize you were in the habit of lurking in alleyways.”
Ilyana’s beauty was a stark contrast to my own golden warmth, a carefully crafted persona on my part. Where I radiated like the sun, she was as cold and treacherous as a winter’s night.
I smiled, all teeth and no warmth.
“Oh, I find it educational,” I said, my smile widening to show perfect teeth. “You never know what… or who… you might stumble upon.”
Her lips tightened almost imperceptibly. She knew I was onto her little game, whatever it might be this time.
“Perhaps you’d join me for a refreshment?” I offered, gesturing to the cafe I’d just left. “I was just about to enjoy the… local flavor.”
Ilyana’s eyes darted around, clearly looking for an escape route. “Your offer is most gracious, but I’m afraid I must decline. My errands won’t run themselves, you see.”
I stepped closer, invading her personal space just enough to make her uncomfortable. “Come now,” I pressed, my smile never wavering, I knew my smile made her uneasy. “Surely your errands can wait for a cup of tea with an old friend?”
“I appreciate the invitation,” she said, smiling cheerfully as if that would mask her irritation, “but I really must be going. My husband will be expecting me.”
Ah, there it was. The mention of Noah. As if that would save her from me.
“Ah, yes,” I nodded. How amusing. “How is married life treating you, Lady D’Arcane? Or should I say, Lady Stormbourne?”
I saw that flash of irritation in her eyes flare before she masked it again. “It’s Stormbourne now, actually,” she said, with that familiar arrogant tilt to her chin which I just noticed had been missing until now. “Ilyana Stormbourne. And married life is simply delightful, thank you for asking.”
I let my smile widen. Just because I wasn’t at the palace yesterday it didn’t mean that didn’t know what was going on there.
“Well then, Lady Stormbourne,” I said, emphasizing her new name, “I won’t keep you from your marital bliss any longer. Do give my regards to my dearest cousin.”
“I shall,” she replied, already turning towards her carriage. “Good day, sir.”
“Well, that was interesting,” Lennox muttered as the carriage pulled away.
I turned to him, my smile fading into something harder, more predatory. “Indeed it was, my friend. Indeed it was.”
* * *
I leaned back in my chair, the leather creaking under my weight as I stretched my arms above my head. The case files scattered across my desk mocked me for their lack of answers. The salt smuggling operation was proving to be a thorn in my side, one I was eager to pluck out and crush beneath my heel.
A knock at the door interrupted my brooding. “Enter,” I called out, my voice carrying the weight of authority I’d cultivated over the years.
Noah stepped in, his usually impeccable appearance slightly disheveled. His warm brown hair was tousled as if he’d been running his hands through it repeatedly. Dark circles under his eyes spoke of a sleepless night.
“Cousin,” I greeted him, gesturing to the chair across from me. “You look like you’ve been dragged through hell and back. Sit.”
Noah sank into the chair, his broad shoulders sagging with an invisible burden. He poured himself a glass of whisky and took a sip, but then decided to down it in one swift gulp. “Eric, we need to talk.”
