Page 45 of Legacy of Thorns
“You have a plan?” Relief washed over Daphne, almost overriding the warmth that was spreading through her from Fin’s touch on her shoulder.
He still hadn’t removed his hand, and she didn’t point out his oversight or shrug away from him. She needed all the comfort she could get.
“I’ve been into the village,” Nisha explained, catching Daphne up.
“I thought you just went for a walk?” Daphne could vaguely remember Nisha muttering something about needing a walk.
“You lot were talking in circles,” Nisha said matter-of-factly, “and I preferred to do something productive.”
“It was dangerous to go alone,” Fin said quietly. “You should have taken me with you.”
Nisha shook her head. “It was easier to get information on my own.”
Morrow raised an eyebrow. “And did you get information?”
“Of course.” Nisha placed a parcel wrapped in brown paper on the table. “Information and these.” She turned to Daphne. “Do you know how to dance?”
Daphne looked back at her warily. “I just spent six months at the Sovaran court, so unfortunately yes.”
“Unfortunately?” Archie’s brow creased. “How can anyone dislike dancing?”
“I find I can dislike any and all energetic activities,” Daphne said. “Consider it a gift, if you will.”
Fin’s hand tightened on her shoulder, and for a second her calm control nearly cracked. But whatever he said about releasing her feelings, it clearly wasn’t the right moment.
“While I tremble to ask,” she said calmly to Nisha, “why do my dancing skills matter right now?”
“Houseguests,” Nisha answered cryptically.
Finley raised a brow. “I hope that makes more sense to someone else than it does to me.”
Only blank looks met his inquiring gaze, so he turned back to Nisha.
“If the local lord has houseguests, that means parties,” she said, as if it was obvious. “Lots of them. And parties mean extra help hired from town and purchases made with local suppliers. So I asked around. Turns out the next entertainment Lord Castlerey has planned is tonight—and it’s a ball.”
She pulled open the parcel and shook out a heavy gown of pink satin. In her other hand, she held up an elegant face mask. “Even better for us, it’s a ladies’ masquerade.”
“A ladies’ masquerade?” Daphne asked blankly. She had been to plenty of formal events at the Sovaran court, and even a masquerade, but she hadn’t heard of a ladies’ one.
“The ladies go masked, but the men don’t,” Nisha said. “A full masquerade would have been better, but this is good enough. A ball is already the perfect opportunity to get a couple of people into the manor without suspicion. Lots of guests will be coming from out of town, so no one will expect to recognize every face.”
She looked directly at Daphne, Fin’s hand still on her shoulder. “Only two of us could successfully pose as a couple, so I purchased the clothing with you and Finley in mind. I hope you can make any necessary adjustments before tonight.”
Daphne straightened the dress for the tenth time, trying to work up the courage to leave the small bedroom.
“Are you sure it fits all right?” she asked Nisha.
“It does.” Nisha prowled in a full circle around her, her critical eye on Daphne’s gown as she checked it. “It’s a good thing you’re handier with a needle than I am.”
“I didn’t learn as a child,” Daphne said, “since my mother much preferred travel to needlework. But Rosalie’s mother insisted Rosalie and I learn.” She gave a breathy laugh. “We weren’t the easiest pupils—Rosalie has about as much patience for it as my mother, and I kept falling asleep in lessons.”
“Pure coincidence, I’m sure,” Nisha said wryly. “But at least you retained some basic skills, and that’s better than me. Now come on, it’s time for you two to get moving.”
Daphne opened the bedroom door quietly and slipped into the main room. Fin stood with his back to her, his hands on Archer’s shoulders. From Archer’s sulky expression they were having the same conversation they’d been having all afternoon.
“I’m just saying I should be there, too,” Archer said. “I could have gone out and bought myself a formal outfit.”
Over Fin’s shoulder, Archer’s eyes caught on Daphne, and he stuttered to a stop, his face going red. A small smile tugged at her lips. She knew Archer’s infatuation wasn’t his fault, but his responses were so adorably boyish at times that she couldn’t help smiling to herself.
