A Blossom at Midnight (The Scented Court Book 1) by A.L. Knorr

Author:A.L. Knorr [Knorr, A.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Intellectually Promiscuous Press
Published: 2022-01-07T05:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Two

Jessamine

Everywhere she looked were admiring faces, though none of them were Marion’s. Jessamine’s anxiety came back with teeth. As she tried to imagine the reasons for her mother not having written back, her stomach tied itself into knots. When Ilishec pulled her aside and put his hands on her shoulders, telling her to relax, she realized that she simply had to put the subject of her mother aside for now or risk making a poor showing at her own initiation ball. She promised Ilishec she was fine, but on her way back to the dance floor, she scooped up a goblet of wine and took three long swallows. After that, she began to enjoy herself.

She whirled about the room with courtiers and nobles, and everyone knew the dances. She danced with handsome young aristocrats who liked to spring her across the floor like they thought they had to cover every corner. She danced with kind elderly men who held her gently and swayed docilely, keeping within a few square meters and chatting with her all the while. She danced with stoic upright men who didn’t talk but executed the steps with technical perfection, keeping their eyes focused over her head. If she herself hadn’t yet learned the dance, then she gave the lead fully to her partner and did her best to cover it up if she fumbled.

The Calyx did not dance with one another. In fact, they hardly spoke to one another except in passing. To all outward appearances, they were guests as well, but this was an illusion. They were there to make the party lively, to make guests feel appreciated, to listen and submit positive and polite responses on whatever topic the courtiers wished to discuss. Calyx were not to give strong opinions or disagree on any matter. Discretion and tact were part of their art. Jessamine understood now why the Calyx were educated in many different subjects. It was not required that they be experts in anything except the management of their botanicals and fragrances, but it was expected that they could converse with any guest on a great range of topics. Jessamine listened to a breeder talk about bovine stock, then a shipbuilder about the magnificent and coveted timbers of Boskaya, then a young noble with impressive sideburns and muscular calves about swordplay, mathematics and the constellations. Throughout it all, she was expected to maintain the appearance of devoted attention and respectful interest. The majority of the guests seemed to want to talk about themselves, so it took her by surprise when an older gent with a stooped posture and kind eyes said: “Tell me, my dear, is it very difficult?”

She felt Beazle stir in the base of her half updo. It was getting late and he was waking up. She made a mental note to go to the balcony between dances so he could fly into the night sky without having to flit over the heads of the dancing guests. Insects were welcome; bats… she’d forgotten to ask Ilishec about.

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