A Liaden Universe® Constellation: Volume Two by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller

Author:Sharon Lee & Steve Miller [Lee, Sharon & Miller, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781451639445
Amazon: 1451639449
Publisher: Baen
Published: 2014-01-07T05:00:00+00:00

Shadow Partner

It had been apparent to Ceola for some days that Min was growing bored with her newest beau. She was hardly surprised; she had never understood why her sister had encouraged the young man’s attentions in the first place. Oh, he was pretty enough, though tall, but Min preferred dash, daring, and drama. Shadow was quiet, mannerly, and respectful; so unlike any of Min’s previous lovers as to stand in a class of his own.

Perhaps it had been the novelty of a lover who failed to make unreasonable demands upon her time and person. Or perhaps she had felt sorry for him, sitting one among a half-dozen scouts, all senior to him, and the object of a series of increasingly ribald pleasantries. Min did have moments of soft-heartedness, though they usually passed more quickly than the affair of pleasure with Shadow had done.

Whatever her reasons for attaching him, and then keeping him on her string, the signs soon became clear to Ceola’s experienced eye: Min had grown tired of Shadow as he was and wished either for him to become someone else and enact her a drama, or that he would take himself off.

Of course, she might send him off herself, though it was not Min’s way to put a thing out of one hand until she had something else clasped firmly in the other.

“Elby and I will be going to the new casino this evening.” Min was perched on a stool, her elbows folded atop the counter as she watched Ceola do set-up. “You’ll be able to handle it alone.”

Well, Ceola thought irritably, she had certainly handled the evening shift alone before. Min’s lovers were fond of showing their passion by snatching her away to accompany them to shows, openings, and dinners during the hours when she was scheduled to be on the bar, managing what was left of the family’s fortune. Except for quiet, ardent Shadow, who appeared perfectly happy to sit at the bar or at a sidetable, sometimes in company with another scout, sometimes with a handheld or a book—and wait until Min’s shift was done before whisking her off for pleasure or bedsport.

Which wistful thought reminded Ceola of a thing she had overheard, just a few nights past. She looked over her shoulder at her sister.

“I thought you and Shadow had fixed to go to Noneen’s this evening after your shift was done.”

Min sniffed. “He may go without me, if he cares for such thin stuff. I have company for this evening. Indeed, Shadow need no longer trouble himself to ask after me. You may tell him so, if he comes in tonight.”

If he came! Ceola thought, angrily. As if he were ever other than faithful in keeping his assignations! There had been one instance when duty had dictated otherwise, but he had sent ’round a very pretty note and a flower, which really was—Ceola gasped, Min’s latest dart at last piercing her understanding, and spun to stare.

“I to tell Shadow?”

Her elder lifted bored brown eyes.

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