Mistress of Lies by K. M. Enright

Author:K. M. Enright [, K. M. ENRIGHT]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2024-08-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

Shan

Shan directed her guests with a gracious smile, her entire expression and posture that of a woman who knew that she was being granted a second chance. It sickened her to have to pretend to do so—that she couldn’t be the proud, strong woman that she was. But no one wanted that of the Lady LeClaire. Not yet. The Royal Blood Worker and the Lost Aberforth might favor her, might have earned her a spot back in this world, but she was still what she was.

Stained. Foreign. Inferior.

And she would be reminded of that for years to come. The game was a long one, Shan had known that from the start. But somehow it had been easier to be ignored completely than be welcomed but pitied.

Still, for her first salon this was turning out to be a resounding success. Samuel, of course, was here—thus securing the attention of the other nobles. Even if he never came to another one, the mere chance that the latest curiosity could show up meant that any gathering she threw for the next year would be well attended. Even if all he had done all night was sit awkwardly by the window, cup of tea in hand.

But the other guests were far livelier—Miss Lynwood and Miss Rayne had both accepted her invitation, and they had kept the conversation flowing pleasantly from topic to topic, from the balls they were the most excited about to the stunning new dresses they had commissioned. They chittered on with a larger group than she had expected to show up, all young heirs of Aeravin and their siblings, eager to see how the new Lady LeClaire presented herself.

Honestly, Shan only paid them the most superficial attention, noting instead the sly way they kept looking to Samuel. They would be the ones who spread the news of his attendance, and thus they served their entire purpose at this party.

No, the one she kept her eye on was far quieter. Young Amelia Dunn—daughter of her new secret partner. Shan had no doubt that she was here on her father’s orders, but even so, her attendance helped. She was a jewel of Dameral society, despite the fact that she was a Blood Worker of only middling ability and looks, her face far too sharp and angular to be called pretty. But her father was on the Council of Lords and so everyone had sought her favor.

Though she was younger than Shan, having only been out for two Seasons, Shan’s network assured her that she had already received and rejected five offers for her hand. For many it would have been a disaster, but for her it had only driven the price higher.

Amelia set her sights high, and though she was no beauty or skilled mage she was ruthless and clever enough to do everything she could to secure a stable future for herself. If Amelia hadn’t been the daughter of a man she despised, Shan might have admired her.

But Kevan Dunn was everything wrong with Aeravin, and the plan that he had trapped her in only proved that.

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