Between Ink and Shadows by Melissa Wright

Author:Melissa Wright [Wright, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Melissa Wright

* * *

“My lady.” Allister stood staring down at Nim where she slept on the chaise, fully clothed with a borrowed cloak draped over her soiled dress.

Nim squinted up at him in the early light and groaned.

“Indeed,” he said. “But I suspect it will get worse.”

“Worse?”

His expression was grim. “Elena has discovered there is a king’s man inside the household. She’s established a schedule for the morning’s events, and you have less than a fair moment to be dressed for a formal breakfast in the banquet hall.”

She threw an arm over her face and groaned again. “Tell me the good news, Allister.”

He considered for longer than she liked, apparently struggling for a positive note. Surely, he’d heard about the previous night’s dinner guest. She didn’t know if Allister knew who Calum was, but certainly, all present had noticed their tense exchange and Nim’s reaction. He would have known that something of import had happened, given that Nim had left and come back much later with the seneschal’s messenger in tow. Allister was far from a fool, but the more she shared with him, the more she endangered his life. “The good news is that young Wesley, when confronted by the head of household about how he has thus far been treated, sent his compliments to Alice on her service and attention.”

Nim dropped her arm. “That truly is good news. Elena will have to keep her on.”

Allister gave a short nod. “And now you have far less time to prepare.” He glanced at her disheveled gown. “I’m afraid that one is primed to retire.”

“Rags,” she agreed. “But save the lace and buttons to send to Margery. Tell her I burned it in offering. She always hated this one.”

Allister chuckled, or she liked to pretend he had, because his chest shifted in what Nim could only assume was the act of holding it back.

She rose to sitting. “I’ll have a bath and be down fashionably late, like only the highest of society.”

“Very good,” Allister said. “I’ll inform the head of household, so that she might prepare your noose.”

A laugh shook Nim’s own shoulders. “Allister,” she said as he approached her door. He looked back at her, gloved hand on the lever. Nim smiled. “Thank you.”

He inclined his head then slid from the room.

Nim fell back on the chaise, emotions drawn and quartered, dragged in separate directions through filth and mud so that she did not know how to reach for one or another to pull herself back together. A bath, she decided, then breakfast, and the rest would come.

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