hear the story of the capture of our Azure.”
“Ugh,” Leo muttered. “I’ll be back.”
“Play the part,” Agnes reminded him.
“Of course, darling sister,” he said, putting on his most debonair smile and striding over to the four men. The mayor shook his hand and Agnes watched, fascinated, as Leo began to tell the tale of Sera’s capture with great gusto, as if he really was his old self.
“Your brother seems to be enjoying himself.” Ebenezer Grange appeared at her elbow, two champagne flutes in hand. He offered one to Agnes.
“Yes, he’s never happier than when rich old men are showering him with attention,” she said.
He laughed. “So how did it go at the Wolfshead?”
Her face went hot. “Oh, it was fine, just fine.”
“No one tried to steal your virtue, I hope?”
Agnes choked on her champagne. “No, no. Thank you again for the ride.”
“Anytime.” He clinked his glass with hers and gazed at the photographs. “It feels just as unpleasant now as it did back at your house,” he said. “Seeing everyone clamor for pieces of them.”
“It does,” she agreed.
“Have you seen any of the show?”
“No, Father would never allow it. Leo used to get to see some dress rehearsals of his other shows, but not me. It wouldn’t be appropriate, he always said. Though I don’t think even Leo has seen any of this production.”
“Strange that it’s only one night,” Ebenezer mused.
“Well, he’s got the whole country of Kaolin to save,” Agnes said dryly. “He can’t waste time with theatrics.”
They exchanged a grin as the lights flickered in the foyer, indicating that the audience should begin taking their seats.
“See you after the show,” Ebenezer said.
Agnes was surprised by the knot that rose in her throat. She wanted to tell him that she was leaving, that she was sorry, and that if she had to marry a man from Kaolin, she was happy it would have been him. But she couldn’t say any of that, so she smiled and nodded, passing her glass off to a circulating waiter. Leo entered the theater first, and she was about to join him when her father pulled her aside.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been doing,” he said quietly. Agnes’s heart dropped to her stomach like a stone. “I know you’ve been poking around the Seaport. How many times must I tell you, Agnes—you are never going to Pelago. If any one of my men sees you there again, I will call off this wedding and have you locked up somewhere dark and silent where you can never hurt this family or its reputation again. Do I make myself clear?”
It took every ounce of will she had to jerk her chin down in a quick nod. She felt light-headed, her fingertips numb, as her father strode away and she followed weakly behind him.
He knew about the Seaport. But he did not know about her true plans—if he did, she would surely have been thrown into Larker Asylum already. She took her seat, avoiding Leo’s eyes, unwilling to reveal anything else to her father. Her resolve began to harden as her pulse slowly returned to normal.
This plan would work. It had to.
And Xavier McLellan had no idea what was in store for him.
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Martin Jenkins emerged in front of the curtains to thunderous applause.
“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the very exclusive, one-night-only premiere of The Fabled Fate of Olverin Waters and His Triumph Over the Mistress of the Islands!” There was more clapping. “Most of you have likely seen the day’s paper, so you know this production features some very unique performers as well as Kaolin’s most seasoned actress, the Lady Gwendivere, and its rising star, the one and only Mr. James Roth!” Cheers and whistles drowned out his voice for a moment. “Of course, it is a tragedy that we are losing such a pillar of the community in our noble patron Mr. Xavier McLellan, but we wish him the best of luck with his new venture, one that will surely strengthen Kaolin’s land and seas and, most importantly, its people. Thank you, Xavier, for all you have done for theater in Old Port. And now, without further ado, I invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!”
39
Leo
THE PLAY WAS A VERY HIGH-QUALITY PRODUCTION, LEO had to admit.
Boris’s lush gardens gave more life and color to the stage than any set or scrim ever could. The flowers around Errol’s pond glowed faintly and the pond