Fear of Fire and Shadow (The Fade #1) - Samantha Young Page 0,62

considered winterish. No wonder Wolfe had wanted this woman. Which really made me wonder what on earth he found appealing about me. She was all sunny autumn morning, and I was all … thunderclouds and rain with my black hair and dark eyes. Wolfe—

Wolfe! I turned around again to stare at the footman but he was gone, the door closed behind him. The footman had Wolfe’s coloring. My gut twisted and my jaw clenched.

“He’s rather delicious, isn’t he?” Winter laughed, a throaty laugh meant for seducing boys and men.

I replied with a half smile. “Very.”

Winter drew to her feet, her white dress as stunning as a ball gown, the neckline cut low, the waist cinched so everyone could see how tiny it was. I smoothed the plain gown I wore, wondering why I was letting the obvious differences between us bother me. I had never cared before.

“Come, sit down, you look exhausted.” Winter clasped my hand and led me to the armchair. I took a seat, surprised by the genuine concern on her face as she eyed the fading bruise on my cheek. “You’ve been through such an ordeal. The Vikomt Stovia told me all about your abduction by rookery gang members.” She shook her head in disgust. “I had heard of this so-called rookery in Vasteryian Borders but to face the reality of it—you’re very brave, Lady Rogan. You are to be commended for handling it so well.”

I smiled in spite of myself. “Thank you, Your Grace.” Wolfe hadn’t told Winter about the gypsies. He’d only told her a half truth, a truth she was already aware of. Good. We were sticking to the plan, not panicking anyone with the growing unrest in Phaedra.

“Tea?” Winter asked.

I nodded, feeling tongue-tied. I really didn’t know what to say to this vivacious creature. Haydyn was always so good at talking to the Rada. I winced. Then again, Haydyn was as beautiful as Winter, perhaps more so.

“Arabelle.” Winter waved a dainty hand to the maid in the corner and the girl came forward at a graceful float. She had her servants as well trained as debutantes.

Once tea was sorted, Arabelle was dismissed and Winter relaxed into the settee. “I do hope you slept well last night, Lady Rogan. I gathered you might need the rest.”

“I did.” I actually smiled at the thought of the luxurious bed upstairs. “Thank you, Your Grace, for your hospitality. It feels like the sun after a very long bout of rain.”

Pleased with my poetic thanks, Winter hurried on to pepper me with more questions about my well-being until I began to feel guilty for judging her so harshly. She didn’t seem like a shallow socialite at all. In fact, if I remember correctly, Haydyn had told me she liked the vojvodkyna. She said Winter was smart and opinionated and cared not who knew it—the kind of woman I might have called friend …

Just as we were discussing Haydyn’s plans to hold a ball next season in the hopes of addressing some Phaedrian issues, a knock sounded at the door and Wolfe strode in. He looked like his old self again. At the sight of him, my pulse increased. I bitterly tried to ignore my reaction.

“Vikomt!” Winter rose to her feet, her eyes alight. The smile he bestowed upon her was wide and brilliant. He bowed over her hand and pressed an intimate kiss to the corner of her wrist.

I experienced a painful twist in my chest. Seeing them together, as they turned to me, I realized just how handsome they looked together. How right. Winter was a little older than Wolfe, but with his maturity and sense of responsibility, the age difference seemed inconsequential.

“My lady.” Wolfe nodded at me, his expression carefully blank.

I wanted to scowl at him in outrage. Instead, I nodded back as if I were unaffected by the difference in temperature of his greeting compared to the one he’d given Winter.

“Oh, my lord, it is lovely to have you to tea,” Winter said in that husky undertone, leading him to the settee to sit closely by her.

I did not think it was deliberate, but now that Wolfe was in the room, nothing else existed for Winter. She huddled into him, availing him of her recent deal with a factory owner in Raphizya that she swore would bring more income and work for the people of Caera. Wolfe listened aptly, his eyes never leaving her, drinking in the vivid, intelligent woman’s every word. I was completely