surety that it had happened to him only once or twice before. The most recent had been in St. Edys. The daughter of a colleague, a lovely young woman with golden hair and soft brown eyes, no more than twenty years or so in age and ten years his junior, had come to the offices every day carrying lunch for her father. Marek had always greeted her and exchanged pleasantries. One day, she’d come with sweetmeats for him. After a week or so of it, Marek began to realize she was not being friendly—she was signaling an interest in something more than a casual acquaintance.
He’d had to tell her that it was impossible. For reasons he could not explain to the young woman, or to anyone on this earth, it was impossible.
But it wasn’t as if other women were asking their mothers or fathers or cousins to make an introduction. Quite the contrary. It certainly made no sense to him that this woman, as beautiful and privileged as she clearly was, would have any interest in him. It had to be something else.
Her escort, who hadn’t seemed to notice Marek at all, said to Mrs. Honeycutt, “Will you take your seat?”
“Why don’t you take your seat?” she countered.
“What, and be subjected to Caro’s matchmaking attempts? I should rather perish,” the gentleman drawled.
Mrs. Honeycutt laughed. It was a pleasing, silky sound, as pleasing as her smile.
The man sighed. “Now look what you’ve done, Hollis,” the gentleman said. “A footman is coming to fetch me.”
Hollis. Was that an English word? Marek’s English was very good, but since being in London, he’d heard words and phrases he didn’t know. Was Hollis a name?
“Oh, dear. I suppose you’ll have to go, won’t you? Don’t fret for me, sir. I shall wander around here and make new friends.”
“Wander around? Take a seat with Eliza. They’ll make space for you. I never thought in all my life that you’d be reluctant to take tea with two queens and a king. You, of all people.”
Why her, of all people?
“I’m not the least reluctant, sir, but I’m not invited to sit with the queens, and I will not be the one to break protocol and demand a chair be pulled up. You know very well how these things go, and so do I, and I’d much rather meet the people who have come so far than to listen to you complain about the cakes.”
“You mean you want to interview them all. Take my advice and keep your pen in your reticule, darling. Now is neither the time nor the place. You will sit with me. Yes, yes, here you are, my good man,” he said as the footman reached them. “Please make space for Mrs. Honeycutt.”
The footman bowed and said he would, and the gentleman escorted Mrs. Honeycutt to a table. All the gentlemen at that table stood, and Marek watched as the footman placed a chair for her. She said something with a smile, probably offering an apology, and slipped into her seat.
Marek moved again, stepping up behind a pair of servants, their silver trays at the ready. King Maksim was speaking to Queen Victoria. He looked stiff and uncomfortable, and frankly, a little green around the gills. Maybe he disliked this setting as much as Marek. It was crowded, and too many people were milling about, up and down and out of their seats. Marek assumed that he’d heard the rumors about the threats to his throne. Who could blame him for looking ill at ease? How easy it would be for someone to step next to the king and slip a knife just under his ribs. It would only take a moment to spark a rebellion, here in London, right under Queen Victoria’s nose.
Marek moved again, intending to return to his place in the back of the room. And just as he moved, he felt something shoot down his spine like the scrape of a ghostly finger. He glanced across the room...and right into the glittering eyes of Mrs. Honeycutt.
That woman was watching him.
CHAPTER FOUR
Peace talks between the Alucian and Weslorian leaders have begun in earnest, and while it is speculated that progress has been made, it is difficult to know by what measure, as the talks are cloaked in secrecy. Is it not true that peace flourishes in the light of day?
Ladies, Harcourt’s Curl Cream has been deemed superior to other curl creams, but should be applied sparingly, lest it give the hair an