Kingdom of Ash and Soot

by C. S. Johnson

  My hair was pulled back for the evening, while several of my curls playfully slipped free from their pins. I had a small amount of rouge on my face, and even with the little bit I had on, I knew why rouge was supposed to be scandalous. I felt like a mask had been painted on my face. I was literally wearing a lie.

  The analogy worked in more ways than one, since my smile was blatantly false as I made my way up the entrance to the Hohenwart Ball.

  It was a magnificent house. It stood on a small hill just outside of Prague, on the opposite side from my father’s manor; it had taken Lady POW’s coach a long time to weave through the city streets. While I had enjoyed the sight of Prague and its glowing nightlife, Lady POW relished the chance to give me one last session of etiquette review.

  When I asked about being late, Lady Penelope had replied, “Psh. We are fashionably late, and I intend for us to only be fashionable tonight, Eleanora.”

  It seemed she was no longer content for that, I noticed, as she cajoled me up the stairs.

  “Walk gracefully,” she murmured.

  This was my first big test, and I wanted to show Lady POW I could handle my part. But her orders, while I imagine she thought they would be helpful, were only making my nerves worse. I arched my brow as I glanced down at her feet. “Are you wearing heels?”

  “Watch your manners, Eleanora.”

  “I’m so sorry, I forgot old people can’t hear as well,” I said more loudly. Another lady and her companion glanced over my way, clearly trying not to laugh at my assentation.

  Lady POW frowned, but she said nothing.

  I turned my attention to the grand house once more. Several glowing chandeliers and candelabras were scattered throughout; in the grand, gothic windows, I could see billions of lights shining like stars against the night.

  I hope it will not be this cold inside, I thought, snuggling into my cloak.

  “The red looks wonderful on you,” Lady Penelope said. “Be sure to stay away from red wine tonight.”

  I rolled my eyes when I was sure she was not looking. When she whacked me with her fan lightly a moment later, I knew I had failed.

  There is just no sneaking around her, is there?

  “Get it out of your system before we get in. Remember your main objective tonight, Eleanora. Go in there and make people talk. I will be watching, but I will also be working. Now, do not fail me.”

  “I won’t.”

  As the footman came and took our cloaks, I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

  It was not just Lady POW I wanted to impress. I hoped to make my mother proud, and I wanted to protect my country. It was frustrating that my stomach was turning knots, my feet were sore, and I was secretly worried for a street urchin who managed to charm his way into my life.

  As I stepped into the house, seeing the throngs of people before me, I was relieved to be here in service to my country. I could be here actually looking for entertainment, rather than here on a mission.

  “Over here,” Lady Penelope whispered. “We will enter the greeting line and introduce you to Lady Hohenwart.”

  I followed her gaze to see our hostess for the evening. Lady Hohenwart was matronly, wearing a fashionable turban covering her whitening hair and a dress even more heavy-looking than my own. She wore the deep purple gown well, even though she was quite thick around the middle. Even with the corset, her gown was pulled too tightly across her bosom.

  When she greeted my grandmother, Lady POW gave her a slight bow of the head, and she began giggling like a schoolgirl.

  “Oh, Penelope,” she crooned. “I’m honored, absolutely honored, that you decided to come. Imagine! The Iron Dowager in my ballroom tonight.”

  “We thought it was a prudent stop on our way around the city tonight,” Lady Penelope replied, before turning to me. “Now that I have been reunited with my lovely granddaughter, nothing will make me so happy as to share the sights with her. May I introduce my Eleanora?”

  “Madame,” I said, giving her a perfect curtsy.

  Lady Hohenwart giggled again. “Oh, you are just lovely, Lady Eleanora,” she said. “Please, stay beside me. I simply must introduce you to my guests. We have some of the nation’s finest coming tonight.”

  Lady Penelope pulled out her fan. “If you insist.”

  We stood there for the next hour, as more people began to gravitate toward us. Lady POW was practically radiating joy as I was introduced to several members of the Upper and Lower House of Lords. Soon after we joined Lady Hohenwart, I noticed that more and more young men were coming up to pay their respects.

  I soon found myself surrounded by lords and ladies, members of the militia and the Diets, all of them who were asking me questions and telling me stories and fawning over me or my gown or anything witty I happened to say.

  The attention was intoxicating at first; as I laughed and smiled with them, and as I made them laugh and smile back, I almost forgot why I was supposed to be there.

  When I noticed how comfortable I was, it was as if a spell had broken. Thankfully, the crowds around us gradually thinned, as more people sought drinks and dancing, and others made their way to the gardens.

  I learned too many names and saw too many faces, and I definitely had my hand kissed more than I would have ever liked.

  Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to wear gloves.

  Several of the gentleman asked for me to dance, and Lady POW, despite all her trouble, declined all of them.

  Until he arrived.

  Long moments passed, eventually several of the other men began to part the crowd. I looked over to see who was causing the disorganized shuffle.

  It was a man; he was tall, with hair the color of night, with just a hint of brown mixed in. His features seemed a little hawkish, but not in a necessarily unattractive way. I could tell from the storms in his eyes he was a man of great passion, and he controlled himself with an iron will. If that alone was not enough to make me look twice, I saw he wore the elegant clothes of a traveled man, with the confidence to match. He stood out among the others instantly as a man who was walking among the world in hopes of leading it.

  Even Lady POW seemed to straighten as he came before us.

  “Mr. Marcelin,” Lady Hohenwart said. Her voice was so squeaky with excitement I had a feeling this was going to be the climax of her night.

  “That’s Karl Marcelin,” Lady POW whispered as she nudged me, and I nodded. I was supposed to see what I could find out about him.

  “Lady Hohenwart,” he replied. He took her hand and bowed over it reverently. “It is wonderful to be in your company again.”

  As he bowed, I saw he was glancing at me from the corner of his eye, studying me. I used my fan to hide my blush; so far, the other dandies had been overtly delighted by my appearance and charm, but none of them had seemed so intentional in their attentions. I took the moment to study him back, letting him know in my own way I would not allow him an easy conquest.

  Lady Hohenwart also noticed his interest. “May I introduce my dear friend, Lady Penelope Ollerton-Wellesley, and her granddaughter, Lady Eleanora of Bohemia?”

  “Enchanté,” I murmured, as he held my hand. Even through my gloves, I could feel the solid quality behind his strength. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Marcelin.”

  “Karl here is a personal friend of Count Potocki and my husband,” Lady Hohenwart said. “He has become a very prominent figure among the Diets since returning from London.”

  “The only reason I was invited tonight, I assure you,” Karl replied.

  “Oh, Karl, you are too much.” Lady Hohenwart laughed before turning to me. “Is he not, Eleanora?”

  “I confess, I am not certain,” I replied, with just a hint of ennui. “I have only just met Mr. Marcelin.”

  “You have excellent judgment in such matters, my lady,” Karl said, and at once, he was ready to meet my own challenge with one of his own.

  I never lost his gaze as I gave him a small, thoughtful smile.
“You have only met me just now yourself.”

  “Then you simply must get more acquainted with Karl, Eleanora,” Lady Hohenwart insisted.

  “He seems like a gentlemen, but he is hardly duty bound to insist on my company.”

  “I only wish that I could,” Karl replied, “but that would hardly allow me to be a true gentleman.”

  At his remark, I could almost feel Lady POW’s excitement beside me. I knew he was on her list, and his acceptance of me proved my exhausting efforts to impress the right people worked well enough to give me a preliminary acceptance into their circles.

  “If you want to convince me,” I said, still playing coy, “perhaps a compliment or two would help?”

  “Lady Eleanora,” Karl said. “May I say, you are the most enchanting of flowers in this garden of beauty tonight?”

  “I suppose,” I said, “since you have just said it, it would be best for me to allow it.”

  Lady POW and Lady Hohenwart laughed.

  “What spirit she has,” Lady Hohenwart cheered.

  “Indeed,” Karl replied. He reached out for my hand once more. “May I then request the honor of your next dance?”

  I looked to Lady POW modestly, even though I already knew what her answer would be. Still, it made me look like a dutiful heir, and one who was not necessarily impressed by manners or the man himself.

  “Go on, Eleanora,” Lady Penelope said. “You have my permission.”

  There was enough of a sneer in her smile that I decided she was really saying, “You have my permission to make a fool of yourself.”

  I hated to admit, it was possible she was right. I told Lady POW before that I had learned to dance several years ago, when Priscilla was taught. The instructor, Mr. Binghamton, had caught me watching them several times, and after my stepsister retired for the day, he would allow me to match her success.

  After all the shopping around and reviewing etiquette with Lady POW, I had not wanted to review dancing, too.

  Lady Penelope pushed me forward, playfully laughing as a cover. “My Eleanora is so modest.”

  “Karl here has a wondrous reputation as a dancer.” Lady Hohenwart glowed with such motherly approval, I wondered if she thought she was helping Lady POW play matchmaker tonight. “She will be in good hands.”

  “Yes,” Karl agreed. “She will.”

  Grinning broadly to hide my discomfort, I finally allowed him to lead me down the stairs to the dance floor.

  God, please help me. Knowing that while my grandmother was content to ignore my silent pleas, God had promised never to do so.

  Whispers started immediately. The hushed tones and the soft words licked at my skin, sliding over me with their own sense of grotesque pleasure and perverse delight. The crowd’s collective leering and gossip was inescapable; I had to focus hard on Karl’s supportive arm as we made our way down to the ballroom dancefloor.

  Everyone else seemed to fade as I stepped out onto the marble. As we walked toward the middle of the ballroom, I smiled up at Karl, remembering what Ferdy had told me when we first met.

  “Everyone lies about something.”

  Lady POW wanted me to be a sensation. That meant I had to command attention and control the situation, just as she had taught me.

  “Well, sir, I will give you credit,” I said. “You do not seem to be overly upset at all the gossip you’re sure to inspire.”

  “I might inspire the gossip,” he said, “but you will inspire the poetry.”

  I laughed, tapping him with my fan playfully, hating myself every step of the way. “What an outrageous thing to say. After all, we haven’t even danced yet. For all you know, I could wind up stepping on your feet for the next several moments.”

  He likely had no idea how much of a possibility it was.

  Karl gave me a slow smile. “I’d still risk it.”

  “Well, quite the gambler, are you?” I needled him. “This is hardly a proper topic for conversation, sir.”

  “It is entirely proper for a man to be frightened by asking the most vibrant and lovely lady in the room to dance,” Karl said. “Especially when you are the most lovely lady in any room I’ve seen in Prague.”

  “Well, thank you,” I murmured, humbled more than amused. I prayed desperately I would not cripple his toes. While I was trying to decide if he had anything to do with a murder, I had to admit he did not seem like the type. He was young and idealistic and passionate, but I knew he was not unlike myself when it came to such things.

  As the music began and we talked more, I saw he was very sensible, smart, and graceful on his feet. Even as he talked, he led me through the steps of a waltz perfectly. Karl lived up to his reputation as a stellar dancer, and the two or three times I tripped, he caught me with an easy grace I was sure even Lady POW would admire. I fumbled along after him, but I still felt graceful as he caught me.

  The waltz was scandalous in many London drawing rooms, and even more so outside of the city. It was said to inspire the worst sort of sin, and as I allowed Karl to lead me, I realized it was very easy to slip into daydreams and lose sight of the task at hand.

  Lady POW wanted me to be a sensation, but I wanted to find the truth. I had to protect Ferdy and his friends, after all, and others like Dr. Artha deserved justice.

  “So, what brings you to Prague, sir?” I asked. “I might be the most lovely lady here by your judgement, but I cannot imagine I hold a candle to the ladies of Paris or London, or even Rome.”

  “Most assuredly, my lady, you need not fish for compliments. Especially when you do it in such a manner that it makes it hard for me to assure you I came here just for you.”

  “It would be hard to do that regardless,” I said. “Especially when it is well known you are great friends with Count Potocki.”

  “Do you know of him?” Karl asked, giving me a dazzling smile.

  For some reason, I suddenly had a much harder time concentrating. His smile seemed to tug at me, and I wondered suddenly if we had met before.

  I quickly dismissed the possibility. Lady POW told me that he had just come back from his studies abroad, like Alex. If I thought he was familiar, it was likely because Lady POW had reviewed the politics of Prague for hours before so I would have something engaging to discuss, but I was hoping Karl would have other interests. I doubted it, as he warmed to the subject.

  “I’m afraid I have not had the pleasure of meeting him yet,” I said, realizing Karl was still waiting for an answer.

  “Alfred—the Minister-President—is indeed a good friend and mentor of mine.”

  At least Karl is not hard to look at, I noticed, recalling that Minister-President Potocki was easily forty years my senior. I was not certain of Karl’s age, but I doubted he was much older than Ben. If he had just finished his schooling abroad, he would be in his early twenties. Entertaining Karl, and digging down to his secrets, would be easier and likely more interesting.

  “So you are here to amuse yourself with the Diets, perhaps?” I asked.

  “Are you interested in politics, Lady Eleanora?”

  “Only minimally,” I said, wanting to keep the focus on him. “But surely that is not the case for you?”

  He gave me a smile, one that was both rueful and playful. “Well, my lady, you are indeed correct. I am very interested in what is happening in Prague.”

  “I did not realize there were so many interesting things happening in Prague’s politics. Enlighten me,” I pressed, glad Ben was nowhere around to see me. Either he would be disgusted by my performance, or he would have laughed me off the dance floor.

  Or he would have hit Karl, for the look on his face as he stared at me.

  “I am here as an elected orator,” he said. “I will be serving directly under Count Potocki while his successor is elected. He is set on retiring in the new year, due to his health and his interests.”

  “Are you hoping you will be on the ballot to replace him?”

  “It would be the greatest honor of my
life to serve Bohemia,” he said, his words weighted with passion.

  It sounded nice, but I wished he were less vague in his response. “So that is a yes?”

  “It is of little consequence,” he said, ducking my question once again. “I will say, as of now, I am merely attempting to fulfill the role I was born for. It remains to be seen if God should grant me such a privilege. I have great hope that I can broker deals that would fundamentally change the course of Bohemia’s future.”

  “You must have a lot of connections,” I said. “In politics, it is not what you know, so much as who you know.”

  “I do have the connections,” Karl agreed. “But I am always open to more.”

  I knew he was flirting with me, but his words were infused with such intent that I could only laugh. Otherwise, I would have been frightened. “Are you proposing to me, Mr. Marcelin?”

  “Karl, please,” he said, this time more easily. “If you are so curious about my intentions, I insist you call me by my given name.”

  “Surely one cannot fault me for wondering, Mr. Marcelin,” I said, intentionally addressing him formally as he spun me around once more. “My grandmother is searching for a husband for me, and she would be remiss in her duty if she did not see to my welfare.”

  “She is looking, then?” Karl gave me an eager smile. “I heard rumors that she would allow you a Season or two.”

  “She may be the one looking,” I said carefully, “but I am the one who will do the finding.”

  “You are certainly clever. I must admit, that makes conversation with you all the more engaging.”

  The music fell to a close, and the audience applauded. I gave Karl a quick curtsy, but before I could excuse myself, he reached for my arm.

  “Allow me to escort you back to Lady Wellington,” he said. He tucked my hand around his arm and kept it there. “I would ask you for another dance, but I have a feeling your grandmother would object at the gossip.”

  I hid a smile; Karl’s assumption was dead wrong.

  “So many people are here, and this is such a beautiful place,” I said, as we weaved our way through the crowded room.

  “The view from the garden balcony is wonderful,” Karl said. “You can see all the city’s lights, even the ones down by the Vltava.”