Tatiana laughed as he led the way down the street to a tavern. It wasn’t elaborate, but the food was good, and Pyotr shared a beer with her.
“Will you go to the ball?” Tatiana asked as the sound of more people than she had been in the presence of for quite some time wrapped around them and their little table. “You have the clothes for it. They look good on you.”
“Do you want me to?” Pyotr asked, glancing self-consciously at his jacket.
“Yes and not just because it will cause Corianne fits. It really is lovely to spend time with you. And I think Eloise would be happy to see you. Can you dance?” Tatiana asked.
“I ... no, not really. I wasn’t invited. It would be—”
“I can show you,” Tatiana said, sitting forward and taking her brother’s hand. “Please? I’ll give you lessons in the stable where Corianne won’t notice. And an escort is always allowed for the young women. Come on, you don’t want to stay single forever.”
Pyotr blushed. “I’m hardly looking to get married! Fine. But if I can’t learn to dance, I’m not going.”
“We should start tonight then.”
Chapter 11
THE EARL OF KESMERE
INTERLUDE
As his carriage stopped in Rhiol’s courtyard, Derrick wondered how far he would take this for his friendship with Byran. Despite his father’s request, he’d refused to associate with the Lady Grey. For Byran, he’d asked her to a ball.
“You owe me for this,” Derrick huffed as he opened the carriage door.
“It won’t be so bad,” Byran soothed. “For goodness sakes, you can talk about the war if you get bored since you both served. Not that I hope you need to spend that much time together.”
Derrick paused on the drive. “Don’t mention my time in the Guard to her,” he said. Byran opened his mouth. “I’m serious.”
He turned before Byran could comment and strode toward the door. It opened before he reached the first step. His first glance of Arinna was enough to make him momentarily forget to be worried or cross. The blue of her elegant gown set off her eyes, even in the grey light of dusk. Her gaze ran over him as well, a frank assessment that ended with a spark to her smile. He fought the urge to blush.
“I feel like we are meeting for a blind date,” he said, manners forgotten.
“Hah. I imagine if we are having difficulty believing this, everyone at the ball will keel over,” Arinna answered.
Derrick grinned. “This is going to be fun,” he said, offering his hand to escort her the short distance to the carriage.
Arinna lost her attempt to fight a smile. “You are ... surprising.”
“Blind dates usually are.”
She laughed as she stepped up into the carriage and sat across from Byran. “I see you are having fun already,” Byran said, leaning across to kiss her cheek.
“I think your friend has plans,” Arinna said, eyeing Derrick.
“Just a bit of an entrance,” Derrick assured Byran. “I won’t steal her for long.”
“It’s okay. I will enjoy stealing her back.”
“Should I ask what you have in mind for an entrance?” Arinna asked.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise then,” Derrick baited.
Arinna’s face filled with disbelief as she laughed. “Fair enough.”
Byran claimed her attention again with a question on some mishap from parliament over the winter session. Derrick listened without joining in, his amusement fading with the momentary regret he’d asked Byran to keep his service a secret. As much as he’d enjoy that connection to the military, he didn’t want to ponder what could have been. His gaze fell on the darkening day beyond the carriage window.
“Don’t you dare brood tonight,” Byran said, smacking his knee. “You are supposed to be at least a civil date.”
“I don’t brood,” Derrick replied.
“He broods. A lot. He won’t tell me why. Not yet. You will at some point, though. You always have before. I can wait you out,” Byran said. Derrick snorted to hide a desire to laugh.
“So he didn’t brood before?” Arinna asked.
“Oh, he has been brooding since at least the first time you set eyes on him. But he didn’t when we were younger. He never brooded at all then.”
“How long have you known each other?” Arinna asked, settling back in her seat.
“Since we were teenagers. I was what, fifteen and you sixteen?” Byran asked as if he couldn’t remember, which Derrick doubted. Byran really didn’t want him to brood, even though asking Arinna to the ball was a cover for Byran to spend time with her. But the ride would be at least another half hour, and teenage escapades were a far better topic than the war.
“Something like that, yes. Spain was holding the leadership of the EU, and my father was sent as a representative from the UK,”Derrick told Arinna.“There was a welcoming event for families.”
“My padre put us together immediately, hoping he would be a good influence.” Byran chuckled, and Derrick grinned.
“Ah, I’m guessing that didn’t work out as expected?” Arinna asked.
Derrick laughed.“Well, he stopped getting caught, which seemed to at least make his parents happy.”Derrick leaned back into the cushions, remembering that different world now gone.“Woman already loved him,” he said glancing over at Arinna, not sure if he meant it as a warning or commiseration.
“No doubt.”
“But, he didn’t care then. He went everywhere on a black Moto Guzi bike rebelling at everything.”
“And you?” she asked Derrick.
“Young, studious, too clever to be caught doing the things we shouldn’t have been doing. We crossed Europe and back again over the years,” Byran answered for Derrick.
Arinna released a quiet sigh, glancing out the window at the distant town with its lantern lights and a few bluer electric ones. “That world does not even seem real now, does it? No more motorbikes and kids in trouble. Or maybe that is because I can’t imagine it. I’ve seen fighting since I was six.”
“I think you are more depressing than him,” Byran said.
“You will take that as a challenge to cheer us both up,” Arinna said. “Balls are not my favorite pastime.”
“You used to enjoy them,” Byran replied, gaze lingering on her. Arinna blushed.
“Yes, well that was many years ago,” she replied.
“I think you will still find them enjoyable,” Byran countered.
Derrick looked away to offer them privacy. As much as he supported Byran, the relationship with Arinna made him uneasy. And it was obvious, leaving Derrick to question why he hadn’t just sent Byran and Arinna to the ball together after all. Or at least made Byran invite a widower along so that he’d have a companion.
Ahead, the darkness was broken by myriads of lights. Von Slav’s estate sprawled across a gentle rise and sent tentacles of illumination into the rambling gardens. Derrick straightened, his movement catching Byran and Arinna’s attention. There was no way of getting out of the evening now.
“You still aren’t going to tell me what you have in mind,” Arinna asked as the carriage queued for its turn before the sweeping staircase rising to the manor’s wide entrance.
“Are you telling me you won’t enjoy the utter shock this is going to cause?” Derrick asked. “I only wish my father were here.”
Next to him, Arinna stiffened. “Why is that?” she asked, the amusement removed from her voice.
The reaction surprised him. He’d have thought that with his father being part of MOTHER and directing the government, her association would have been far more familiar rather than a twin to his. Possibilities raced through his mind. Not all of them were as dark as he once would have imagined.
“Because he would probably say or do something incredibly uncivil if he were to see us together,” Derrick answered. Byran snorted.
“Indeed?” Arinna’s smile held the look of a cat staring down prey. “Then I’m disappointed he isn’t here
either.”
That hinted at a history he’d have to learn more about. The door swung open, and Derrick hopped out, offering his hand to Arinna. She swept down the step lithely in a swirl of shimmering silk. Danielle for all her upbringing would have clung to his arm. Arinna was a step ahead. Derrick moved to her side, fighting down a feeling that he was the one who didn’t belong as if it were a battle and not a dance that lay ahead of them. Arinna glanced up at him with a devilish humor lighting her blue eyes like flame.
“This is going to be fun,” she said, edging onto her tiptoes to see ahead.
“Good luck keeping up with her,” Byran whispered into his ear.
“Too bad we didn’t know her when we were teenagers in Europe. I think she might have gotten us into more trouble than you managed,” Derrick said to his friend, surprised to mean it. Byran grinned, an old smile that used to break hearts as much as indicate gleeful trouble. “She certainly isn’t Danielle,” Derrick added quietly.
“Hah, I wouldn’t know. I barely know your fiancée,” Byran replied. There was an accusing tone to Byran’s voice. Before Derrick could answer, Arinna had turned back to them.
“We are stylishly late, I believe. It looks like most have arrived and are in the hall. I think this is your last chance to escape without much notice if you’ve changed your mind,” Arinna said to him. Her look challenged him to step across the threshold with her.
“I don’t back out on promises,” Derrick replied, offering his arm. Behind him, he heard Byran take a sharp breath.
Too late for answers or doubts from Byran or otherwise, Derrick walked through the entrance with Arinna. They flowed through the house, ignoring the quick glances and offerings of diversions in the side rooms of the mansion. Instead, they went to the heart of the ball, emerging at the back of the manor above the outdoor ballroom edged on three sides by the Duchess’ elaborate gardens.
“I swear the duchess is clairvoyant. She’s never had even one of her balls canceled by rain,” Arinna said as they paused on the top step.
“Don’t disappoint me. I want to imagine she has no idea we are here together.”
Arinna flashed him a grin before settling on a pleasant expression. “Well, we are about to find out. If you feel this tarnishes your reputation too much, my lord earl, we can always stage an argument halfway through the night.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he answered, raising her hand to his lips.
“May I present the Lady Grey and her escort, the Earl of Kesmere.”
Derrick would have sworn there was a collective gasp as heads turned to see him kissing her fingers, their gazes locked on each other before turning to walk down into the assembled guests. A few dancers swirled to a tripping stop. They greeted the duchess and the entourage that surrounded her, receiving stilted greetings and wide-eyed stares. It was enough to induce Derrick to lead Arinna to the ballroom floor as the dance changed. The fact that she was an excellent dancer added to the pleasure.
“That was fun. We should have done this ages ago,” Arinna commented.
“You are now my neighbor, so it makes more sense. Besides, the years of ... disagreement made the fun tonight possible. Who would have thought we’d become friends?”
“Very true. And so are we friends as well as neighbors, or is that part of the illusion we are portraying?”
Her question was enough he nearly missed a step. “We seem to be becoming friends. Byran shan’t have it otherwise.” Arinna laughed at his answer, but he wasn’t certain it was for show or genuine.
Byran was waiting, and not for Derrick when the dance ended. He swooped Arinna into the next dance with far less formality. Their movements spoke of familiarity. Derrick looked away to find Corianne whispering to a friend, both of them watching Arinna and Byran. His reaction to protect Byran won over a desire to fade into the crowd.
“You look very lovely tonight, Dame Heylor,” Derrick said as he approached, mind racing through the possible names of the young woman speaking to Corianne. “And you as well, Ms. Waldrope.” Eloise blushed. “If you would forgive me for stealing your companion for a dance?” Derrick asked, offering Corianne his hand.
“I will entertain her if she will allow?” a young man said as he joined them.
“Pyotr ... Mr. Grekov, you came. Your sister as well?” Eloise asked; eyes not leaving the young man’s face to look for the absent sister.
The sweetness of their young affection suffused the dance with Corianne, coloring it to something pleasant. He ended up introducing Corianne to other friends, the young woman wearing a blush the entire time. Encouraging her was a mistake, but it distracted Corianne and half the room. He doubted people knew which rumor to discuss: him and the Lady Grey, Arinna and Byran, or him and Corianne. It was amusing as much as he hated to admit it.
“Good evening, Corianne,” Arinna said as she slipped her arm under his. “You wouldn’t mind if I claimed my date again? I thought I had lost him for a time.” Arinna smiled sweetly at Corianne, who couldn’t form an acknowledgement other than a curtsey.
“Some air?” Derrick offered, leading the way with her nod. “What did you do with Byran? Trap him in a closet?”
“No, worse. I paired him up with Tatiana Grekov. She seems to have a good head on her shoulders, so I think she should be able to keep him at bay,” Arinna answered, her voice rippled with laughter.
Derrick glanced into the crowd, catching two dark heads circling on the ballroom floor. “I doubt she’ll claim his attention for long. Tatiana isn’t why he came.”
Under the blush of exertion from the dance, Arinna’s face tightened and paled. “I can’t afford this scrutiny. It was kind of you to invite me to diffuse rumors though I’m afraid you may have to spend some time in my company this evening as well.” She slipped away to lean against a stone rail now that they were in a quiet corner of the gardens.
“That is no trouble. We’ve spent time riding together the last week. Your company is hardly unpleasant,” he assured her.
She glanced at him before returning her attention to the brightly lit ball as if calling a lie to every word he’d spoken. But not all were false or simply civil. The worst he’d said was of the riding. He’d been present, but distant, and knew it. He’d been there to give Byran an excuse to see her. Derrick had hardly said a word, and half the time rode out of earshot. Now it was his turn to blush.
“You are old friends,” Derrick said more kindly though he tripped on the word ‘friends.’ Byran’s tale of how he’d met Arinna and the times he’d spent escorting her to embassy events, as well as private weekend meetings, hadn’t gone into detail, but Derrick knew his friend. He didn’t need to imagine what was left out of the story. “It is difficult to mask that.”
A flash of red warmed her cheeks, darkening them beyond the flush caused by the dancing. “We don’t have that sort of history,” she said. Derrick didn’t have a reaction to that. Arinna half smiled when she saw him frozen. “Not that I blame you for thinking it. Knowing Byran, I wouldn’t believe it either.”
Warmth of embarrassment and gratitude for her easy acknowledgment of the misunderstanding released his shock. “I apologize. I had no idea. Byran’s told me little other than you were friends before the war when you both worked for embassies. He made it sound that you spent a lot of time together.”
“We did. We pretended to be having an affair. Though I think I pretended it more than he,” she said with a laugh. “We used it as a cover so I could go places and get information on the FLF and what was happening in the States without being suspected. Well, suspected for what I was actually doing. I shouldn’t be surprised he didn’t tell you. He is very worried about you.” Derrick once again had no answer. They watched the dancers in silence for a moment. Byran was visible now, skirting the edge of the crowd. “Before our relationship was a cover. Now he is a married Senator. It could ruin both of us.”
“But he does love you,” Derrick answered.
“I know,” she s
aid, meeting his gaze. “But do we always get the things we love?”
“That was cruel,” Byran said, joining them. “You know Tatiana asked me to dance with Corianne? That was thrilling. The girl kept two feet from me the entire time, I swear. You owe me,” he said to Arinna.
“This isn’t Madrid, Byran,” she answered.
He sobered his teasing, but the glint was back in his eye within a moment. “I know. This is nothing like Madrid. Damn rumors, is that what you are worried about? To hell with them. I’ll dance with both of you if that is what it takes to confuse people. Imagine what people will think of our friendship then,” Byran said to Derrick.
Derrick stepped back a pace. He knew that look in Byran’s eye. “Oh no, you wouldn’t—”
“I’m starting to hope he will,” Arinna said, barely suppressing laughter.
“If you will allow me to steal your date?” Byran said to Arinna, grabbing Derrick’s hand. She hid her amusement as she waved her assent.
Chapter 12
SECRETARY DAVID ELDRIDGE
MOTHER
“I don’t believe her,” Sabana said.
“Do you think she is making up a war?” David asked.
“I think that has been our role,” Renault said, breath wheezing. David watched his old rival for a moment, finding no comfort in the signs of age and ill health. “Hiding it at least,” Renault finished.
“You’ve supported our position in the past,” Miralda pointed out. “Are you saying you’ve changed your mind, Count le Marc?”
“I’m saying we’ve hidden a war, not Ms. Prescot,” Renault countered.
Arinna’s report two days before had not sat well with the ministers who comprised MOTHER. If anything, the two days had allowed the news to fester, and now the ramifications of an FLF attack in the wasteland had pulled them to meet though the discussion was not going well.
“But le Marc has a point,” Ilse said. “As much as I hate to admit it. We’ve isolated ourselves. When is the last time you had contact with another government, Piero? Four years or more? We don’t know what is happening beyond our borders, even in the wasteland, which we thought uninhabitable. The only presence we have outside of Europe is the Guard, and we have very little contact with its commander.”
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