by Terry Spear
Not wanting to delay her mission any longer, Sessily knocked at Lord Davenport’s manor house door and offered a calling card to the butler. “I was friends of Lady Davenport’s cousin,” Sessily demurely said. “I wish to pay my respects.”
The gray-haired butler had aristocratic features, a prominent nose and bright blue eyes, but he was not of fae blood. No fae aura surrounded him. He was…a changeling, Sessily would guess. A man who was stolen when a baby or child or even older and made a servant in the fae household. Actually, he may have been in several households before he ended up here.
Something about him, a gentle manner, almost fatherly, reminded her of her own father. Most butlers would have asked her to wait in a receiving room, treated her with courtesy and strict professionalism, but this one dealt with her differently, almost with reverent respect and with a fondness, which she wouldn’t have expected from someone she’d just met.
She couldn’t figure out why a changeling’s actions would affect her so either, but she almost felt a kind of bond. “Do I know you?” she asked, wondering if she’d come across him as a child while he served in another household, and she just couldn’t recall.
“I’m Gevus, my lady. I knew your father.”
A chill swept across her skin. Did he know what her father did for a living? What she did to earn her keep? Why she was here?”
His blue eyes smiled at her. “He was a good man. I remember you as a little girl accompanying him to the royal ball of the Denkar.”
“You…you worked in Queen Irenis’s castle?”
He shook his head. “I served a nobleman who was killed when he angered a dragon fae. But before this, he attended the Denkar ball and I was his valet, taking care of his clothes and other personal matters. I met your father there, and…” Gevus looked at the floor, then back at her, as if trying to decide whether to say anything more. Then he said, “He hired me to do some work for him.”
“Hired you?” To do what? Her father had never needed a servant to dress him. He always thought the notion ridiculous.
“Spy for him, before he undertook his mission.”
Gevus knew her father was an assassin! But, surely he didn’t know that Sessily was one, too.
“Oh.” But how could a human, a changeling have any abilities that would make him useful? She doubted in the position he was in that any fae had given him special powers.
Then she scoffed at herself. Sure, they were always privy to what went on in a household. There were no secrets among the staff. And one staff member from one household could easily speak with one from another and gain all kinds of useful information. “I see. So you knew what he did for a living.”
“Aye, my lady.” Now the smile reached Gevus’s eyes. “Good luck with your mission. And if you ever need my help, I’m forever your servant.”
She stared at him, her lips parted, but she couldn’t speak a word. My mission. He couldn’t…how could he…had her father told him? No, he would never have told anyone about her. Only her own staff knew and no way would any of them whisper a word to others outside of the household. Not when they knew that it could hurt Sessily, but worse, the Denkar assassin guild master would take them to task in a terminal way.
“Thank you,” she said softly, not sure what else to say.
“You realize I’m not of fae blood, although I do have a human quality only your father recognized and found most fortuitous,” he said for her ears only.
Her eyes widened. She’d ignored it the first time he’d done it, but this time when he probed her thoughts, she opened her senses to learn just what he was doing. Reading her mind.
Her mouth dropped open again. “You…can…do…that?”
He bowed his head.
“You know the danger Lady Marguerite is in?”
“Aye, my lady. I’ve been keeping her brother posted on what has been happening. He wanted me to know the moment you…well, the person he hired arrived and accomplished the task at hand. I never thought to see you, Lady Sessily. But I’m much pleased that you are here. I will do anything that you require of me to help you to accomplish your mission. I will take you to her ladyship now and you can visit a while. Lord Davenport often stays at the gambling house late into the night. But sometimes he returns early. Let us hope he returns soon so you can be on your way.”
He bowed again and led the way into the library. “Please wait here for Lady Marguerite. She’ll be with you soon.” He made a low bow again, then left her alone.
Gevus probably realized, or even read her thoughts, that Sessily hadn’t known Marguerite’s cousin, and that she was only here using that faux association as a ruse to get close enough to Lord Davenport to finish her task.
Sessily glanced at the volumes of fae lore and books on fae lineages of Marguerite’s family tree and of the cultivation of flowers, a pastime for many. Although some preferred archery or sword fighting, or other fae sports that were of more of an aggressive nature.
Graciously, Lady Marguerite swept into the room and greeted Sessily as if she was a long lost sister. Her golden hair was swirled above her head, adorned with pearls and gold leaves as she guided Sessily to a high wing-back chair covered in robin’s egg blue silk and motioned for her to sit on the soft cushions. Once the ladies were seated, Lady Marguerite began speaking of how kind Sessily was to visit her in this way, and somehow the topic switched to how wonderful her husband was. She remarked on how he was always giving her gifts, and so thoughtful and kind.
Right. Gambling away his deceased wives’ moneys while out until all hours of the night.
The petite blonde fairly glowed with pride. She was of the sphinx fae, their kind being notoriously good-natured, one of the oldest fae civilizations, if not the earliest, who opted for peace first when faced with any confrontation.
Sessily wanted to make a face and tell her what had happened to all his former new wives, but smiled and chatted pleasantly instead. Let the lady believe what she would about the snake she was married to. When she was out of mourning, she could find a husband who would truly be the one for her.
Tonight, Sessily had worn a dark purple veil over her hair and dark clothes so that she could slip out into the night as soon as she’d accomplished her task and then…vanish, in the fae way of travel.
Lord Davenport abruptly entered the library, surprising her that he would return so early from the gaming tables. Immediately, she stiffened her back. Lady Marguerite nearly jumped from her chair to greet him. But he was cool with her, until he saw Sessily. Had the honeymoon already worn off?
“You have a lady visitor,” he said, sounding surprised and a little wary. Was Sessily messing up his plans to kill his wife tonight?
“Yes, this is Lady Sessily,” Marguerite said sweetly, but with such pride Sessily almost felt ill-at-ease that she had bamboozled her to such a degree. On the other hand, she was here to save the lady’s life, nothing more.
“She inherited Doverton Castle of the turtle fae realm. Do you know the place? She was a friend of my late cousin and wished to meet me and tell me how much she missed her. Isn’t that sweet of her?” Marguerite asked.
Lord Davenport’s expression changed from annoyance that anyone would be visiting his wife, to intrigue when he heard Sessily had a castle to call her own.
The turtle fae also were known to be good-natured, but they lived by the sea and revered the power and steadfastness of the giant sea turtle. They were a minor fae kingdom, related to the major royal house of the Denkar fae who were much more warlike. If Lord Davenport had been targeting women of the main fae kingdoms, he might not have ventured into the turtle fae kingdom yet seeking a bride, so that might appeal to him also. He would be unknown there. The look of greedy speculation was written all over his face.
Sessily gave a small tilt of her head, acknowledging him, wishing she could correct the misconception. She was a dark fae, hunter type, trained as an assassin. She was certain he would not be considering her as a bride choice if he k
new all there was to know about her.
She did not have the good-natured disposition of the turtle fae, but the much darker personality of the Denkar. If someone snapped at her, she could easily bite right back. The turtle fae would turn the other cheek.
But then Lord Davenport’s expression changed, and he stared at her, frowning, looking puzzled. “Have we met before?”
In a dark alley, she thought. Although she wasn’t sure how much he could have seen of her.
“I don’t socialize much,” she said softly.
He smiled at that. Easy prey. No one would even know that she died if he married her.
“You have family? A brother?”
A brother who would give her away to a snake like him? “No family.” She was sure her mouth twitched up a bit. He was already seeing if she fit his needs, planning his courtship.
“Doverton Castle is two fae kingdoms to the north. You must stay the night. Fae travel for that much of a distance can be…taxing,” he said.
It could be, but she was used to it. Not that she truly lived at Doverton. It was her cover after all.
But she often hopped from kingdom to kingdom in search of her appointed targets. Some fae rarely used fae travel, preferring horseback, walking, carriage rides. But she liked to get to where she was going. Fast. And unseen. The travel didn’t make her dizzy like it did the fae who didn’t travel that way much. Unless she traveled too great a distance.
She shook her head. “I couldn’t impose upon your generosity.”
“No, my lord is quite right. You must stay. Enjoy our hospitality,” Marguerite said, her expression pure joy.
And kill a lord, Sessily thought, and save you from your own folly.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author of urban fantasy and medieval historical romantic suspense, Heart of the Wolf named in Publishers Weekly's BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR, NOR Reader Choice for BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE.
Terry Spear also writes true stories for adult and young adult audiences. She’s a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and has an MBA from Monmouth University and a Bachelors in Business and Distinguished Military Graduate of West Texas A & M. She also creates award-winning teddy bears, Wilde & Woolly Bears, to include personalized bears designed to commemorate authors’ books. When she’s not writing or making bears, she’s teaching online writing courses in the Heart of Texas.
http://www.terryspear.com
