Page 51 of A Pact of Blood

“That’s not right. Youshouldsee the medics, so there’s a record—you could appeal for divorce?—”

Bianca cuts me off with a shake of her head. “No! I’m happy with my position. It’s not as if I’d be so much better off with anyone else.”

I frown at her. “What do you mean? There are plenty of husbands who wouldn’t… treat you so forcefully.”

“How many of them would ensure my place in court? The kind of life I’d like to live? Tolerating the way they huff and rut is the price women pay for the other benefits of marriage.”

My mind leaps back to certain “ruttings” I’ve savored in recent weeks. “With the right partner, it can be enjoyable.”

Bianca snorts as if the idea is absurd. “That’s the tale they dangle to soften the blow—and to make us feel like we have to play-act a lot of swooning to appease their egos. What’s there to actually enjoy? It’s a sweaty, pawing mess. Even with an emperor, as I’d imagine you well know now.”

I can’t exactly tell her that I’ve enjoyed myself plenty with men other than my husband—or that I haven’t fully experienced what my husband might have to offer. I’m too stuck on the fact that shehasand yet she’s talking like this.

“But you—why do you encourage Marclinus’s attentions if you’re not getting anything out of it?”

The vicerine peers at me as if I’ve grown a second nose. “I get plenty—the envy of the other ladies, the gifts and benefits of being favored by the imperial family, the knowledge that a man who could have anyone wantedme…”

She falters, and her gaze slides away. “Although, to tell you the truth, I haven’t found much satisfaction in that pursuit in recent days. It doesn’t feel much like an honor when he has a woman he’s so much more devoted to. I’m only a plaything for when he’s momentarily bored.”

I’d imagine that’s what she’s always been in Marclinus’s eyes. Maybe it didn’t feel so much so when he was unmarried, when many available women were vying for his attention and he chose her as one of his favorites regardless.

If she’s never seen sex as anything but a chore and a bargaining chip…isit simply that she’s never been with the right man, or is she simply not inclined to enjoy that sort of physical intimacy at all? One of the dukes in our court in Accasy never dallied with any of the court lords and ladies and adopted the son of a family friend as an heir. He always said he didn’t see any appeal in romantic entanglements.

Bianca might have taken a similar position if she hadn’twanted the advantages her marriage and trysts could offer. And perhaps she was afraid of appearing the odd one out. Or she honestly believes that no woman ever enjoys the carnal act.

Who would have thought that the lady at court who’s established herself as having the most seductive wiles doesn’t take any pleasure from the most direct result of those seductions?

It isn’t my place to poke any further into her personal concerns. My gift judges my concoction done, so I take the cauldron off the flame so it can cool. “I won’t invade your privacy. You’re welcome to use the bathing room to apply the ointment. Only on external areas. The tonic should help reduce inflammation and speed healing inside, as well as warding off infection. It’ll be cool enough when you’re done tending to your injuries.”

Bianca nods with obvious gratitude and accepts the pot of ointment from me. As she stands up, her gaze turns wary. “Thank you. I— You did say you weren’t going to interfere with my relations with His Imperial Majesty—that it was all right?—”

Is she afraid I’ll be upset after what she’s revealed?

“You knew him long before I did,” I say. “And I’ve seen from the start that he’s not one to be tied down. Whether you think it worth continuing the association is completely up to you.”

She exhales shakily. “All right. Please don’t mention this morning’s incident to him. I don’t want him thinking I might be… damaged.”

She hurries away into the bathing room, leaving me wondering how it is that such a vile man has so many of us catering to his every whim above our own.

Chapter Seventeen

Aurelia

The music winds through the expansive parlor, so bright and spirited it almost shimmers in the air. Through sheer force of will, I avoid glancing toward the platform where Lorenzo is stroking his fingers over his lyre.

Marclinus hasn’t called on the prince of Rione to entertain the court since I suggested that the full company of imperial musicians made for a more appealing sound… until today. I hope the break did Lorenzo some good after all the times Tarquin pushed him to the limits of his gift, but it’s coming up on two hours since we retired here after dinner, and my husband keeps motioning for the prince to play on.

I’ve wandered past the windows and between the scattered armchairs and sofas more times than I can count. I’m sure I’ve spoken to every noble in the room at least twiceat this point, all smiles and friendly chatter, hearing what else I can do to make them a little happier.

So I’m not lying when I sidle over to Marclinus after he’s just left off a conversation with Counsel Severo and one of the viceroys and rest my hand on his forearm. “This room becomes rather dull after a time, doesn’t it, husband? Perhaps we could suggest a move to the hall of entertainments.”

And perhaps he’d leave off prodding Lorenzo for more music with the change of scenery.

Marclinus clicks his tongue at me chidingly. “Is our court not enough to keep you from boredom? I thought you had more of a creative spirit than that.”

His jaunty tone tells me he’s teasing, but also that he isn’t at all bored himself—and therefore uninterested in changing anything about our evening. But his comment sparks a flicker of inspiration.

I smile at him. “That might be the answer right there. I do love a creative challenge. I wonder how I’d take to the lyre? If Prince Raul can teach me to fight, then surely Prince Lorenzo can offer his empress a quick lesson in his own skills.”

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