Page 164 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

He looked confused. "Why should a group of foreign northerners with their noses out of joint upset you? Granted, their fashion is somewhat eye-watering, but..." He raised an eyebrow at her, inviting her to fill him in.

"Because I was part of that mission to Andalyssia that went...wrong. The reason their northern noses are out of joint, as you say," she said, bracing herself for his reaction. "You didn't know that?"

He frowned, head tilting. "No. Why should I?"

"Because everybody knows about that mission," she said. Because it had taken her this long to overcome the blot on her record and earn another chance. But maybe the son of a duq didn't know much about having to fight for each step forward in a career. Or having to overcome setbacks. She doubted he'd faced many of those.

Jean-Paul shrugged. "I'm cavalry. You didn't cause a war, so we don't get involved." He held up a large hand. "I knew something had gone wrong and that Alexei Berain resigned, but I never heard the details or any gossip about the junior officers."

Making him one of the few people in the army who hadn't.

"Well, there was plenty of gossip. And plenty of recriminations to go around. So I don't think it's a good idea if they see me at the emperor's ball."

"Why, Lieutenant, that sounds like you're running from a fight."

"I'm a diplomat. I'm supposed to avoid fights. In fact, that's my entire job."

"Not exactly. It's more that you're supposed to win the fight without getting blood on the ground. Or the carpet, I suppose." He grinned down at her. "I promise you there will be no bloodshed in the ballroom. Major Perrine has the place crawling with his men."

"And doesn't that tell you the situation is precarious?"

"Perrine is cautious. It's his job. But he didn't strike me as a man on high alert. Well, no more than he usually does. Given I've spent half my time with him the last few days, I would hope he would have told me if he was expecting any real trouble."

"If he's not expecting trouble, then why are the cavalry involved?" Imogene asked.

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