Page 66 of Only Cold Depths
“Well, the Colliers could certainly use the bounty credits, along with Callus Holloway’s support, especially given how tenuous their own position and House are right now . . .”
Similar murmurs sounded, and I ground my teeth in frustration. I wanted—needed—information about Esmina and Pollux, not my own notoriety.
I kept strolling through the crowd, but I didn’t see Esmina and Pollux. Even if the mercenaries had been lurking around, I doubted I would have spotted them through the throngs of people clustered around the glass shelves. Folks were standing three and four deep in places, waiting to sign their names to court whichever lord or lady had a dowry that caught their eye—or appealed to their financial bottom lines.
I couldn’t decide if the Erztonians’ practice of showing their assets in such a public manner was a disgusting display of wealth—or the severe lack of it, in some cases—or an admirable example of efficiency. At least this way, everyone was putting their proverbial cards on the table, even if such a thing reduced relationships to business transactions.
Leland stopped beside me. “Are you having a good time?” he inquired in a polite voice.
“Of course. Are you?”
“It’s not my job to have a good time. Just to make sure the marriage mart runs smoothly.”
“I’m sorry. That must be tiring.”
The chief of staff shrugged. “It is what it is. I’ve learned to play my part.” He nodded at a couple who were taking pictures of me with their tablets. “As have you, it seems.”
“Something like that,” I muttered.
Leland gave me an encouraging smile. “Don’t worry. The gossips will move on to something else soon enough. They always do. Sometimes I think the scandals and Houses rise and fall faster than the ocean waves on a Tropics planet.”
His gaze darted over to Verona, who was standing in the middle of a large crowd. Verona gestured with her hand, telling a story, and everyone laughed.
“Although some Houses fall farther and faster than others,” Leland murmured. “Even as the people in them rise and rise again.”
I eyed him. Was he talking about the fall of House Armas? Or something else?
Leland fiddled with a gold button on his emerald-green tailcoat, which was stamped with a plain boldLinstead of the cursiveCof House Collier.
The chief of staff’s tablet dinged, and Leland looked at the message. His lips pinched together in annoyance, but he gave me an apologetic look. “Please excuse me.”
“Of course,” I replied.
Leland tipped his head to me, then disappeared into the crowd. The chief of staff had been nothing but polite, but something about his words bothered me. Then again, I supposed he was right, and we all had our parts to play tonight.
I once again wove through the crowd and searched for Esmina and Pollux, but I didn’t spot them. The psions could be wearing disguises, modifications to change their hair and eye color like I had done on Tropics 44, but that didn’t seem like Esmina’s style. Earlier today, she had strolled right through the middle of House Collier territory and into the shipping yard with only a cloak to obscure her features. She probably thought her precognition magic made her invincible, even against all the guards here tonight.
I was worried she was right.
But the longer I moved through the crowd, the more certain I was that Esmina and Pollux weren’t here. The mercenaries might want to topple House Collier, but they were too smart to waltz into a building crawling with guards. Once again, Esmina was three steps ahead, and she was probably relaxing and having a drink while she laughed at us.
A headache throbbed to life in my temples. I should find Kyrion and Asterin and tell them I wanted to leave. My time would be much better spent trying to figure out why Esmina had stolen jewels from the mineral exchange than aimlessly wandering around letting snooty strangers stare at and gossip about me.
I had turned around to find my friends when I spotted Aldrich leaving the dome and slipping into the garden. Curious, I followed him.
This side of the dome was open, although an energy shield like the one at the Collier estate separated the guests from the night air and kept the cold at bay. Smooth paths made of round green tiles spiraled out into the garden in intricate patterns, while strings of gold lights gleamed in the topiary trees and hedges.
Aldrich ambled along the main center path. He stopped in front of a large bush, plucked off a blue-moon peony, and twirled it back and forth in his fingers. Then he turned and held the flower out to me.
I hadn’t meant to be quite so obvious in my spying, but I lifted my chin, walked over, and took the blossom from him. The peony’s spearmint scent tickled my nose, and a smile lifted my lips. The aroma always reminded me of Kyrion.
Aldrich tucked his hands into his pants pockets. “Verona had this garden built onto the antiques emporium just for me, so I can have a little escape whenever I need a break from all the events we host here. From all ofthat.” He jerked his chin at the people inside the dome.
“That was very kind of her.”
Aldrich’s face softened, and his hazel eyes crinkled with warmth. He obviously adored his wife, and my heart gave a painful wrench. The Colliers made having a relationship and a truebond look so blastedeasy. I envied them.
“You don’t say much, do you, Lady Vesper? By this point, most people would have tripped over themselves to flatter me in hopes of winning some favor from House Collier.”
