Page 37 of By Mistake
Less than a week ago he'd lived in a room off the kitchen and struggled simply to exist.Now he had an opulent house, servants to keep it in order, and two manservants and a secretary to keephimin order.The royal ball was less than a week away; his clothes for it would be delivered any day now for the final finalfinalfitting; and he had a million other engagements besides.
Today would be his first foray into the society he'd never been permitted to be part of, between poverty and Farthing's relentless bullying.A garden party, of all things.Seemed a bit much.Surely he should go around on a visiting day saying hello to various persons and households instead of some fancy afternoon party where he knew exactly nobody?
"If you fret any harder you'll pass out," Shimari said drolly, full of sympathy as always.
Andrus rolled his eyes."I have never done this in my life.I am going to make five thousand mistakes, which will reflect poorly on His Majesty, which will hurt Oresti."
"It's a garden party, not a duel."
"Duels are illegal."
"So is summoning zero class demons."
Andrus shot him a glare."Stop bringing that up."
"It's hard not to bring up the whole reason I'm here."
"The gods hate me is the reason you're here."
Shimari laughed, bright and sharp, and Andrus hated how pleased he got with himself whenever he achieved that.Leaving the window where he'd been watching the street periodically through the afternoon, he fussed with Andrus's clothes, adjusting lace and smoothing lapels."You look a treat, Master.I think that's how the youths say it.His Highness best watch out he does not lose you to some pretty thing who comes with fewer challenges."
"Yes, a surfeit of suitors, that's what awaits me."Andrus rolled his eyes."So what will you be up to while I'm gone all day?"
"Laying wards and traps, see what sorts of curious little flies I might catch in my web tonight.Greivs and I were also going to do some scouting."
Andrus's brow furrowed."Greivs?Not Oresti?"
"He has something else to look into, some murder or another that must take precedence."
"I love how everyone knows all of this except me," Andrus said with a sigh.
Shimari's mouth curved in the barest hint of a soft smile."You are busy building the life you always should have had—"
"No one is entitled—"
"—and correctly leaving the matter of your protection to those qualified," Shimari pushed on relentlessly."Stop scowling and run along, your carriage has pulled up and is waiting."
"When did I even get a carriage?Those take months to make," Andrus said, not really speaking to anyone, because the answer was 'Shimari and money' every single time.Andrus needed to sit down and get a good look at his own finances, but every time he tried, Shimari distracted him with something else, like he hadn't noticed he was being distracted.But he knew how to pick his battles, mostly, and Shimari obviously knew what he was doing, so for once in his damned life, Andrus wasn't going to worry about money.
He took one last glance at himself in the mirror, shaking his head at the sheer absurdity of it all, wearing so much expensive clothing and jewelry, then accepted help from the footman in getting his coat on before taking his hat and heading out.
This would be a good deal less nerve-wracking if he had someone to go with him.A friend.Something he'd never had in his life.Oresti was out of the question.A royal prince could not go about to all these damned teas and soirees; he'd cause unmitigated havoc.Greivs?
All his new relationships were strange and complicated, nothing he could label easily.Friend wasn't wrong, but it wasn't right, either.Anyway Greivs being Oresti's best friend and right hand took him right out.Shimari?He'd draw all the wrong attention.
So alone it was.His mother had taught him all the required etiquette for high society, but knowing and using it were entirely different beasts.Nothing for it but to do it, though, as remaining a hermit was no longer an option.Not when he had accepted Oresti's suit.
Which begged the question why His Majesty was permitting such a thing, when surely Oresti had potential suitors in numbers sufficient to fill the royal palace.There was no way they would let Oresti choose Andrus of all people.
That, however, was a problem to overthink about later.
As he arrived at the house where he would be 'making his social debut,' he gave serious consideration to simply running away.Hiding in the park, living off the land, something crazy but surely easier than this.
In the end, though, dubious common sense held, and he soon found himself ushered through the house to the beautiful garden behind it, where a much larger crowd than he'd been led to expect already milled about.
"Lord Bothwell, I'm so honored you accepted my invitation," said a deep, melodious voice as a woman in green and pink drew up to him.Lady Reska Whyte, Countess of Archon, his hostess.
She offered her hand, and he dutifully accepted it, bowing his head slightly."The honor is mine to be invited, Lady Whyte.You were most kind to think of me."
