Page 52 of All the Pain of Promises
The ethereal ballroom was brimming with lords and ladies in their finest—swishing skirts of lace and silk, trim coats and bold vests, all in a varying assortment of jewel toned hues. Inretrospect, perhaps she should have asked Lady Aria if there was a theme for the evening, because her bold gown of deep rose stood out like pearl in a bed of crushed shells. It might be more burdensome to move about inconspicuously than she originally imagined. Shades of emerald, sapphire, and amethyst swirled throughout the magnificent ballroom where couples danced upon charmed clouds that hovered in the air and moved to the melody of the music.
It was quite possibly the most beautiful sight she had ever witnessed.
“Lady Narissa, darling!”
The smoky feminine voice of Lady Aria cut through Narissa’s spellbound haze, drawing her attention to one of the more crowded corners of the room. Following the sound of her voice, Narissa spied Lady Aria surrounded by a surplus of male suitors, each of them stumbling and fawning over her exquisite beauty. Be it a bored, flat smile or a disinterested roll of her eyes, they fought and elbowed one another to see who could gain her attention next.
Lady Aria flicked her wrist, and they parted for her as easily as Narissa split the tides. When Lady Aria shimmied past their bold advances, it was plain to see why they were so captivated by her. She was dressed in a strapless gown of liquid gold that molded to her every curve, the cut of the bodice so low that Narissa worried one wrong move and her assets would spill from the gorgeous fabric, scandalizing everyone in attendance. Her midnight hair was unadorned, kohl lined her rich amber eyes, gold dusted her bronze bare shoulders, and her lips were painted ruby.
She was striking in every sense of the word.
Lady Aria abandoned her flock of admirers and headed for Narissa, the faintest waves of powerful magic rippling around her.
She grabbed Narissa’s hands, lightly kissing the air near each of her cheeks. “I’m so glad you could make it, you look positively radiant.”
“Oh.” Narissa flushed and ducked her head. “Thank you, Lady Aria. You are quite breathtaking yourself. Though I am afraid I can’t stay long.”
“Nonsense! We’re only just getting started.” She waved one flippant hand through the air, gesturing to where the swell of music lifted the clouds higher. “Where is your husband?”
Narissa tugged at the collar of pink sapphires wrapped snugly around her neck, they were somehow too tight. She’d never had a problem with them before, yet now it felt as though they were strangling her. “Ah, you see, Lord Solarius is the reason I cannot stay.”
Lady Aria’s gaze narrowed and her lips pulled to one side in distaste.
“Not that he forbade me,” Narissa supplied quickly, the need to defend her husband suddenly fierce, and she stole a hasty glance over one shoulder. “Solarius would never. That being said, he and Calfair had a bit of a falling out. I don’t believe they are on speaking terms.”
Lady Aria’s raspy laugh filled the air between them, and she planted her palm over the swell of her bosom. “Oh, yes. I am well aware. Lord Solarius demolished Calfair in a fight at the Thundercloud the other evening. It was a well-deserved beating, if you ask me.”
Narissa’s mouth fell open and she quickly snapped it shut as the missing pieces of the puzzle slowly fell into place. Solarius had gotten into a fight, but he didn’t say with who. Narissa had been so distraught by his injuries and caring for him, she never even thought to ask. She didn’t know if Solarius went in search of Lord Calfair, or if was by some stroke of dumb luck, or if the fates just chose chaos that night.
A nearly invisible line of concern etched its way across Lady Aria’s forehead. “Did you not know?”
“Oh, of course! I patched up Solarius afterward.” It was only a half-truth and Narissa shoved one hand through her messy waves, pretending she was privy to every aspect of Solarius’s life. “But he wouldn’t tell me what they fought about.”
Because she already knew, as much as she hated to admit it.
Lady Aria’s shoulders rose, then fell in disinterest, and she inspected her perfectly manicured nails.
“Your guess is as good as mine, darling. Usually Calfair loves to boast about such squabbles, but I suppose he chose to slink into the shadows on this matter because he was so humiliated and humbled.” Her ruby lips curved into a caustic smirk. “A public beating can bruise a male’s ego.”
Narissa smiled in return, grateful there had not been much discussion about her being the reason for their brawl. While she was enjoying Lady Aria’s company, she also knew that since Lord Calfair had been horribly embarrassed, he was sure to be in a dreadful mood, and she wanted to be as far away from House Galefell as possible. Determined to finish her task and retreat to Windsong, Narissa rubbed her lips together, then leaned forward, stealing another look around the preoccupied ballroom. When she spoke, she kept her voice just below the thrum of music. “I have the serum.”
“Lovely.” Lady Aria slipped a small satin pouch into Narissa’s hand as she pretended to observe the ballroom.
Narissa quickly tucked the pouch of coins into the folds of her dress, wrapping her arms around herself to discreetly remove the slender vial from the banded waist of her gown. Her shoulder brushed against Lady Aria’s, and she slid the truth serum into her open palm under the guise of coquettish laughter and genteel amusement.
“Thank you for this, Lady Narissa.” Lady Aria nodded her head once and dipped into a slight curtsy. “I am most appreciative.”
“Of course. Anytime.”
Narissa watched as Lady Aria was absorbed into a cluster of enamored lords desperate for her hand, none of whom had any idea she would likely soon be betrothed to one of the younger Starstorm brothers. Her words rolled around in Narissa’s head, and she found herself wondering which one Lady Aria would choose—Lord Tovian or Lord Nyxian—assuming she was given the option.
Well, she supposed she would find out soon enough.
Now, however, it was time for her to return to Windsong. She’d delivered the truth serum, and as much as she would like to stay and admire the couples dancing upon softly lit clouds, she couldn’t risk Solarius going in search of her. It was only a matter of time before the flames in the hearth grew monotonous and he sought her out. At least she could hope. She sent one last look of longing toward the ballroom, then made her way to the grand hall to gather her personal effects.
Narissa ascended one of the winding staircases, counting her steps as she went. The intricately carved doors were shoved open, giving her a glimpse of the hall just beyond where the scent of winter wisteria hung heavy in the air.
With her gown gathered in both hands so she wouldn’t step upon the delicate hem, she took the final step, when something snared her by the elbow, hauling her backward.
