Page 2 of Gods of the Sea

“Then pray he’s a workaholic too. You’ll need a man with a solid salary. But enough what-ifs. Time to step down the stairs into reality.”

She spun me around and grasped my shoulders. She then smiled, warmth pouring from her eyes for the first time that evening.

“Oy, you look so much like your mother, Esmeralda,” she said. “Let’s pray you marry a man as decent as your father.”

It was the finest compliment I could think of. Mother had always been a lady of elegance, fashion, and beauty. Eyes sparkling with laughter. A smile made of the finest pearls. A rich imagination and an adventurous spirit that craved the unknown. I admired Mother more than anyone.

I looked down at my mother’s emerald necklace, the one that Father bought her the day he proposed. The necklace that had inspired my name.

“Did you hear that, Mother?” I whispered into the jewel. “I’ve been given the greatest of all compliments.”

Light reflected from the jewel as if Mother had heard me. I hoped she had.

I held back my aching smile, turning back to Lina.

“You know,” I said, suddenly feeling like a good tease was in order. “When I marry, Father will be quite lonely. Why don’t you two—”

“Ayyy, enough o’ your babble.” Lina waved her hand at me. “Get down the stairs. The guest of honor should be at her own birthday celebration.”

I smiled and nodded, giving her a single wink before heading toward the stairs.

Father may had been struggling recently, but it didn’t show in the party downstairs. There was live music and dancing, the guests taking part in fine wine and cheeses. Half the aristocrats in the city were there, their clothes finer than the wine Father specially ordered; eachmonsieurandmademoisellewore gold, silver, and jewels. For a moment, I considered throwing an auction just to see who would donate their highest treasures to win me. I knew a few gentlemen in the crowd who would cut off their own pinky fingers for the chance to marry the daughter of the great Simon and Charlotte Dupont, who both came from long lines of aristocrats, wealthy business owners, and personal officers of the kings themselves. Our family was legendary in every way, and the world knew it.

I leaned over the second-floor stair rail like a child at Christmas.

“Which one is my future husband, do you think?” I asked Lina.

I searched the room, looking for a gentleman who might pique my interest. Thankfully, the most unattractive men had women on their arms, meaning I was safe from their claws.

My eyes wandered around the room, stopping at a man on the side of the room standing near the balcony. His broad shoulders stood stronger than anyone else’s in the room, his eyes and short hair darker than the night settled behind him, his skin as pale and delicate as moonlight. He raised wine to his lips, and something in my chest fluttered as he swallowed. He was certainly a sight to look at, and I didn’t mind it.

His head raised. His deep black gaze met mine and he looked at me in a way that stole my breath.

But not from romantic notions.

It was more like looking into the eyes of the devil.

“Stop gawking,” Lina said. “Your father is waiting.”

“Of course,” I replied. I swallowed as I tore my eyes away from the stranger. “But what’s a party without a proper entrance?”

She rolled her eyes. I giggled at her lack of appreciation for dramatics.

I stood at the top of the staircase, placing my hand delicately on the banister. Pulling back my shoulders, I straightened and cleared my throat ever so gently. Even though the sound was no louder than a breeze, it stopped everyone in the room. They turned to look up the staircase at me.

The room was quiet until I nodded and gave my best smile, then a wave of coos and applause trickled over the room. Except, of course, from the broad-shouldered, dark-eyed stranger. He only sipped his drink.

“Thank you all for coming so far to see us on this day,” I said to everyone. “I’m grateful that our family has so many good people to call friends. Please stay as long as you like. My handmaid will take your thoughtful and expensive birthday gifts on the way out.”

The crowd chuckled as Lina shot me a warning look. I shrugged with a single shoulder and scrunched my nose at her in jest. The joke was charming. Everyone thought so.

The only person who didn’t crack a smile was my dark-eyed stranger. My wit always pleased the crowd. Was he made of stone? Perhaps he was going through a tough time with his family? I made a mental note to introduce myself to him later to determine if I could assist somehow. To not laugh was simply too terrible a life to live.

I came down the stairs, greeted by men and women of the highest class. There were so many familiar faces: my father’s coworkers, naval comrades, and fellow community volunteers. Father was generous to the community, and his friends were generous to us, especially after my mother passed. I was grateful to every one of them for it.

It was impossible to avoid a small line of small talk as I made it to the center of the room where my father stood rightly proud as he always was. He wore his naval uniform—saved for only his best occasions—with his hair pulled back in a formal ponytail as if he was still working for the king himself.

But my father was better than any king.

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