Heir of Pendel (A Pandoran Novel, #4) Read Free

face. "Are you going to introduce me to…" Isla's voice trailed as she finally— finally —recognized me.
    And I'd thought Vera's glares could flay a person alive.
    Isla's face expanded a little as her eyes and mouth opened wide. It was something like watching a flower of fury bloom, if fury flowers existed. Hey, it was Gaia. All things were possible.
    I forced a very proper smile at her. "Good evening, Lady Isla. It's good to see you again." And it was. About as good as catching the bubonic plague.
    Fury disabled her from responding, but I gave her the time she needed. No doubt she'd known of Lord Commodus Pontefract's intent for me to marry his son, Danton. At last, she cleared her throat and curtsied, as was proper. "Your grace," she managed in a small voice that trembled a little.
    What was Isla to him? A lover? Or was she more than that? I remembered that she was Lord Vega's niece. Maybe Lord Vega had jumped on the "Let's side against Valdon" bandwagon after my outright refusal. I hadn't considered that alternative, and if that were the case, I might have a problem on my hands. A very big problem. But I kept my emotions masked.
    I looked back at Danton. In contrast to Lady Giggles, he didn't have a single hair out of sorts. A professional Casanova. After a long and somewhat awkward silence, I said, "I see this isn't a good time. Maybe I could speak with you in the morning? In private? I only ask that you tell me where I should go in the interim."
    Isla fumed beside Danton, and the fog swirled around her as if she were steaming. Danton, however, kept his expression perfectly neutral, which, according to my diplomacy lessons with Master Jaren of the guild, was a mark of Danton's upbringing in the aristocracy. He studied me like one studies a complicated math problem.
    I waited, fighting to retain my calm and composure because I couldn't let Danton see how desperate I really was.
    At last, Danton spoke. "That won't be necessary, your highness."
    I wasn't sure which part wasn't necessary, so I waited for him to explain further.
    "We can talk now," he said.
    So he expected me to say whatever it was I had to say in front of Isla. That meant my chances of succeeding with him were about as high as the floor of the Mariana Trench. Just as my spirits began sinking, he dropped his arms to his sides, thus disengaging Isla from his grasp, and he inclined his head a fraction toward her. "Lady Isla, please excuse us. Her highness and I have important matters to discuss."
    I could've sighed with relief. I almost did.
    "Ah…of course…my lord." Isla blinked, nonplussed. "And where shall I wait for you?"
    "Don't wait for me," he replied, his tone dismissive. "You know the way back."
    Her lips parted ever so slightly, while her gaze dropped to the ground. "I do, my lord."
    Danton took her hand and brought it to his lips, practically releasing it before his lips had even touched her skin. "Good night, my lady."
    There was an infinitesimal piece of me that felt a prick of sympathy for the tricky fire ant girl. No one deserved to be discarded like that, and he'd tossed her aside like a piece of gum that'd lost its flavor. It was easy to see Isla was embarrassed, but when she looked back at me, that embarrassment was incinerated by cold fury.
    "Highness." Her eyes narrowed as she curtsied, and in a whirl of fabric, she disappeared into the fog. Leaving me with Danton. Alone.
    I looked back at Danton, who watched me with that same inscrutability. He was so good at it, despite the strong mixture of emotions churning inside of him, and within that tumultuous swirl, I felt a twinge of hope. It was all I needed, and I held on to it like a lifeline.
    He raised a pale brow. "I never knew silence to be one of your…qualities."
    "Sorry, I'm just…I'm not sure where to start. My lord."
    "Danton," he corrected. "I think you and I are beyond titles—at least in private. Assuming that's all right with you."
    "Yes, I just didn't want to assume,