Lessons in Etiquette (Schooled in Magic series) Read Free Page B

magic by accident, before she sensed the presence behind her. Only one person would have approached them in such a manner–and frozen Jade with absolutely no regard for his feelings.
    “Hello, Void,” she said, without looking around. “What are you doing here?”

Chapter Two
    I T’S BEEN A WHILE,” VOID SAID, as Emily turned to face him. “Am I not allowed to visit my favorite ward?”
    Emily scowled at him. Void had rescued her from Shadye, moments before the maddened necromancer would have plunged a knife into her chest, sacrificing her to an extra-dimensional force he’d called the Harrowing. And then he’d sent her to Whitehall, where she’d learned to manipulate magic and–eventually–to defeat Shadye when the necromancer had attacked the school. But she still knew very little about Void, from why he’d saved her life to why so many other magicians were scared of him.
    Even his appearance seemed to be variable. Right now, he looked like a young man, with long dark hair, a sly smile–and a way of moving that suggested his body wasn’t quite suited to his mind. He wore the simple outfit of a common laborer, rather than the glorious robes affected by other magicians, and carried a wooden staff in one hand. His face was too striking to be really called handsome, even if he hadn’t had the smile hinting that he couldn’t be completely trusted. She thought there was something aristocratic in his looks.
    “He wants to marry me,” Emily said, wondering inwardly if Void’s appearance was a coincidence. “What did you know about that?”
    “Nothing,” Void said. He grinned, brilliantly. “But I can’t say it surprises me.”
    “Well, it surprised me ,” Emily said. And yet, in hindsight, wasn’t it obvious that Jade had been interested in her? He’d certainly spent more time with her than necessary. “Why does he like me?”
    She hesitated, then plunged on. “And he said that there were people discussing my marriage prospects,” she added. “Why?”
    Void tilted his head slightly, as if he didn’t quite understand why she was upset. “You know that magic is passed on through the blood,” he said. “The children of magicians are likely to be magicians themselves. If you were to marry another magician, or at least bear his children, those offspring would be very powerful indeed. Quite a few of the older bloodlines would be interested in recruiting you.”
    “I’m not a brood cow,” Emily snapped. She looked into his dark eyes, glinting with suppressed amusement, and felt her temper fray. “And are you arranging my marriage with someone I don’t know?”
    “You killed a necromancer,” Void reminded her, dryly. “I rather doubt that anyone would dare to try to force you into a marriage.” He paced over to Jade’s frozen form and examined him, thoughtfully. “They are much more likely to try to seduce you, or to seduce your guardian.”
    “ You are my guardian,” Emily said. “ Have you been getting offers for my hand?”
    “I never bother to pay attention to such things,” Void said. “ Should I be arranging a match for you?”
    “ No ,” Emily said, sharply. “I… I don’t want to marry anyone, particularly not someone I don’t know. I’m too young.”
    “Girls can be married from the moment they start their cycles,” Void reminded her. “And marriages can be arranged from the moment a girl takes her first breath. Just ask your royal friend.”
    Emily flushed. She’d known that Alassa would have to marry for political reasons, not for love–and even Imaiqah, the daughter of an increasingly wealthy merchant, would have to consider her father’s wishes when she married. But it had never really occurred to Emily that such rules might apply to her . Why should they? She had no family here, unless one counted Void…
    What if someone wanted to get close to him ?
    But she didn’t have to take it that far. She was powerful, she was wealthy…and she was famous. There would