Other Lives Read Free Page A

Golden statues of nymphs are placed all around and beautiful women dressed as mermaids play musical instruments.”
    “You know him? The King?”
    “His eldest son was a friend of mine. When we were children I was his constant playmate at court and in later years we sparred more than once during sword practice.”
    Her uncle would have been impressed. He always said Miranda should go to court, that she belonged somewhere else. Fervent letters were sent to her grandfather, begging him to install Miranda in “her proper place”, her uncle’s exact words. Lord Stesh never responded. A position at court might have assured her a good marriage. In Nortre she was doomed to an unworthy alliance. 
    “Why aren’t you at court then?”
    He did not seem pleased by the question, his eyebrows furrowed, but this was only for a second, and then he relaxed. 
    “Because I have been there already and have no need of it. And because you are here instead of there,” Darius said. It was almost chivalrous, except that teasing little smirk of his contradicted his polite words. 
    His compliments still tended to catch her by surprise even though she was no stranger to them by now. Darius always speaking of her beauty and her grace and such. In contrast Nikolaos spoke little and never praised her, always courteous without being gallant.  
    At the thought of this, Nikolaos and his charming politeness, she smiled.
     
    ***
     
    Her life had fallen into a pleasant pattern. She would have breakfast early and then, usually by noon, she would be greeted by Darius or asked to meet with him for a salon, or a walk, or to eat, or anything he could come up with. 
    She had discovered Darius was quick tempered, vain, witty, and oddly sweet at times. She liked him because it was hard not to like Darius even if he had a cruel side. 
    Nikolaos, the other stable force in her life, could never be cruel. He behaved properly at all times, like a true nobleman. 
    She was meeting Nikolaos for dinner that night and as she smoothed her new crimson dress and glanced at her reflection she thought it might be him at the door. 
    But then her maid walked in and explained it was a lady Retha and Miranda frowned. 
    “Let her in,” she said. 
    She didn’t know Retha well enough except to understand she was refined and beautiful and showed little interested in Miranda. 
    Retha smiled and kissed Miranda on the cheek as was customary and then the two women sat across from each other, a tiny black table between them. 
     
    ***
     
    Miranda clasped her hands tightly as hushed words strained to escape her throat. 
    “It is…she said she will tell him about my grandfather. About my parents’ marriage and how lord Stesh disowned my father and does not recognize me as his grandchild. She said I must leave quickly or she will tell him everything.”
    Nikolaos merely glanced at the fire burning next to them. “Retha wants Darius for herself. She fears you.”
    “I think I ought to fear her, seeing what she plans to say about me. I cannot stay anymore Nikolaos. I must go home before she speaks to him.”
    “Don’t be silly.”
    “I must go,” the girl insisted. 
    Nikolaos had observed enough blackmailing and backstabbing to render him immune to petty little threats but she was not used to this. 
    “Let her talk then. Your lineage is a little murky, so what?” he said. “Bastard children have wed full-blooded nobles, and you are not a bastard girl. A humble family and lack of dowry never killed anyone.”
    “It is not only that. She said she’d also tell him some other things.”
    Nikolaos paused, concerned. “What other things?” 
    Miranda stared at him. Her eyes were pretty and full of guilt. 
    “Stories about my family and…about me.”
    “Tell me then.”
    “I don’t want to. I just want to go.”
    “Tell me,” he pressed on, his voice growing gruff. 
    For an instant he thought she would refuse but she started speaking, first just a whisper