Page 21 of Nightshade

Beside her, Drystan cleared his throat, but the sound didn’t steer her attention away from the boy who regarded her as one might mud on their shoes, his lip peeled back in disgust.

“It is Lord Van Croix,” he corrected, eyeing her dress. “Seems your righteous and holy upbringing has failed you in proper etiquette. And dress, for that matter.” Scrutinizing eyes raked over her, shrinking her beneath their weight. “The kitchen rags would make finer material.” He sniffed the air and scowled. “And smell better.”

A flare of humiliation left her wishing she could crawl into a hole and never emerge, and she silently chided her own ignorance.

“My Lord, she meant no insult.”

“Do the two of you share the same mind?”

“She is no more than a servant.”

“I do not need your observations. I know exactly what she is.”

“I apologize for my ignorance, My Lord.” Gaze still cast from his, Lustina interrupted their bickering. “I am not yet accustomed to all the rules of nobility. I come from a much simpler way of life.”

“Indeed.”

Frustration got the best of her and Lustina glared back at the exceptionally discourteous boy. “Are you rude to all ladies, or only those deemed beneath you?”

The look on his face was what Lustina would’ve expected had she just slapped him, and in that instant, she could feel the tendrils of remorse burning the back of her neck.

“Again, my apologies, My Lord.”

“I would mind your tongue, girl. Our way of life dictates that such lack of respect is just cause for removing it. And as for the ladies who find themselves beneath me, I can assure you, they tend to think of me as quite charming.”

The warmth Lustina could feel rising into her cheeks undoubtedly left an evidential blush there. Even after so much time living in a monastery, she could recognize a sexual remark when she heard one.

“Is it so charming to speak of your conquests in front of the girl?” Unless Lustina had mistaken his tone, Drystan’s comment seemed to carry the sting of jealousy.

“At least I have conquests of which to speak. Must be difficult around all those stable boys and small animals.”

Jaw clenched, Drystan lurched toward the baron. “I am no sodomite! Such thing is a sin! A despicable and repulsive sin!”

The baron’s expression lit with dark amusement. “Only in the eyes of your beloved church, but do not be afraid. I won’t speak a word of it.”

“Lies! Your words are lies!”

“If they are lies, as you said, then why do you blush, Cousin?”

“Enough! The bishop was right--you speak with a forked tongue! Your mother should’ve disposed of you like a bastard child!”

Malice burned in the young baron’s eyes, his teeth bared like that of a rabid dog. Hands balled to fists, he lurched forward, as if to attack, but stopped short. Instead, he lifted a gem clipped to his shirt and held it up, twisting it in front of Drystan and Lustina.

Drystan gasped and dropped to his knees. “Forgive me, My Lord. Forgive my blasphemous words.”

The moment the words were spoken, bits of dust fell from the baron’s clasped palm that held the gem.

Lustina’s eyes widened at the sight. She’d never seen someone crush a gem with their bare palm that way.

“Tothyll will take pleasure in meting out your punishment.”

Head bowed, Drystan’s shoulders sagged as he rose to his feet. “My Lord, your mother asked me to fetch you. Perhaps you should not keep her waiting.”

The dark-haired boy regarded him with a smirk and strode off back from where he’d come.

Once he’d left their view, Lustina turned to Drystan. “Who is Tothyll?”

“He will be the one to carry out my punishment for the crushed heirloom.”