Page 50 of The Shadows Between Us
The first is from my sister. I stare at her perfect handwriting for a full minute before deciding I should probably read the letter before throwing it into my lit hearth.
Dear Sister,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. Court life holds many temptations, but I trust you are remaining penitent and chaste.
The duke and I are having a marvelous time together. His health is declining, sadly, so our days mostly consist of me reading aloud the greatest works of poetry.
I skim over more paragraphs of the terribly dull activities she does with the duke and the various gifts he presents her (“Ten carriages! Whatever will I do with so many?”).
And then, in true Chrysantha fashion, a few lines of importance buried at the end of her letter:
A constable came by the estate today asking what I know about your relationship three years ago withHektor Galanis. I thought all the questions odd, of course, but at the very end, the Baron of Drivas demanded to know if I thought you could have had anything to do with his disappearance.
Fear not. While I told them you were a trollop and undoubtedly slept with the man, you would never do something so terrible as help estrange a noble from his family.
Such an odd exchange, don’t you think?
I do hope you will enjoy the rest of your stay at the palace, and I hope you’ve made some friends who will influence you for good.
Your loving sister,
Chrysantha
I stare at my hands for far too long before I realize I’ve dropped the letter. I don’t even know where to begin processing the various levels of my sister’s ineptitude and carelessness.
I hadn’t known she was aware of my nighttime relationships, and now the baron knows I slept with his son. As well as a constable, who clearly has his backing. How many more interviews do they plan to conduct before coming to question me personally?
And how long will it take before word of my nighttime activities reaches the palace and destroys my relationship with the king for good?
I snatch the letter and tear it into unreadable pieces before thrusting it amid the flames.
I want to yank handfuls of Chrysantha’s hair from her scalp. She’s always taken everything from me. But how did she possibly manage to take this, too?
It is only after several minutes of pacing my room that I remember a second letter arrived. Could it possibly be even more bad news? With dread, I break the seal and unfold the parchment.
Dearest Alessandra,
Forgive the impertinence, but I can’t help but notice how miserable you seem at the events of late. I thought I might do something to cheer you up. I wonder if you might be up for a different kind of entertainment? Would you permit me to take you out for an evening? Shall we say tomorrow night at eight o’clock? I promise you will not regret it.
Your servant,
Leandros Vasco
Perhaps this is just the opportunity I need. I’ve been meaning to ask Leandros questions about the king. I need more information to make Kallias mine, and what better way to get it than to ask a man who used to be Kallias’s best friend?
Not to mention the fact that Leandros adores me. I deserve to be adored for an evening, don’t I? Especially when Kallias won’t deign to take the time to see me.
After only a little further deliberation, I write back.
Dear Leandros,
I would be delighted to join you.
Sincerely,
Alessandra Stathos
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