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You and I, we did what we could to survive. I’ve found my happiness and peace. It seems that you are close to finding yours as well.

So I will play nice, for now. If I catch any whiff of deceit from you, then I’m done—for good this time.

Love has made all the difference. Having Kallias changed everything, and I can only hope that you find that for yourself, too.

I’m sorry about your lover. I’ve heard rumors that the new duke is the reason for his disappearance from your life. I don’t know if he fears having a worldly woman living under his roof or what the issue may be, but I will not allow that to continue. I changed the laws for a reason, and if he isn’t respecting that, then you tell him he will have me to deal with.

How is Zanita’s, by the way? I’ve heard it’s a marvelous place. If I weren’t happily married, I’d investigate it myself.

All my best,

Alessandra

I retrieve a blank parchment and immediately scribble a reply.

Alessandra,

I wish we could have swapped our roles. I would have loved to stay at home and receive no attention. I thought the only way to survive was to stomach it and find an ideal situation for myself. I am sorry I did not give more consideration to you. Thank you for sharing that pain with me so I can better understand.

Here is another truth. I was so jealous of you. The way you were so free and ignored, left to your own devices. You had real relationships, and I was left thinking I would be soiled goods if I didn’t do exactly as Father wanted. I wish I could have been like you. With your edicts, you really are changing women’s lives for the better. You saw the good you could do with your power, and I am proud of you for it.

Zanita’s is marvelous. I highly recommend it. Thank you for the threat I can use on the duke should he become too bothersome. And remember, if ever the king does anything to upset you, you can threaten him with visiting Zanita’s.

I hope she takes that as the joke it’s meant to be.

It’s okay. Reading isn’t for everyone. What do you do for fun aside from sewing? I hope you are able to take some time for yourself, despite how busy you must be.

Sincerely,

Chrysantha

I send it off with Doran that day.

“THIS ONE WAS MY FAVORITE YET,”Karla says at the next book club gathering.

“Agreed,” Tekla responds, and the two sigh contentedly.

I will admit, this one was perhaps the most romantic tome we’ve read for book club, and that’s really saying something, considering that’s basically all we read. Even Damasus chooses books with romance in them, even if the main plot is a high-stakes adventure.

“I don’t think I really understood the romance in this one,” I say. Though the steamy scenes were excellent, they didn’t feel earned with the buildup to them.

“What’s not to understand?” Damasus asks. “The two men were smitten with each other from the start.”

I raise a brow. “Theyhatedeach other at the start.”

“Exactly,” Karla and Tekla say in unison. They turn to each other and laugh at the coincidental timing.

“Hate is not love.”

“Of course not,” Tekla says, “but it’s remarkable how often the two coincide.”

I’m brought up short. Did we all read the same book? Surely we cannot be talking about the same thing.

“They’re both such strong emotions,” Karla says.

“That doesn’t make them the same emotion. They’re on opposite ends of the spectrum!” My voice comes out louder than I intend. So I tack on a “Pardon my outburst.”

“I don’t mean that they blur because they’re so strong,” Karla says.