Page 129 of Blackheart

My eyes widened. How scandalous, the housemaid and the groundskeeper. Classic.

“In your chambers?”

Alaya laughed. “No. We were in Lord Hadyn’s chambers.”

The crowd got eerily quiet, and the smug look on Lady Jocelynn’s face suggested we were on the edge of this teacup.

“Lord Hadyn’s chambers, as in, Lord Greer’s eldest son’s chambers?”

“Yes.”

“Thethreeof you?”

I was beginning to question what the fuck was in the tea she gave Alaya because the young woman confidently nodded.

The crowd boomed with chatter, but after another sharp look from Lady Jocelynn and a finger to her mouth, they quieted.

“Why would Lord Greer blame Nora Flynnet for stealing jewels from him that night if she was having a threesome with his son and the housemaid at the time of the robbery?”

Alaya contemplated the question, seemingly put off by the phrasing, but determined to say her truth.

“Because Lord Greer caught the three of us in bed the next morning, and Nora’s a Stonesender!” she cried out, the words tumbling out of her mouth like rice spilling from a sack. “And, and, and… Lord Greer swore to Fate he’d have her sitting in a cell for the rest of her life for tainting his son with her Dark Nature!”

The room stilled. Shock spread across the many faces seated in the theater.

“Hm,” Lady Jocelynn began. “You are distraught over this.”

A tear rolled down Alaya’s face. “Of course I am! I love Nora. All three of us love each other deeply. Now Nora is in a cell because she’s Dark Natured and dared to love someone different than her.”

My jaw was tense. Nora’s story hit harder than I’d expected it to. It was despicable to think about someone Dark Natured being imprisoned in Castivian.

Things were supposed to be different here. Better than Drakington.

Jocelynn frowned. “That’s terrible. I presume Lord Greer didn’t fire you? ”

Alaya shook her head. “I’m a Lyonheart. He has no issues with Light Nature, not that it matters. I’m not going back. I’d rather work in the brothels or beg on the streets before I work for him ever again. I will seek Hadyn elsewhere.”

It was a respectable decision. Surely we could hire her, although Xavian did not particularly love unnecessary people in his house.

“Thank you, Alaya, for coming all this way to share your story. I’ll be speaking with King Xavian Steele about releasing Nora. Both of you can find work at my residence. You may go.”

Tears streamed down Alaya’s face as she smiled, quickly thanking Lady Jocelynn before scurrying off the stage.

I hadn’t expected Lady Jocelynn to offer her a job, and I’m sure Alaya hadn’t expected it either.

Lady Jocelynn stood back up, lights concentrating on her.

“We will have a brief intermission before the final talk of the evening. Prepare yourselves, as tonight we will discuss the recent widow Queen Delaina of Drakington already finding intimacy with a new boy toy, as well as a first-hand account of the infamous Waywards recorded from our very own Princess Elorengail Steele of Castivian.”

The crowd oohed and aahed.

Lady Jocelynn disappeared, and the lights in the theater brightened. Everyone began getting up to refill refreshments, chat, stretch their legs, and relieve themselves.

“Do you want another drink?” Riven offered.

“If you don't mind.”

“I’ll be right back.”