Page 33 of Swords of Soul and Shadow (Gate Chronicles #3)

“Someone’s worth is determined by what they do with the life they’re given, not by how society labels them.

” He set his brandy on the side table with a soft chink.

“However, you can also argue those labels hold some truth. A home needs running. It needs protecting—whether that be physically or financially—and the people best suited to performing those tasks should take them in hand. Whether those roles are fulfilled by the lady of the house, the lord, or even a butler ought to be decided between the parties involved, not an outsider looking in.”

Ezekiel and his wife whispered in the corner; the younger Lady Fairchild’s gaze sharpened, with surprise this time rather than hostility. “Your opinions don’t align with those of your contemporaries, which I find odd for a man of your station.”

“Men of my station, as you say, usually cling to their birthright and don’t dare venture any ideas that lead away from it.”

“And you do not cling to yours?”

He didn’t answer, only picked up his glass once more and took a drink. The butler reappeared just when he needed him to. “Dinner is ready, my lord.”

Ezekiel offered his elbow to his wife before looking at Harlan and his sister. “Shall we?”

He’d seemingly decided to ignore his sister’s attitude. Harlan gave his glass to the servant and made to follow the couple.

“I will allow you to escort me to the dining hall,” Celeste said breezily, rising from the chair with her book in hand.

Harlan raised his brows, but he held out his arm. He wasn’t sure if it was a test or not, and he was unsure if he wanted to pass it.

With her book tucked under her arm, she slid her other hand into the crook of his arm. For all her mighty temper, that hand looked dainty and porcelain-like against the black of his dinner jacket. “This means nothing other than the fact you have managed to intrigue me, Master Shackley.”

Ezekiel looked back with a small smirk playing at his mouth. Lady Celeste didn’t see it. Harlan wished he hadn’t.

Harlan led Celeste into the dining hall. “And the book?”

“I said you intrigued me.” She moved toward the seat pulled back by one of the servants. “Yet intrigue can wax and wane. You could very well prove to be a banal dining companion.”

“Thus, the book?”

“Thus, the book.”

He could not imagine he would prove such a poor dinner companion as to be bested by a book, but then, he had yet to catch the title.

Dinner was a fine affair. The courses were timely and the food of the highest quality.

He would have sworn it was the best he’d ever tasted, though that might have been a year of military rations talking.

The conversation stayed light and comforting as well.

It seemed the siblings had agreed to disagree until after dinner.

They did bicker over a few childhood experiences both had different recollections of, and Lady Rose interjected to give her objective truth. Rose’s family and the Fairchilds had neighboring estates outside of Crystalfell, the second largest city in Jayde.

Harlan didn’t say much. He didn’t need to. With each bout of laughter and lighthearted banter, the more his headache melted away. It was a nice feeling and one he hadn’t felt in many years.

Dinners at Shackley Manor weren’t unpleasant, but they lacked a sense of home, though Aurelia tried hard to make it so.

The dinner table was never without Harlan’s favorite dessert, chocolate mousse.

A fire always burned inside the hearth in the winter, and every table boasted artfully arranged bouquets of wildflowers in the spring.

But Aurelia could not fabricate what truly made a place home.

“Well then, Lieutenant Colonel, seeing as you have more advanced opinions than your peers…how do you feel about the University allowing women to apply? Do you see it as a stain on society like so many others?” Lady Celeste asked as they finished the main course of braised lamb and roasted, candied brussels sprouts.

Another test, it seemed. Harlan dabbed the corner of his mouth with his napkin and allowed the servant to take away his plate. He shrugged. “I don’t really have an opinion.”

“Another diplomatic answer.” She smirked. “You should run for Stradat.”

That got a smile from him. “I have no desire to run the country.”

“But your father is in one of the highest positions in the city. Surely you’d want to follow in his footsteps?”

Harlan swirled his wine a little before taking a sip. “I only want Cerulene to leave us be, which is best accomplished where I am.”

More or less. He hoped he made a little progress in the meeting Thursday morning.

Ezekiel nodded as the footmen brought the dessert course into the dining hall. “Harlan has a good head on his shoulders. Our unit is easily the best managed with him at the helm.”

A man set a small bowl of decadent chocolate mousse in front of him. Ezekiel’s doing, no doubt. Garnished with mazelberries and some sort of herb, it looked expensive, but all the same, it would taste delicious. “He flatters me. The men in our unit are the best we could ask for.”

“So you would agree that women at the University is an atrocity?” she pressed, clearly unwilling to be coaxed from her course of questioning.

Harlan picked up his dessert spoon. “Because I praised my men? Or are you merely miffed I refused to give a polarizing answer the first time?”

Ezekiel and Rose hid smiles behind their hands as Lady Celeste bristled.

“Well, if you’d given me any answer at all, I might have continued the conversation and argued the benefits, but alas, you chose to be political.

So I can only assume you land with your peers and wouldn’t allow women to attend the University if given the choice. ”

Harlan didn’t look at her as he dipped the spoon in the dessert.

“I said I didn’t have an opinion, because I do not.

My mother was an untrained herbalist, yet she was the best at what she did.

Attending the University or not doesn’t impact a woman’s worth.

I wouldn’t call it a necessity, nor an atrocity. ”

When he looked up, Celeste’s eyebrows had scrunched together. “I didn’t realize Lady Shackley was an herbalist.”

Harlan’s spoon froze on the way to his mouth. He eyed Ezekiel across the table. His friend dabbed the corner of his mouth with his napkin and shook his head.

Very few people knew of Harlan’s origins. Ezekiel was the only one outside the Shackley family who knew the details. He’d not passed them on, clearly, which Harlan was grateful for, so he only had himself to blame for the slip-up.

Harlan set the spoon down and took a longer draw of wine before picking the utensil back up. “The Commander and Lady Shackley adopted me after my parents passed.”

Celeste’s pretty mouth dropped slightly in a soft gasp. “Oh stars, I apologize. I didn’t realize…”

Harlan took a small bite of the dessert at last. It was certainly as decadent as the delicacy could get—rich, smooth, and flavorful.

The mazelberries were a nice touch. He swallowed and gave her a small, encouraging smile.

“An honest mistake. Few people know, and I do favor the Commander somewhat, though it’s only a funny coincidence.

Most people who are aware I was adopted assume I am the product of some untoward affair. ”

Lady Celeste gave him a polite smile, her fiery tongue doused with the revelation. “I hadn’t heard that rumor.”

Ezekiel set aside his glass bowl and napkin, muttering, “Because you refuse to leave the country estate.”

Harlan used the distraction to take another bite of dessert. It helped ease the tension that had started accumulating at the base of his skull.

“And you refuse to return to it,” she shot back at her brother.

Rose finished off her dessert and gestured with her spoon to her sister-in-law. “I do think you’d enjoy the city, Les. There are several bookshops, and the theater is newly renovated. Our box is quite elegant, and they’ve booked some very talented troupes as of late.”

“And the boys would dearly love to spend more time with their aunt.” Ezekiel sat back in his chair, hands folded over his middle.

It was nice seeing him so relaxed. He and Harlan rarely had the opportunity to simply be . His friend deserved to be at home with his family—not out fighting a shadow war that seemingly would never end.

Les brightened at the mention of her nephews. “I do love doting on them.”

Rose let out a soft snort. “Though Sullivan does not need any more chocolates from the confectionary.”

“It’s a shame he couldn’t enjoy this mousse with us tonight,” Lady Celeste said, taking a heaping spoonful. “We do both love chocolate.”

Ezekiel and Rose laughed before Ezekiel said, “I asked Reg to make it special. It’s Harlan’s favorite.”

Lady Celeste looked across the table at him. “Truly?”

Harlan dabbed the corner of his mouth with his cloth napkin. “It is, though I only ever eat it when I’m home on leave.”

She allowed herself a small smile, the first directed at him. His heart thumped a bit off-kilter. She said, “Then I must insist that you try the one at the Dantes on Haviland Lane. It is a heavenly experience.”

Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe the fact that he felt more at home than he had in ages, but he gave her a small smile back.

Ezekiel finished off his dessert, seemingly unaware of his friend and sister striking a silent truce. “She’s right, though I would recommend their mazelberry rum sundae. It’s exquisite enough to make a grown man weep.” He mimed brushing a tear. “I’m feeling emotional just thinking about it.”

His sister tore her eyes away from Harlan’s and burst into laughter. “Or maybe you’re a sad drinker.”

“I’d say you need coffee instead of scotch when we retire to the parlor, dear.” Lady Rose said, setting aside her spoon and gesturing for the footmen to clear the table.