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‘Well, I fail to see why,’ Davad contradicted her jovially.

‘What can come of this except good? Eventually, Malta must wed. Why stand in the path of young romance? Think of what may come of this: grandchildren for Jani, great-grandchildren for you, Ronica. And mutually profitable trade arrangements for all, I don’t doubt. ’

It pained Ronica to hear Davad so laboriously drag the conversation in the direction he wished it to go.

Over the years, she had come to know the man too well.

This was why he was truly here. He was an old friend of the family; he genuinely cared for Malta and what became of her.

But the greatest part of his heart had long ago been given over to trade and the profits there from.

For good or ill, it was how Davad’s mind worked.

He had never hesitated to use his friendships to the good of his business deals, though he seldom risked a business profit for the sake of friendship.

All this passed through Ronica’s mind in a fraction of a moment.

She saw Davad clearly, as she had always known him to be.

She had never evaluated what it meant to have such a friend.

Differences in politics had not persuaded her to set him aside, even when many other Traders ceased dealing with him.

He was not a truly evil man; he simply did not give much thought to what he did.

Profits beckoned and he followed, into slave trading, into the questionable practices of the New Traders, even to making a profit from Malta’s unsought courtship.

He meant no harm by it; he never considered it in terms of right and wrong.

That did not make him harmless. Not in terms of what he could inadvertently do to the Vestrit family if he offended Jani Khuprus just now.

The Khuprus family held the note on the liveship Vivacia.

Ronica had reluctantly accepted Reyn’s courtship of Malta in the certainty that he would soon realize how young and unsuitable she was.

For Reyn to begin such a courtship and then break it off would give her an odd social advantage.

The Vestrit family might be seen as the injured party; the Khuprus family would be expected to be more than civil in their business dealings.

But if the Khuprus family broke off the courtship because the Vestrit family had undesirable political connections, the attitude of the other Traders towards her family might be substantially different.

Ronica had already felt social pressure to cut off her association with Davad Restart.

She would be in a financial quagmire if that were extended to trading pressure.

The wise thing to do would be to dump Davad Restart.

Loyalty forbade that. And pride. If the Vestrit family allowed itself to be governed by what others perceived as correct, they would lose all control of their destiny. Not that much control truly remained in their hands.

The silence had grown uncomfortable. Ronica felt a resigned fascination coupled with horror. What dreadful thing would Davad say next? He was completely unaware of how gauche he was being. He smiled brightly and began, ‘Speaking of trade alliances –’

Rescue came from an unexpected quarter. Keffria swept up to them.

A very fine mist of perspiration on her brow was the only visible sign of the agitation she undoubtedly felt at seeing Davad stand so close to Jani Khuprus for so long.

She touched his arm lightly and asked him quietly if he could assist her in the kitchen, just for a moment.

The servants were having difficulty opening some of the old wines she had chosen; could he come and supervise that task?

Keffria had chosen well. Wine and the correct serving of it were one of Davad’s favourite obsessions. He hastened away with Keffria following him, nodding as he spoke learnedly of the correct way to uncork a bottle to minimize agitation. Ronica sighed out in relief.

‘I wonder that you even tolerate him being here,’ Jani observed quietly.

Now that Davad had gone, she stood at Ronica’s side.

She spoke confidentially to her, beneath the music and conversation in the room.

‘The other day I heard him referred to as the Traitor Trader. He denies it, but all know he has been the go-between for the New Traders in many of their most tawdry dealings. It is even said that he is behind the New Traders who are making such ridiculous offers in the hope of buying the Paragon.’

‘Shockingly ridiculous offers,’ Ronica agreed in a low voice.

‘I think it is scandalous that the Ludluck family even allows them to be presented.’ She ventured a small smile as she presented this thought to Jani.

To be sure her point was not missed, she added the old Trader adage, ‘After all, it takes two to strike a bargain.’

‘Indeed,’ Jani agreed coolly. ‘But isn’t it cruel of Davad that he tempts the Ludlucks with such offers? He knows how straitened their circumstances are.’

‘Most Bingtown Traders are feeling the pinch these days. Including the Vestrits. So we form alliances with one another, ones that may strike others as strange. Davad, for instance, came by today to offer me the use of his servants, for he was well aware we had reduced our staff to a mere skeleton.’

There. That was out in the open now. If Reyn’s courtship were mistakenly based on a supposed wealth the Vestrit family no longer possessed, it would soon be terminated.

When Jani Khuprus replied, Ronica discovered she had misjudged the depth of the woman’s graciousness.

‘I, too, was aware of your financial worries. It pleases me to see Reyn courting a young woman who understands the necessity of living within one’s means.

Thrift and discipline are virtues always, no matter what one’s wealth.

The servants we brought with us were meant, not to embarrass you, but to assist in making this a carefree time for all. ’ Sincerity rang in her voice.

Ronica answered it. ‘Davad can be a difficult friend. I could abandon him. However, I have never seen the virtue in that. I have never respected folk who cast out offspring or relatives that displeased them. It always seemed to me that the duty of family is to continue trying to correct, no matter how painful. Why should it be different with old family friends? Especially when, in many ways, we have become Davad’s family.

He lost his wife and sons to the Blood Plague, as you perhaps know. ’

Jani’s reply caught Ronica off balance. ‘Then you did not force Althea out of your home for improper behaviour?’

The shock of the question astounded Ronica.

Was that the Bingtown rumour? Spread as far as the Rain Wilds?

She was grateful for the servant that suddenly presented them with a tray of delicate cakes.

Was it only last night she and Keffria had baked these?

She took one and then was immediately confronted by another serving person offering a fluted glass of some Rain Wild liqueur.

She accepted it with thanks and took a sip from it.

‘This is wonderful,’ she told Jani with genuine pleasure.

‘As are the cakes,’ Jani replied. She looked aside, letting her gaze linger on Reyn and Malta. Whatever she had just said to him had made him laugh. The cant of Jani’s head suggested she smiled also.

Ronica considered letting the topic drop, but then steeled herself. Best to snuff rumours as soon as they were heard. Sa alone knew how long that one had been circulating, but it had probably been about ever since last summer.

‘I did not ask Althea to leave our home. In fact, she left against my will. The division of the inheritance from her father much distressed her. She had expected to inherit the Vivacia. She was hurt when she did not, and she disagreed with how Kyle chose to run the ship. There was a quarrel and she left.’ She found it hard, but she stared squarely at Jani’s veil and added, ‘I do not know where she is now or what she is doing. If she came to the door this very moment, I would welcome her with all my heart.’

Jani seemed to return her look. ‘It was an awkward question, perhaps. It is my way, to speak directly. I do not mean to give offence by it. It has always seemed to me that honest words leave the least room for misunderstanding.’

‘I share that sentiment.’ Ronica’s eyes followed Jani’s gaze as she turned to look at Reyn and Malta.

Malta had lowered her face and turned her eyes aside.

Her cheeks were pink with a blush, but her eyes were merry.

The tilt of Reyn’s head showed that he shared her amusement as he tried to see into her averted face.

‘Within a family, there is no room for secrets,’ Jani added.