To my surprise, Hanson rolled his eyes and broke the gaze, looking into the wine goblet he’d been holding as if he’d lost all interest in the conversation.
“LordHanson,” I corrected myself. He swirled his wine and sighed.
“Next time you fly, send a messenger,” he said to his cup, though some of that intensity bled back into his tone. “I would very much like to see a woman astride a dragon… in trousers.”
Then he shot me a look that made it suggestive, and pushed off the wall as the others tittered and whispered, walking away, disappearing into the crowd.
I wasn’t sure whether I should call after him, or ignore the dismissal. Thankfully, one of the other women jumped in then, and I was distracted quickly. But a thread of unease coiled in my stomach.
51. Presence in the Dark
SOUNDTRACK:The Underneathby World’s First Cinema
~ BREN ~
An hour later, Donavyn had been pulled away to a card game with the men, and the women were gossiping about ladies I didn’t know. I excused myself quietly, not sure they even noticed, and went for a walk around the hall.
It was a massive room, but with all the bodies, the candles and lanterns, and the dancing, it had become suffocatingly hot.
As I passed the impressive windows at the other end of the hall, a lovely gust of cool air wafted over me. I turned into it instinctively, closing my eyes for a moment to enjoy the sensation of the chill air on my damp skin. The light breeze fluttered the tendrils of hair that had fallen from my twist.
I thought one of the windows must be open—they were huge, starting lower than waist height, rising almost to the ceiling in sets of three arched peaks, and offering a view of a balconyoutside, the balustrade made of marble or granite, and crawling with leafy vines.
Then it became clear the air blew through a tall, but narrow door to the right of the windows, and with a quick glance over my shoulder to make certain no one was watching, I slipped outside.
I heaved a relieved sigh the moment I made it into the cool night, walking straight to the furthermost point of the wide, curving balcony, where I’d be in the shadows between the swathes of light from the ballroom windows.
I needed a moment.
Resting my hands on the top of that balustrade, I looked out into the night and reached for Akhane. She was close enough that I could sense her presence and turned my head in the direction in which she lay, but I couldn’t reach her with my words.
Donavyn had said we’d work on expanding our reach while we were here, so I sought his mind instead—and found him.
‘Are you well?’
‘Yes, just taking a moment to breathe on the balcony. These people are… wearisome.’
A rush of understanding and affirmation washed over me from the bond. I smiled.
‘At least you don’t have to play cards with buffoons trumping your hand simply to soothe their masculine sensibilities, which are threatened by a man who works with his body.’
‘No, I don’t have to do that,’I laughed.
‘I know they’re all a little vapid, Bren. But don’t underestimate them. They’re mostly much sharper intellectually than they allow you to see. Everyone here wants to be underestimated until they’ve stepped over you.’
‘I know. I can tell.’
‘You’re doing well.’
‘As are you. And you lookveryhandsome in your uniform,’I added slyly.
‘I’ll happily allow you to remove it when—’
“Lady Brennan?”
I whirled at the quiet voice, which wasveryclose. Surprised that I’d heard no footsteps or caught any flicker of the light to tell me someone approached, I froze.
It was Lord Hanson, one hand resting in the pocket of his black jacket, the other extended towards me.
