“Family Medio doesn’t have anyone of the right age. Lord Medio is too old to be elected after Uncle Stavo, and his heir is only seven,” Selona said. “Lady Jianna could be chosen, but Family Velassi prefers holding positions in the Cabinet and Assembly over sitting on the throne. And the heir of Family Gioro this generation is, shall we say, unlikely to inspire confidence.”
“I see.” Reyn thought over what Selona and Biatra had just told her, as well as what she already knew of Lhanaperan society. “So your Families don’t socialize casually, but for an event like tonight’s it would be an insult to not attend.”
“Exactly.”
Reyn lowered her voice once more, not wanting to get her friend in trouble with her mother. “How do I go about breaking Enzi’s heart?”
She had no intention of deliberately doing such a thing, but she knew that it was best to pretend to fall in line with Selona’s plans. In truth, she had never pretended, but she had learned to give in sooner than later. Selona did not give up. If she pretended to play along this time, maybe she’d be able to avoid getting into too much trouble once Selona wore her down, anyway.
“He’s going to want you as soon as he sees you. If you smile and flirt a little to set the hook, he’ll go rabid when you snub him later.” Selona’s eyes went wide. “I know, you should rebuff him in favor of Vel! Enzi won’t be able to handle it.”
“I won’t be able to handle it,” Reyn muttered.
Selona heard her. “Of course you can. He’ll be taken in by your looks; he’s shallow like that.”
“I meant flirting with Lord Velario. Your cousin does not like me.”
“Nonsense. Everyone likes you. What could he possibly dislike?”
“You were there when we met, Selona. He thinks I’m too frivolous.”
“Well, he hasn’t gotten to know you yet.”
Aware that Princess Biatra was listening to their current conversation, Reyn refrained from pointing out that she didn’t like him. She hadn’t told Selona about her encounter with Velario at Delerat BeVelor’s home. She searched for a different topic that might distract Selona. “Is Master Giorden likely to be at the party tonight?”
“Of course. He’d never miss an event hosted by one of the Electors. Of course, that means Lady Jianna will also be there, so Giorden will be distracted.”
Reyn tried to recall if she had ever seen Giorden with Lady Jianna. He was constantly surrounded by women, but Reyn couldn’t remember her ever being in his vicinity. Which was probably why Giorden would be distracted by her—the lure of a woman unimpressed when others fell over themselves to be with him.
“Pining or chasing?” she asked Selona.
“A bit of both on his part. Complete indifference on hers.”
There was something in Selona’s voice when she mentioned Jianna’s indifference. Reyn hesitated, but she figured it was better not to be taken by surprise. “Do you have a plan?”
“Of course I have a plan. I always have a plan.”
“And is your plan meant to help Giorden win Lady Jianna, or distract him?” Reyn knew Selona liked Giorden, but she wasn’t in love with him. It could go either way with her.
Selona gave Reyn an arch look. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
Lord Enzi Sablonwas nearly as handsome as Lord Velario. Unlike Velario, his first response upon meeting Reyn was flattery. Even if she hadn’t known that Selona disliked him—though Reyn still didn’t know if it was only because of Family rivalry or something more personal—his smarmy version of charm wouldn’t have swayed Reyn. But she could pretend. Unlike a lord she would not name, she did not rush to condemn people and make enemies of them.
Even if all they did was talk about themselves. In great detail. With much bragging.
“But of course, Arvin and I had the last laugh in the end.” Enzi smirked. “Fideo should have remembered we are heirs to our Families, not members of some minor branch.”
Reyn forced herself to laugh. The joke, such as it was, wasn’t quite at Fideo’s expense, but it wasn’t particularly in good taste, either. Perhaps it was time to make her excuses to Lord Enzi and go find someone fun to spend the rest of the evening with. She had made a favorable impression. There was no need to devote any more of her time to the Sablon heir.
Selona was certainly having a good time, despite being in enemy territory, such as it were. She held a silver cup of punch in one hand, waving it around as she spoke animatedly to a group of men and women. No doubt she was enacting her elaborate plan to either help Master Giorden win Lady Jianna or distract him from his heartbreak.
Reyn was ready to join her, even if it meant being roped into the ploy. No doubt Selona counted on her curiosity bringing her over eventually. She would have factored it into her plan. Reyn nodded along to Enzi’s continued monologue, waiting for a chance to make her escape.
Then she spotted Lord Velario.
He stood a few dozen paces away, far enough at such a lively soiree that he couldn’t hear her conversation with Enzi, but close enough that shifting groups of people only ever momentarily blocked his view. At that moment, the path between them cleared, and Reyn could read his expression clearly. Contempt. And she was fairly certain the look was directed at her, not Enzi.
Selona’s advice from earlier ran through her mind. Snub one man by flirting with his rival. It was petty, but she couldn’t resist.
