Chapter 20
They had confirmedthat counterfeit money abounded in the Ferrini lockbox from the warehouse. Velario had spoken to his uncle and Diersi. He and Reyn had visited the ship that had supplied the most recent bolts of silk. They had visited a few more stores where counterfeits had popped up.
Nearly another full week gone, and they were still no closer to finding the source.
Velario was frustrated enough that he didn’t want to go out, not because he felt socializing to be a waste of time, but because he feared betraying his stress. But there was no excuse he could give to miss tonight’s event. He had agreed weeks ago to escort Reyn—never thinking they’d still be maintaining their charade for so long.
The night had come for the amateur musicale hosted by Family Dachsi.
Under normal circumstances, such entertainments were sparsely attended at best. Lord Dachsi enjoyed hosting them for just that reason; his wife enjoyed hosting, and he enjoyed having as few people as possible in his home and wanted them to leave at a reasonable hour.
Velario could see the concern in Lord Dachsi’s stiff stance as he greeted the plethora of people streaming into his home. Lady Dachsi meanwhile beamed at everyone, but especially Reyn. Her greeting to the Moialan woman was so effusive that Reyn actually looked dazed as Velario led her away.
“What was that about?” she asked when they reached the ballroom-turned-musical-stage.
“You are the reason Lady Dachsi moved all her instruments into the ballroom.”
“How so?”
“Lady Dachsi’s musicales are generally attended by young debutantes who wish to display their accomplishments, a few men interested in those debutantes, and a handful of musically inclined men and women who prefer performing to being an audience. And Lady Dachsi’s friends, like Lady Geratisi and Aunt Biatra.”
Reyn looked around at the people milling around. The room was already filling. “This crowd is not here for me. I am not that popular. My presence at other engagements has not had this effect.”
“You were not expected to sing at other engagements.”
Reyn turned to face Velario directly. “No one in Tryn besides a few members of your family has ever heard me sing. Why would so many people care?”
“Because plenty of people in Tryn have heard you speak. Your voice is lovely, even in the most mundane settings. People are justifiably curious about how much more compelling it can be when you sing.” Velario shrugged and let one corner of his mouth tilt upward. “Plus, Selona and I have told anyone who asked that listening to you sing is better than they could ever imagine.”
“Why?”
“Who knows why Selona does anything? For myself, I am being a dutiful nephew. When Aunt Biatra noticed how many people were interested in your singing ability, she asked me to help ensure her friend’s night was a resounding success.”
“I’m sure Princess Biatra and Lady Dachsi can coordinate an evening to remember without relying on my voice.”
“Certainly they can, but Lady Dachsi only hosts musicales and small card parties in deference to her husband’s preferences. There is only so much even such formidable ladies can accomplish under such restrictions.”
“If she wants to respect her husband’s preferences, then why attempt to lure so many people to her musicale?”
“I believe because her husband has never actually expressed aloud that he doesn’t want to host large events, rather he has expressed joy at hosting the card parties and musicales. If he ever came right out and said he had no interest in hosting anything, his wife would probably give up her endeavors and enjoy her friends’ entertainments instead.”
“So she punishes him for being diplomatic?”
“She teases him for fearing to give her his honest opinion.”
Reyn huffed. “Well, if I am a pawn in their game, I should like to know when I go into play.”
“There is never a set program at these musicales. People perform when they wish.”
“I attended a poetry reading in Daalj that followed the same setup. Neither Merine nor I knew as we walked into the event that the audience was also meant to be the performers. I chose to endure my humiliation first and get it out of the way. I take it, however, that I should not leap to perform first tonight. I suppose I must let the anticipation build.”
“You will not humiliate yourself tonight, so there is no need to rush through the pain. I doubt you humiliated yourself at the poetry reading, either.” No, she had probably leapt into the fire to protect her friend and come out the other side unscathed.
“No, I was not the one who humiliated myself that night. I had to invent a poem on the spot, but at least I had not been tricked into reading one written at my own expense.”
Velario laughed. “You were there when Lady Celedra read a poem praising her rival? No, wait, you must have been that rival. I don’t recall any of the gossip about that including your name.”
Reyn grinned. “Celedra’s humiliation reached Lhanaperi? As poorly as it reflects on my character, I must admit it warms me to hear that. And, while most people believed, as you do, that I was the moon in that poem, I did not actually inspire the verse.”
