Page 82 of Of Iron and Moonlight

She curtsied, far too politely, and it scraped something raw in his chest. “Mathilde said you asked for me.”

“Yes,” he replied, lowering himself back into his chair, unsettled by her distant tone. “I thought we might keep our custom, even with guests. One missed night felt like enough.” He attempted a small smile, but it faltered under her cool regard.

“I see,” Kora said evenly, her attention fixed somewhere past him. “Shall I pour tea?”

“No,” Duncan blurted as she made for the tray. “Sit with me first. Tell me of your day.”

Green eyes lifted to him, assessing. After a moment, she altered course and took her usual chair opposite. Quietly precise. “It was an agreeable day, Your Grace.”

The formal address sent a jolt of panic through him. Duncan searched his mind for anything dependable enough to bridge the distance.

“What did you think of the conference with Duskmere?” he asked.

“I don’t believe I saw more than you did,” she answered carefully.

“Indulge me,” Duncan said, leaning forward, forearms resting on the desk. “He yielded faster than expected. Was it the mention of Hunrick’s cheating that forced his hand?”

She drew a breath. “No.”

Duncan’s mouth tilted faintly, overjoyed at even the simple response. He waited.

She smoothed the sleeve of her dress before continuing. “It mattered. By his reaction, he was aware of it. I suspect it was even his idea. But it wasn’t why he gave ground.”

“Then why?”

“Because he never cared about the contract.” Her eyes met his at last. “I cannot say why he’s here, but I’m certain this was not the reason.”

Duncan exhaled, troubled by her certainty even as he respected it. “Isander and I did feel the timing of the visit seemed odd.”

Kora nodded, then let her focus drift to the hearth.

“What do you think we should do?” he asked, simply to keep her talking.

The question seemed to catch her unawares, but not the line of thought. She answered at once. “Our trade surplus should allow us to absorb part of the increase without cutting into reserves. But we can’t subsidize all our merchants indefinitely.”

She tilted her head, thinking.

Duncan had to steady himself against the familiar pull of the endearing habit.

“We should cover part of the cost,” she continued. “Just enough to protect the smaller guilds until the next harvest. After that, we negotiate a shipping reduction with the southern river barges. It may offset most of the tariff, if transport becomes more efficient.”

Duncan smiled. “That’s a clever solution.” He had expected nothing less. “We will do that.”

A flicker of satisfaction crossed her face before she folded her hands in her lap and returned her attention to the fire.

“Kora,” Duncan said after a moment, unable to bear it longer. “Is everything all right? Have I offended you somehow?”

She looked up, startled. An unreadable emotion crossed her face, before she buried it. “No,” she said, almost too quickly. “Nothing at all.” Then she rose, crossed to the tray, and poured the tea with measured care, her back to him as if avoiding his attention.

Duncan waited patiently, watching with fierce concern—and disarming admiration—as she slowly carried one cup to him before sitting again with her own. She was beautiful. Elegantly so. He wondered how he had not been more drawn to her before.

A tense silence curdled the air between them.

Suddenly, Kora shifted in her chair and cleared her throat. When she spoke, it seemed almost painful to do so, as though she had argued with herself before deciding the sentiment could not remain unspoken.

“What Duskmere said today about your father. About you,” she said quietly. “It was cruel. The derWhittes have done much for Lemierre. Lemierre is better for your care.”

Duncan felt air return to his lungs as if after a long submersion. “You cannot know how much I needed to hear that.” The admission surprised him even as it left his mouth. Then he couldn’t stop. “Most days, I feel I’m failing. Most days, I feel Lemierre deserves a better derWhitte than the man who holds the title only because chance failed to claim him with the rest.”