Temple of the Traveler: Empress of Dreams (31 page)

Nightglow grinned. “Mother, half these people are your friends.”

“Pish. You know I’m right. Get used to it. This is what being a noble wife is like. Behind the scenes you press the hands, ignore the boredom and pain, and politely beg for what your husband cannot.”

“You make parties sound like a chore,” laughed Komiko.

Lady Evershade smiled. “Just for that, you get to be the door greeter. You need adequate jewelry. Here, take my pearl necklace.” She handed over a string with fifty tiny pearls. “They have emperor’s sand in the center, so they’re protective. Remember that: through irritation comes perfection. Smile at everyone, call them and their escort by name, and say one nice thing about each. If the wife shows up after the mistress, send her to the portrait gallery and signal Nightglow to warn the mistress. If the mistress shows up later, she’ll know what to do.”

“There’s an etiquette to cheating?” asked the witch.

“My dear, society could not function without it.”

“How do I know who’s sleeping with who?”

“
Whom
, dear. When spreading vicious and damaging gossip about the private affairs of others, one must always use proper grammar and posture.”

Bovinia giggled.

“Lady Vapordoom usually arrives early and knows the latest rumors. Place the invitation list on a table within earshot of where you’re standing, and she’ll fill in anyone who’ll listen. After a few hours on the front lines, I’ll ask you again if you think parties are
fun
.”

“Then why do you do it?” demanded Nightglow.

“Duty . . . and to subtly crow about any recent victories,” the lady said, petting the fox. “Good alcohol helps. Speaking of which, Bovinia, would you please help ladle out the adult beverage—rum punch. Donors to any charity are always more amenable after a few swigs of that.”

“Can I try some?” asked the youngest dancer.

“No. As chaperone, I cannot condone this breach—hence the term
adult
drink. I have placed a special children’s cup out for you at the far end of the table, the one with the straw.”
And the heavy dose of flavorless alcohol from Rensalier.

“It’s not fair.”

“Young woman,
society
is not fair to women with the morals and rules it imposes, but as a noble wife, you must sometimes represent the very thing you despise . . . and do so with a smile.” Turning to the others, Lady Evershade warned, “Beware, ladies; the more they drink, the more men pinch and grab. That’s what the fan is for. For the first offense, you smile and say something witty. For the second, a gentle block with the fan. For the third, a soft rap on the wrist and a withering glare at one of the female members of his household. Beyond that, when he sits down next, be sure that the metal clasp of your fan is faceup, thusly. I’ve yet to administer a fifth rebuke.”

When the others were occupied, Nightglow noted her mother signing a merchant’s bill with her favorite, white, peacock quill. “How are we paying for all this, Mother?”

“Your dowry, sweetheart. Enjoy the canapés.” When her daughter blanched, Lady Evershade handed her a sealed document. “His majesty has already taken care of us. This is all hypothetical, but if his majesty does not choose you at the dance,
any
single Imperial man would marry you in a heartbeat for the title that goes with your hand. Hells, half the married ones would lie or kill for the privilege. If you’re wise, you won’t tell a man this until he professes his love.”

“Th-thank you, Mother.”

“One tries to plan ahead. That reminds me: have you seen the amber material that Komiko has been touting as the revolution in sex magic?”

“Yes. It’s very pretty and unbreakable. She says it holds a mana charge better than anything, and spirits can’t penetrate it.”

“The point is, his majesty is interested in it and the witch hasn’t told him yet. During the party, search the third basement for something sun-colored that his majesty can wear around his neck. Each dancer is expected to give a meaningful gift at the coronation. We can steal her thunder and add to it.”

“No one told us this tradition.”

“You were all invited to breakfast where I informed Queen Sarajah. She is adding pencil illustrations to Lord Pinetto’s book. She’s quite gifted at art. Even so, she’ll be up till all hours drawing if she’s going to make the deadline.”

“The rest of us slept in.”

“There are penalties for such choices. A lady of the first circle does not take such luxury when she has guests. You’ll remind the other dancers when you give your gift
early
at the dinner tonight.”

“They’ll spend all night and tomorrow morning scrambling for a gift. They’ll never find anything this late. It seems unfair.”

Lady Evershade glared at her daughter. “You’re not a child any longer. I have lost everything I have in this world except you, young lady. If the current drain on my finances continues for too long, your cousins will join me in the poorhouse.” The girl rolled her eyes at the perceived exaggeration, but her mother persisted. “This exercise and my current pain are all endured to place
you
to the greatest advantage. You shall comport yourself with the dignity your house deserves and do what needs to be done. I don’t want to hear the word ‘fair’ from your lips again.”

“Yes, honored Mother.”

With no girls around, Lady Evershade was free to hold court and sell her seating assignments to the highest bidder.

****

After her hundredth greeting, Komiko approached Lady Evershade. The smile on her face looked like the rictus of a stuffed macaw. “How much longer? My feet are killing me, and I’m running out of vapid small talk.”

The noblewoman swatted the comment aside with her fan. “Pish. You’ve only been here four hours. No social function worth an invitation takes less than six.”

“Two more hours of this?”

“If you leave, the women will spend the next two hours gossiping about
you
.”

“You hateful old harpy.”

“You’re only angry because I’m right.”

“Sadistic bitch. We have to return to the palace, wash, change, and be to the Yacht Club in two hours.”

“Less. It’ll take at least half an hour to clean up and give golden handshakes to the staff here. You’ve done such a good job you can keep the pearls. If you bear up, I’ll tell you a very interesting way you can use them with your friend. I’ve personally tipped a servant to fan Ember and keep her rum filled. If you like, I can prop her leg up just a little more so you can see her frillies from where you’re standing.”

Komiko smiled. “Fine, you’re a heinous cow, but you’re on our side.”

“I’m on the side of the
emperor
, child. Schooling you provides a service for the entire aristocracy.”

“So noted. Um . . . Why is Bovinia sitting on that table? Why are people gathering around her?”

“I couldn’t say; I can’t get around well,” Lady Evershade feigned helplessness. “Why don’t you take a look?”

However, the witch didn’t need to move to hear what Bovinia was bellowing to the crowd of assembled nobles. “When my father is in charge, everyone will eat beef. No more fish. Fish stinks.”

“She’s drunk off her ass,” muttered Komiko.

“Well, stop her before she embarrasses herself beyond repair,” insisted Lady Evershade.

“I can’t! Another bloody guest just arrived, and I have to go greet them.”

“I’ll try to get Nightglow’s attention. Where is that girl?”

After a complete recitation of, “What my father will do when he rules,” Bovinia slugged down another rum and announced, “I can do handstands just as well as Ember-flame-ass.” She tried to demonstrate, but knocked Lady Vapordoom into the shrimp salad.

“Sorry.”

Lady Evershade huffed and declared loudly enough for the dancers to hear, “How crude. Is there anything less appropriate she could have shared?”

On request, Bovina shouted, “Hey, I didn’t say anything about the emperor never seeing a vagina yet.” The girl blinked a few times. “Excuse me,” she said just before projectile vomiting into the punchbowl.

Servants discreetly hauled out the girl and the entire soiled table.

The chaperone rubbed her fox’s belly. “Now there’s only one real candidate, Kitten.”

Nightglow finally reappeared with a box under her arm. She brought it to her mother’s side and adjusted her dress.

“You’re out of breath, dear.”

Nightglow’s eyes found the dashing form of Niftkin as he left the basement a full bit after her. “Moving and carrying heavy boxes can exhaust a woman.”

“Always keep a man around for the heavy lifting, dear. A woman should remain pristine and inspire others to sweat for her.” Lady Evershade fussed with her daughter’s hair, attempting to put everything back into place.

“I shall endeavor to follow that advice, Mother.”

She handed the girl the key to their Center estate and a signet ring. “Have our servants wrap the gift and write a personal message with our family seal affixed.”

“You’ve never trusted me with these before,” Nightglow said, in awe.

“You need practice with authority. Between now and the Dance, my time is filled with the emperor’s needs. You need to be the public face of our family and gain the approval of the aristocracy in your own right.” Lady Evershade licked her lips. “Ask yourself, how would an empress behave in this situation?”

Komiko was spared continued greeting when a runner came in to announce, “A merchant ship from Reneau has appeared on the horizon. It’s heading for the harbor.”

Everyone poured out so they could circle to the other side of the island. “Go,” Lady Evershade told the dancers. “I’ll handle the cleanup.”

****

Lady Evershade didn’t hear about the disaster until Lord Duwara escorted her into the chapel at the Yacht Club. “Where’s your fox?”

She joked, “I regret having to leave Kitten at home, but he bit one of the drunks at the party and isn’t feeling well. He kept giving me his opinion of how nobles smell.”

Duwara guffawed. “A sharp wit. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with you.”

“I have always thought so, but to what specific regard do you refer?”

“That ship turned out to be full of orphans. The decks were packed with tiny bodies, and they hadn’t eaten in three days. The blackguard captain, one of the Pretender’s henchmen, waited until they reached the center of our harbor and foundered his own ship.”

“Horrible,” she feigned, covering her mouth.

“The Pretender thinks this gift will cause us strife and drain our resources during his siege. Perhaps he felt the disaster would grieve the emperor. However, Nightglow rallied the members of the Yacht Club to rescue the children before they sank. Then she ordered three of your family’s vessels to tie themselves to the wreck and keep it afloat.”

“All three?” she asked in real horror. Those three still had cargo she’d hoped to salvage.

“I think she got the idea from our Niftkin. We had a ferry capsizing a few years ago and his parent helped prevent that the same way. Of course, the merchant ships were bigger. They’re a bit damaged, but it worked—all the children made it off safely. The young lady volunteered your family estate to house them until we find homes for all of them. You must be so proud of her.”

Tears rolled down Lady Evershade’s face from the sheer cost. “Truly,” she said when she could speak again. “I cannot imagine a greater source of pride.”

Sitting next to her in the front pew, Anna whispered, “Did you hear the good news?”

Fresh tears flowing at her ruin, Lady Evershade nodded.

Anna sighed. “Good, I was worried we wouldn’t have room for the new one.”

“I’m sorry. New what?”

“Dancer. The oldest orphan was a gorgeous Babliosian-Imperial mix—Majah. Her name means ‘little mother.’ Her heroism saved most of the children. The emperor gave her a dance ticket on the spot.”

Lady Evershade clutched her chest and panted. “My joy is complete. Maybe she could share my room.”

“Don’t be absurd. We don’t want to give her a bad impression her first night. No, maybe Bovinia can share.”

“I shouldn’t think that her father will allow Bovinia to return anytime soon. She snuck some adult beverages at the party and made a small scene.”

“How small?”

“In addition to telling the truth about her father’s political ambitions, she used the V word in public.” The happy memory stemmed the tears for a moment.

Lord Duwara leaned over. “Don’t forget showing her knickers, kicking the senior Councilman’s wife, and decorating the buffet with used liquor.”

Anna covered her face to hide the smile. She turned to Lady Evershade. “You wicked vixen.”

Lady Evershade raised her chin. “This was the girl’s choice; ask anyone. She did everything I explicitly ordered her
not
to do.”

“I’m glad you’re on our side,” Anna muttered.

“What does she mean?” asked Duwara.

“Her side of the aisle, so she can catch up with all the gossip. Go make yourself useful and tell the servers no shrimp with orange sauce. After the incident this afternoon, no one will want it.” When the man left, the noblewoman whispered, “If you please, refrain from liking me so publicly; I have a reputation to uphold.”

“Would it help if I called you a bitch to my dinner partners?”

“Yes, it would, but I put you at the children’s table tonight . . . to show everyone how good you are with them.”

“Does Pagaose know how evil you are?”

The noblewoman fanned herself as she watched the clergy file in to practice. “I’m eminently useful. That trumps nice in the game of ruling. What’s more, I give him something you never could.” When Anna snorted, she continued. “I’ve killed for him and won’t hesitate to do so again. He knows my priorities. My lands and property have been given over today to his favorite charity. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for him.”

Anna searched her face. “I believe you. That’s the only reason I can sit next to you without needing to bathe afterwards.”

“I’m not sure I can say the same,” Lady Evershade said, distantly. Offended, Anna traded seats with Ember.
You misunderstand. I meant even I cannot tolerate my behavior.
But she said nothing, deeming scorn to be better than pity.