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surprised to find one of his works in this country manor. Closer scrutiny made me think it was one of the artist’s earlier works. Certain techniques weren’t quite as refined as thegallery portrait. It was still exquisite, but those imprecise details might explain how the painting had ended up here.
    I admired it a little longer, trying to puzzle out some of his methods, and then turned around to go back to the staircase. To my astonishment, I saw Jasper and Cedric headed my way down the corridor. Neither had noticed me yet. They were too engrossed in their own conversation. I quickly stepped around a corner, cringing back into a small nook to the side of the drawing room’s entrance that was out of sight of the main hall.
    â€œ. . . knew it was too good to be true,” Jasper was saying. “You had two chances. Two chances, and you blew them both.”
    â€œYou don’t think you’re being a little extreme?” asked Cedric. His tone was light, laconic even, but I could sense the tension underneath it.
    â€œDid you hear the mouth on that girl?” Jasper exclaimed. “Atrocious.”
    â€œNot really. She was quite polite about it all. No improper language.” Cedric hesitated. “And her grammar and diction are quite excellent.”
    â€œIt’s not the language so much as the attitude. She’s bold and impertinent. The men in Adoria don’t want shrews for wives. They want mild, compliant young woman.”
    â€œNot too mild if they’re going to survive in Adoria,” Cedric said. “And she was defending Mira. I thought it was noble.” Well, that answered one question. They’d heard the whole exchange after all.
    Jasper sighed. “Oh, yes. Defending the Sirminican—that justifies it all.
That
one’s going to have to get used to being put down. Clara’s not going to be the only one to do it.”
    â€œI don’t think Mira’s the type who will ever ‘get used to’ being put down,” said Cedric. I thought about the dark glitter of her eyes and was inclined to agree with him.
    â€œBe that as it may, you’ve thrown away both commissions. You’ll be lucky to get anything for them in Adoria—unless you can get Adelaide to close her mouth long enough for us to marry her off. She’s pretty enough to snare some fool. The Sirminican is too,” Jasperadded, almost grudgingly. “There’s nothing wrong with your eyes, I’ll give you that. It’s the rest of you I don’t know about. Letting you procure this year was a bad idea. You should’ve stayed here with your classes. Maybe a few more years would have taught you some sense.”
    â€œWhat’s done is done,” said Cedric.
    â€œI suppose so. Well, I have to finish up some paperwork, and then I’ll meet you at the carriage. We need to check on Swan Ridge.”
    I heard the sounds of Jasper’s footsteps departing and waited for Cedric to do the same. Instead, he moved forward, coming into my view as he looked at the same painting I’d admired before. I froze where I was, praying he wouldn’t look off to his side. After several moments, he sighed and turned to follow his father. And as he did, he caught sight of me in his periphery. Before I could draw another breath, he darted into my little alcove, trapping me between him and the wall.
    â€œYou! What in Ozhiel’s name have you done?” he hissed, pitching his voice low. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œUm, getting ready to be part of the new nobility.”
    â€œI’m serious! Where’s Ada?” he demanded.
    â€œLong gone,” I said, with a shrug. “Guess you’re stuck with me. Besides, I thought you wanted to see me again?”
    â€œWhen I said that, I meant that I wanted—” He stopped that thought, looking only briefly flustered as countless unvoiced possibilities lingered tantalizingly