Page 144 of Ashen Torment

Nathaniel, without moving a muscle of his face except for a slight tightening of the jaw.

“What a ridiculous thing.”

Richard nudges me lightly with his elbow, eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Can you imagine? A secret wife, what a scandal.”

“You shall see a scandal from me when stones rain from the sky, Richard.”

“What an apocalyptic brother I have.”

Nathaniel shifts his eyes to me.

“What did they write in the article?”

I look away for a moment, then turn back to Richard.

“They insinuated some ambiguous connection between him and Lord Dorian,” Richard shrugs barely, “it is simply unthinkable, everyone knows how many women he has had. There is not a brothel he has not frequented, Dorian is a libertine.”

His gaze settles on me. “And everyone knows you do not possess such vices, Evander.”

Vices.

Nathaniel’s eyes narrow slightly.

“Do you know that man?”

“We were introduced by Duchess Durant.”

Richard interjects, “They are friends.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Not exactly,” I retort, and my gaze settles on him, seeking a reaction. “Do you not find him likable?”

He straightens in the armchair.

“He is an intelligent man, he has an eye for business, he is methodical and respectable enough.”

“But?”

“I do not like him.”

Richard huffs, shaking his head.

“You like no one! You barely tolerate me... your own blood!”

Nathaniel barely lifts a hand, a sharp gesture that cuts off the sentence, then reaches toward the small table. He picks up a cigar, lifting it to look at it, but his eyes slide to me. With a slow movement, he puts it back without lighting it.

The door swings open with a light thud and Isobel enters almost at a run, her pastel pink dress fluttering around her.

“Richard!” she exclaims, her breath still short as she stares at her brother.

Then her eyes meet mine, bright and lively. “Oh, Evander, welcome.”

With a quick gesture, she holds up an envelope in her hands and shows it to Richard, panting.

“An invitation has arrived for us!”