Page 234 of Ashen Torment

I stare at him, just as surprised as he is. Dorian lifts his eyes and looks at him.

“Lord Richard.”

“I—I... I was looking for you, Evander.”

“Why?” Dorian asks, clicking his tongue impatiently against his palate.

I cast a glance toward him, then turn to Richard.

“What is happening?”

His eyes wander hesitantly between Dorian and me.

“Richard.” I call him again, more firmly.

He furrows his brow. “Something has happened... everyone has gone mad.”

“What?”

Dorian huffs impatiently, crossing his arms. “And why should that interest us?”

Richard observes him, and for a moment he seems to see him for the first time. There is a shadow of animosity in his eyes, then he fixes his gaze back on me.

“Julian has distributed the London Gazette to everyone.”

“The scandal sheet?”

He nods. “There is an article about Elijah Lirael.”

Dorian sighs, his eyes searching for my gaze.

“I still do not see why it should concern u—”

Richard seizes me by the arm. “Come.”

He leads me through the garden paths. Behind us, I hear Dorian’s low breathing.

“Lord Richard!” he grinds out through his teeth.

“Richard?” I ask, perceiving the uncertainty in his eyes as he turns toward him.

“Have you perhaps forgotten the number of people present here today?” Richard retorts.

Dorian raises an eyebrow with his usual arrogant manner. “And?”

Richard’s eyes widen as he turns his gaze back to me.

“Nothing happened, Richard. You have nothing to worry about.”

I pull away from his grip and move forward through the paths toward the main gardens.

Behind me, Dorian’s voice cuts through the air.

“If he does not speak to me again, I might come looking for you, Richard, and you will wish most fervently that you had never been—”

I walk away without listening to the rest of the sentence. Around me, the buzz grows; hands flip through the London Gazette, eyes narrow, brows furrow. Some whisper in undertones, others speak aloud.

“Scandalous...”