Page 258 of Ashen Torment

I take another spoon and set it beside his saucer. “You should taste it.”

He brings his face closer to mine, his eyes smiling before his mouth does. “Are you perhaps attempting to poison me, Viscount?”

“I would not do it before so large an audience.”

“I should not be so certain of that.”

I feel Nathaniel’s gaze upon us, I move away by a few centimeters, but Dorian’s grip on my hand becomes firmer.

Richard changes the subject.

“Our father would be pleased to host you for the rehearsals of the Christmas performance at the Durants’.”

Nathaniel turns sharply. “What are you talking about?”

Their voices overlap immediately after, broken phrases, agreements, and objections that dissolve into a distant hum.

Dorian’s thumb continues its slow path.

“You look tired.”

“I spent the afternoon searching for something.”

“For what?”

“A word.”

I see him incline his head slightly, his eyebrows lifting.

“A word?”

“Yes.”

“Which wor—”

“You must forgive me, Lord Dorian.” Elijah’s voice cuts through the air.

Dorian and I turn together.

“For what?”

Elijah brings two fingers to the blonde curl that has slipped onto his forehead and brushes it back.

“It was an oversight of mine to forget.”

Dorian’s fingers stop moving against my hand.

“Forget what?”

“Miss Clara sends you her regards.”

Dorian’s gaze fractures.

“Who might Clara be?” Isobel interjects.

Elijah’s smile blossoms slowly, controlled and complacent.

“A friend... very dear to Lord Dorian.”