Page 10 of Hollow Court
“Since you’re unwell,Malishka, I’ll send your carriage home in the morning and make your excuses for you.”
Tomorrow morning, when the Lochlannians are leaving. And he had said that he would send my carriage home, not me. Deliberate wording from a deliberate man.
I didn’t speak. I couldn’t.
None of this made sense.
Then he pulled something from his coat and set it down on the vanity next to us with a clink. A small red pouch tied with a black string.
Gold.
“In case you need it on your journey,” he said, his warm gaze meeting mine. “Of course, I’ll miss you, but I’d rather you do whatever is best for your health.”
He turned to go before I could question him any further. Not that I would have.
We spoke in subtleties, and against all odds, I knew what he was trying to say.
He was offering me an escape, one that meant we might never see each other again. Did my mother know? Did she disagree? I couldn’t ask him that, either.
So I said the only thing I could to his retreating back.
“I’ll miss you too, Papa.”
FOUR
Davin
“Why doyou have to leave tomorrow?” Rowan grumbled, pouring us both another healthy serving of vodka.
The others had long since gone to bed, leaving me to spend one last night with my best friend before I had to go back to Lochlann without her.
“Because sadly, I have to usher in the southern social season this year with my illustrious presence.” And I had to make a damned good showing, wooing the nobles and villagers alike for the next several months.
“Naturally, youarethe marquess of Lithlinglau—most esteemed and revered of all Lochlannian estates,” she said dramatically, raising her crystal goblet in the air.
I chuckled and followed suit.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t wrong. My estate was a veritable kingdom unto itself, being both the largest and most influential outside of the two main royal castles.
That was the problem right now.
“And only moderately likely to hold that title,” I reminded Rowan, before taking yet another sip.
Though I had been being an arse when I complimented the drink to Galina, I hadn’t been lying. Itwasgood vodka.
I forcibly pushed away the memory of her standing mere inches from me at the ball, the way her eyes had turned to icicles when she realized I was the one she had very uncharacteristically stumbled into. I wanted to think aboutthateven less than I wanted to think about my ownership of my own stars-damned estate being contested in five months.
Admittedly, the man who had left it to me hadn’t been my father by blood, but he had been my father by law. He had also been a massive arseling, right along with everyone else in his family who would have inherited in my stead.
More than that, the Andersons had made no secrets of their political leanings—namely, dethroning my entire family so they could split our kingdom in two. The cherry on top was that they didn’t give a single damn about the people.
“You can’t possibly think the Assembly will vote against you,” Rowan said, pulling me from my rather sour thoughts. “The Andersons have no claim. You were the named heir.”
I shrugged a shoulder, leaning back against the small, elegant sofa. The Assembly was comprised of representatives from every estate, plus a few for the villagers, and every member had their own interests in mind.
“I think that the Assembly cares more about politics than facts, and the Andersons have done an excellent job convincing everyone that I’m incompetent and lacking in stability.” Not that it was hard for them after Rowan and I nearly threw our kingdom into war over a bit of vodka smuggling. “And half the lairds are still upset we didn’t retaliate against Socair for that little snafu wherein you were kidnapped. Twice.”
She shook her head, her expression going solemn.