Liera sat by the window, her posture rigid, her eyes fixed on the garden. Across from her, Marien was checking her reflection in a silver tea service.
At first, she had been grateful for the solitude. But then footsteps. Not one set, but several, overlapping and careless.
She supposed she could not have asked them to leave, so she let them be.
The double doors swung open again, and a butler entered with a silver tray. Resting upon it were several envelopes of heavy, dark blue-colored vellum, sealed with a thick stamp of black and silver wax, the unmistakable crest of Aldenar.
"Invitations, My Lords, My Ladies," the butler murmured, bowing low. "From the Aldenar estate. Delivered by a Northern courier."
Marien's hand shot out like a viper, snatching an envelope before the butler could even finish his sentence. Liera reached for hers more slowly, her heart hammering. As she broke the seal, her eyes widened.
Hosted by Verona Vernhardt, Future Duchess of Aldenar.
