Chapter 187: A Thorny Protector
Following the toast, High Lady Erna led the small group of people away, much to the disappointment of those who were eager to strike up a conversation with Lady Nyrielle’s Seneschal.
Beside the dancefloor, the woman who had thought to pull Ashlynn into her private group of wealthy spouses could only sigh at the misstep. Wearing masks could lower barriers and allow those of lower stations to build friendships with people they normally couldn’t access. The key to climbing, however, was to realize when you were the one who was lower and make appropriate moves. In that regard, she’d failed miserably.
"You have created quite the stir with your arrival, Jacques," Erna said once they entered a smaller room outside of the main hall. Luxurious sofas offered plentiful seating and the table at the center of the room held several decanters of wine, water, and chilled fruit juice for people who would be talking long into the night.
"Don be putin’ all the blame on me, cher," the Sandbox Witch said, taking an entire sofa to himself and sprawling in it. "I jus’ came to dance a bit. Das hardly worth makin’ such a fuss, non?"
"I don’t believe that for a second, Jacques," Zedya said, her amethyst eyes flashing as she stood protectively behind the sofa that Ashlynn and Nyrielle occupied. Having spent time studying with the Mother of Thorns, she and Jacques could be considered old friends and she didn’t approve of his demeanor this evening.
"If you just wanted to dance, you’d have reigned in your aura much more than you did tonight," the amethyst-eyed vampire pointed out. "You’re doing it now, you could have done it then. You chose to isolate Lady Ashlynn when you approached her and you clearly didn’t intend to dance with anyone else."
"Ah, ma belle cannot be deceived," Jacques said helplessly as he poured himself a large goblet of red wine with a heady fragrance. "Is true, I came for a reason after all. From now till we reach de Briar, I’m to be her protector. Maman’s instructions ain’t something for me to find trouble with."
"You think my Mistress isn’t capable of protecting her Seneschal during the journey?" Zedya said, frowning deeply at the witch.
"Don’t make me say the quiet part out loud, cher," Jacques said pointedly. "At the very least, I’m useful during the day, no? Jus think of me as something extra in the luggage, don’t bother none ’bout this little ting."