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Not Lady Jaenelle Benedict She didn’t try to be ht shrouded in a , tantalizing, frightening Her honesty had been blunted by punishood at disse about her family’s reaction if they learned some of the truths about her, and yet she couldn’t disseh because she cared

How many people knew about her? Daemon wondered as he brushed his hair How many people looked upon her as their secret?

All the stable lads as well as Guinness knew she rode Dark Dancer

But Philip, Alexandra, Leland, Robert, and Graff didn’t know

Cook knew about her ability to heal So did Andrew So did a young parlor maid who’d had her lip split by the senior footman when she refused his a with her lip still leaking blood An hour later she had passed hihtly swollen but otherwise undaed, a stunned, awed expression in her eyes So did one of the old gardeners, who now had a salve for his aching knees So did he

But Philip, Alexandra, Leland, Robert, and Graff didn’t know

Wilhelmina knew her sister disappeared for hours at a time to visit unnamed friends and an unknown row in that alcove

He knew about herof the ancient Craft texts, knew there was so and beautiful within the child cocoon that, when it caer be able to live with these people

But Philip, Alexandra, Leland, Robert, and Graff didn’t know They saw a child who couldn’t learn sie, and fanciful, a child willing to speak brutal truths that adults would never speak and didn’t want to know, a child they couldn’t love enough to accept, a child as like a pin hidden in a garment that constantly scratched the skin and yet could never be found

How many beyond Chaillot knehat she was?

But not Philip or Alexandra or Leland or Robert or Graff Not the people who should protect her, keep her safe They were the ones she wasn’t safe from They were the ones who had the power to harm her, to lock her away, to destroy her They, the ones who should have kept her safe, were her enemies

And, therefore, they were his

Daemon studied his cold reflection one last ti was out of place, then joined the family for dinner

6--Terreille

Leland shtly lit sitting room Instead of cards, the table held a bottle of chilled wine and two glasses The bedrooht spilled out

Daehtened, and he welcoan to ice his veins "You requested my presence, Lady Benedict"

Leland’s smile slipped "Umyeswellyou look tired I mean, we’ve all kept you so busy these last few days and, wellht’s sleep Yes You do look tired Why don’t you just go to your rooo to your room, won’t you? I lanced at the bedroo a bit off tonight I really don’t want to play cards"

"Nor do I" Daemon reached for the wine bottle and corkscrew

"You don’t have to do that!"

Dae her

Leland scurried behind a chair

He set the bottle and corkscren and slipped his hands into his pockets "You’re quite right, Lady I am tired With your kind permission, I’ll retire now" But not to his room Not yet

Leland smiled weakly but stayed behind the chair

Daemon left the room, walked down the corridor, turned the corner, and stopped He counted to ten and then took two steps backward

Philip stood outside Leland’s door, frozen by Daemon’s appearance at the end of the corridor They stared at each other for the space of eight heartbeats before Daeht He stopped and listened After a long pause, Leland’s door quietly opened, closed, and locked

Daeame A pity they hadn’t come to it sooner It would have spared hi cards with Leland Still, he’d never been adverse to using the knowledge he gathered about the people he served, and this was just the kind of quiet leverage he needed to keep Philip out of his way Oh, he would be a splendid silent partner in their game He had always been a splendid partner, sympathetic and ever so helpful--unless someone crossed him ThenWell, he wasn’t called the Sadist for nothing

He found it strangely flattering that she didn’t look up when he slipped into the library and locked the door She sat cross-legged on the couch, absorbed in the book tucked in her lap, her right hand fluffing her hair as she read

He glided around the furniture, his s warmer with each step When he reached the couch, he bowed forelline," Jaenelle replied absently

Dae He had discovered that if he kept his voice quiet and neutral when she was distracted with so her words, responding with a sih the ground was cracking beneath his feet

"Witch follows the e "Besides, Uncle Bobby isn’t my father"