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She was still wearing her black dress and gold sash, hat she told herself were raindrops clinging to her lashes, when Jessah the door To fuss, of course There was no such thing as a banquet without a twittering Jessamine, let alone one at court She did her best to er time and means available, as if her life depended upon it Perhaps it does Whatever life she holds dear Perhaps the court is in need of another etiquette instructor for the noble children, and she thinks perfor miracles with me in her the position

Even Jessamine wants to leave

"There now, none of this," Jessa at Coriane’s tears with a tissue Another swipe, this time with a chalky black pencil, to iving her the illusion of bone structure Nothing on the lips, for Coriane had neverlipstick on her teeth or water glass "I suppose it will do"

"Yes, Jessahted in obedience, Coriane’s irl was sad, clearly, in the wake of the funeral "What’s the matter, child? Is it the dress?"

I don’t care about faded black silks or banquets or this vile court I don’t care about any of it "Nothing at all, Cousin Just hungry, I suppose" Coriane reached for the easy escape, throwing one flaw to Jessamine to hide another

"Mercy upon your appetite," she replied, rolling her eyes "Remember, you must eat daintily, like a bird There should always be food on your plate Pick, pick, pick--"

Pick pick pick The words felt like sharp nails dru on Coriane’s skull But she forced a s just assensation that had followed her since the bridge

Downstairs, Julian and their father were already waiting, huddled close to a smoky fire in the hearth Their suits were identical, black with pale golden sashes across their chests from shoulder to hip Lord Jacos tentatively touched the newly acquired pin stuck in his sash--a beaten gold square as old as his house Nothing coovernors, but enough for thisto wink for her benefit, but her downcast air stopped him cold He kept close to her all the way to the banquet, holding her hand in the rented transport, and then her arates of Caesar’s Square Whitefire Palace, their destination, sprawled to their left, do the south side of the tiled Square now busy with nobles

Jessae, and made sure to s the flowing sleeves of her black and gold gown glide through the air

Co with clothes, Coriane kne utterly stupid Just like the rest of this dance that will end with the further disgrace and downfall of House Jacos Why delay the inevitable? Why play at a game we can’t hope to compete in? She could not fathoh society, and despaired at ever understanding the latter There was no reason to the court of Norta, or even her own family Even Julian

"I knohat you asked of Father," she ainst his shoulder His jacket h for hihtened beneath her "Cori--"

"I ht--" Her voice caught "I thought you would want to be with Sara, now that we’ll have to o to Delphie, to ith the scholars and excavate ruins rather than learn lordship at Father’s right hand Why would you do that? Why, Julian? And the worst question of all, the one she didn’t have the strength to ask--how could you leave rip "I did--I do But--"

"But? Has so at all Good or bad," he added, and she could hear the hint of a smile in his voice "I just know she won’t leave court if I’m here with Father I can’t do that to her This place--I won’t trap her here in this pit of snakes"