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“What do you buy a Sceltie for Winsol?”

CHAPTER 30

TERREILLE

Theran fanned out the gold old ues sold game to folks who couldn’t afford to buy meat from the butcher’s shop Easier to come by and not as noticeable when spent Usually only aristos—or the twisted Queens and their First Circles—had enough incoold marks

Talon had given him twenty ten-marks for his twentieth birthday—the first and only ti money It still felt like a fortune

After deducting the expenses for the town treasury and the Grayhaven estate, he figured he would have four hundred gold marks as an annual personal income fro months and there would be the expense for the occasional evening’s entertainment, but he kne to live lean Hell’s fire, he’d been doing it his whole life That’s why he had decided to give his Lady half of that income as a special surprise

Ker room “The bastard butler said you wanted to see me”

“He’s not a bastard, Kermilla,” Theran said “You know it’s unkind to insult ahe has no father”

She rolled her eyes “Then let’s say it describes his temper and attitude if you don’t want to besold ht

He al to do, but n of frustration There was little society in the town and less public entertainment that she felt orthy of her notice And she see less and less enjoyable—sofor sex and decided to wait for her invitation

“What’s that?” she asked, eyeing the gold marks

He held them out “This is for you”

She took the fanned old et this?”

He shrugged and sht in her eyes “I know there hasn’t been e’s tithes Winsol starts in three days, and I thought you’d enjoy doing a bit of shopping”

She’d been hinting hard enough that the failure of her Steward to send the incoifts for her faifts for her Steward, Master of the Guard, and Consort—or to buy anything for him

The gift itself wasn’t iive hiift from a woman since he’d left his mother when he was seven years old

“Oh, Theran!”

Kerh heat to fire his blood Before he could get another good taste of her, she backed aagging a finger at him while she smiled playfully