The morning after the Westbrook ball, Seraphina woke to find three different invitations waiting for her, two for afternoon tea parties and one for a garden party at the Duke of Moreland's estate.
Word of her dance with Prince Lucien had spread quickly through the court. Now everyone wanted to see what would happen next.
"You're quite popular today," her mother said over breakfast, reading through the invitations. "Lady Pemberton, the Duchess of Clearwater, and now the Duke of Moreland. These are all very influential families."
"They're curious," Seraphina said, buttering a piece of toast. "Nothing more."
"Perhaps, but curiosity can be useful. Accept the garden party invitation,the Duke always has the most interesting guests."
Her mother was right. The Duke of Moreland's parties were famous for bringing together the most powerful people in the kingdom. Politicians, wealthy merchants, foreign ambassadors, everyone who mattered would be there.
It would be the perfect place to gather more information about the grain conspiracy.
After breakfast, Seraphina sent her acceptance to the Duke and spent the rest of the morning planning her strategy. She would need to be charming but not too eager, friendly but not desperate for acceptance.
Most importantly, she would need to watch and listen for any clues about who was behind the theft of grain meant for their starving people.
The Duke of Moreland's estate was magnificent. Rolling green lawns stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with perfectly manicured flower beds and elegant fountains. Servants in crisp uniforms moved through the crowds of guests, offering champagne and delicate pastries.
Seraphina arrived with her parents, wearing a soft pink dress that made her look young and innocent, exactly the image she wanted to project.
"Lady Seraphina!" The Duke himself approached them, a genuine smile on his weathered face. "How delightful to see you back at court. I hope you enjoyed your time in the countryside."
"Very much, Your Grace. Thank you for including me today."
"Nonsense, my dear. You're always welcome." He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "I must say, that was quite an impressive return last night. The whole court is buzzing with speculation."
"About what, Your Grace?"
His eyes twinkled with amusement. "Oh, I think you know exactly what. Prince Lucien hasn't shown interest in any young lady for years. Now suddenly he's dancing with the most talked-about woman in the kingdom."
Before Seraphina could respond, another voice joined the conversation.
"Yes, it was quite the spectacle."
She turned to see Lord Chancellor Aldric approaching, his silver hair gleaming in the afternoon sunlight. He was dressed expensively as always, but there was something cold in his pale blue eyes.
"Lord Chancellor," the Duke said with a slight bow. "I didn't see you arrive."
"I came early to speak with some of the foreign ambassadors." Aldric's gaze fixed on Seraphina. "Lady Seraphina, I was surprised to see you at the ball last night. I thought you might prefer to remain in seclusion a bit longer."
There was something threatening in his tone, that disguised as polite concern.
"I felt it was time to rejoin society," she replied calmly. "Hiding away would accomplish nothing."
"Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor," Aldric said. "Especially for young women who have... experienced recent difficulties."
The Duke looked uncomfortable with the tension in the conversation, but before he could intervene, another familiar voice spoke up.
"Ah, there she is."
Prince Lucien appeared beside them, looking relaxed and confident in a light blue jacket that brought out his eyes. "Lady Seraphina, I was hoping to find you here."
"Prince Lucien," she said with a smile that she didn't have to fake. "How nice to see you again."
"The pleasure is mine." He turned to the other men. "Your Grace, Lord Chancellor. Beautiful day for a garden party."
"Indeed," the Duke said, clearly relieved to have the conversation steered to safer topics. "I was just telling Lady Seraphina how lovely it is to have her back at court."
"Yes," Aldric said with a tight smile, "we're all so... pleased... to see her again."
"I'm sure you are," Lucien replied, and there was something sharp in his voice that made Aldric's eyes narrow.
"If you'll excuse me," the Lord Chancellor said stiffly, "I have other guests to greet."
After he walked away, the Duke also excused himself, leaving Seraphina and Lucien alone near a fountain surrounded by white roses.
"He doesn't like me being here," Seraphina said quietly.
"No, he doesn't. Which tells us we're on the right track." Lucien glanced around to make sure no one could overhear them. "I've learned something interesting since last night."
"What?"
"Lord Aldric has been having private meetings with several shipping merchants over the past few weeks. Meetings that aren't on his official schedule."
"The people who transport the grain?"
"Exactly. And here's the interesting part, one of those merchants is here today." He nodded toward a group of men near the refreshment table. "Marcus Thornfield, the man in the brown jacket. He owns the largest shipping company in the kingdom."
Seraphina studied the man Lucien had indicated. Thornfield was middle-aged with a prosperous look about him, expensive clothes, well-fed appearance, gold rings on his fingers.
"He looks successful," she observed.
"Very successful. Suspiciously successful, considering that most merchants have been struggling with the poor harvests in recent years."
"While he's been getting rich shipping our grain to other countries."
"That's what I suspect. The question is, how do we prove it?"
Before Seraphina could answer, a young woman approached them with a bright smile.
"Prince Lucien! How wonderful to see you."
It was Lady Catherine, one of the few people who had sent Seraphina a kind letter after her public humiliation. She was a sweet girl, about Seraphina's age, with golden hair and a genuinely warm personality.
"Lady Catherine," Lucien said with a polite bow. "You look lovely today."
"Thank you." Catherine turned to Seraphina with genuine affection. "Seraphina, I'm so glad you've returned to court. I've missed our conversations."
"As have I," Seraphina replied, meaning it. Catherine was one of the few people at court who had never been cruel or calculating.
"I saw you dancing with Prince Lucien last night," Catherine said with a knowing smile. "It looked quite... romantic."
Heat rose in Seraphina's cheeks. "We're just friends, Catherine."
"If you say so." Catherine's eyes sparkled with mischief. "But I've never seen Prince Lucien look at anyone the way he was looking at you."
"Catherine," Lucien said with amusement, "you're embarrassing Lady Seraphina."
"Am I? I think it's sweet." Catherine glanced around and lowered her voice. "Besides, after what Prince Kael did to you, you deserve someone who appreciates what a treasure you are."
"What do you know about what happened with Prince Kael?" Seraphina asked carefully.
Catherine looked confused. "Just what everyone knows, that he ended your engagement to marry Princess Amaris. Why?"
"No reason. I just wondered if you'd heard any... details."
"Well," Catherine glanced around again to make sure no one was listening, "I did hear something strange from my maid. Her cousin works in the royal kitchens, and she said there have been a lot of mysterious late-night meetings recently."
Seraphina and Lucien exchanged glances.
"What kind of meetings?" Lucien asked casually.
"Important people coming and going at odd hours. Men who don't usually visit the palace together." Catherine shrugged. "Probably just boring political business, but the servants have been gossiping about it."
"Did your maid mention any names?" Seraphina asked.
"Let me think... Lord Chancellor Aldric, of course. Lord Pemberton. That merchant, Marcus Thornfield. And..." Catherine frowned, trying to remember. "Oh yes, Ambassador Valdris from Aetheria."
The Aetherian ambassador, the representative of Princess Amaris's kingdom.
"When did these meetings start?" Lucien asked.
"About a month ago, I think. Right around the time..." Catherine's eyes widened as she realized the timing. "Right around the time Prince Kael would have been making his final decision about the engagement."
So the conspiracy had been planned well in advance. They had orchestrated not just Seraphina's downfall, but Kael's new engagement to a princess whose country was buying their stolen grain.
"Catherine," Seraphina said urgently, "you mustn't repeat this to anyone else. Promise me."
"Of course, but why—"
"Just promise me. It's important."
"I promise." Catherine looked worried now. "Seraphina, is something wrong?"
"Nothing you need to worry about," Lucien said smoothly. "Just court politics. You know how complicated these things can get."
After Catherine left to join another group of friends, Seraphina and Lucien moved to a more secluded part of the garden.
"We have our connection," Seraphina said. "Aldric, Thornfield, and the Aetherian ambassador. They've been planning this for weeks."
"And using my brother as their pawn." Lucien's jaw was tight with anger. "The question is, how do we expose them without getting ourselves killed in the process?"
"What do you mean?"
"These people destroyed your reputation with a few words. What do you think they'll do if they realize we're investigating them for treason?"
The thought sent a chill down Seraphina's spine. But before she could respond, she noticed Marcus Thornfield approaching them with a friendly smile.
"Prince Lucien, Lady Seraphina. What a pleasure to meet you both."
"Mr. Thornfield," Lucien replied politely. "Enjoying the party?"
"Very much. The Duke always has the most interesting guests." Thornfield's eyes fixed on Seraphina with an intensity that made her uncomfortable. "Lady Seraphina, I was sorry to hear about your recent... difficulties. Court life can be so unpredictable."
"Thank you for your concern," she said carefully.
"I hope you're settling back into society well. It would be a shame if any... unpleasantness... were to follow you."
The threat was subtle but unmistakable.
"I'm sure Lady Seraphina has nothing to worry about," Lucien said, his voice dangerously quiet. "She has many friends who care about her welfare."
"Of course," Thornfield said with a cold smile. "How fortunate for her."
After the merchant walked away, Seraphina realized her hands were shaking.
"He knows," she whispered. "Somehow, he knows we're investigating them."
"Then we need to be very, very careful from now on," Lucien said grimly. "Because if they see us as a threat..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but he didn't need to.
The game they were playing had just become much more dangerous.