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LUCA SHIFTED FROM FOOT to foot as Marla settled her small travel chest in the wagon. Isen leaned over the side. “Everything’s tight?”
“Everything’s fine, master. Stop fussing.”
“Goodman,” an overseer addressed Luca from one side. “We’ve had an injury. Will your slave be needed straightaway, or may we start him in the shafts?”
Luca looked at Cole. “I hadn’t thought to lend him.”
The overseer followed his gaze to Cole as well, appraising his muscular build. “Not to lend him? But... We’ll be wanting a fee for a passenger, then.”
Luca licked his lips. “Then I’ll speak with Remio.”
The overseer nodded curtly and started away.
Isen set a hand on Luca’s shoulder and led him gently a few paces from the wagon, away from Marla and Cole. Luca braced himself for reproof. “I know I should have given him Cole, but—”
“Let me speak,” Isen said firmly. He faced Luca. “You are your own man, and one with means. Jarrick Roald would never argue with a slave; nor should Dom Nerrin or Luca Roald.” He smiled and spoke more gently. “To hesitate is to invite questions. Confidence inspires agreement. A merchant should know this.”
Luca looked down. “I did know that, once. And once I could act on it.”
Isen tightened his fingers on Luca’s shoulder. “You’ll do well, son,” he assured him. “It is only practice. And Cole is your slave. If they take him as a draft slave, he’s built for it, and he’ll spare you some coins. But if you have reason to keep him out of the shafts, then as a paying customer you may state your will as if you expect to be obeyed.”
Luca nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”
Isen smiled and released Luca’s shoulder. A few overseers called orders, and the wagons began to rumble forward.
ARIANA FAIRLY DANCED in place, knowing she looked like a giddy child but not caring. “Father! Aren’t you ready yet?”
He called down the stairs. “I have one shoe on. You know the booths won’t be open so early.”
“I want to be sure of a good place to watch the parade! We’ll need room for everyone.”
“Go on, then, and don’t wait for me. I know where to find you.”
“See you there!”
She went out through their front door, past the bare fruit trees hoping for early spring, and though the ornamental gate. The morning was brisk and she tugged her black robes, worn for today’s ceremonial tone, closer about her.
The streets were already busy, but it was still quick passage to the bookbinding shop. Ariana waved a greeting to Vaya, who was showing a customer a selection of leathers, and went directly to the supply room. “Ranne? Are you ready?”
Ranne glanced up as Ariana entered. “Oh—Ariana! Shut the door, quick!”
She was not alone. A man in expensive festival garb was beside her, mouth slightly agape as he stared at Ariana. Ranne’s hand was in his.
Ariana closed the door. “Ranne, what is it?” She looked at the man, who stared back.
Ranne looked embarrassed and guilty and excited all at once. “I’m so sorry, Ariana—I meant to send you a message this morning, but—”
Ariana waved away the excuse. It was clear enough what had happened. “You have another companion for the parade viewing today.”
Ranne’s face wrinkled in conflict. “Oh, Ariana, I wanted to tell you. I only was so afraid it might get out. If you had told anyone...”
“Don’t be silly, I wouldn’t have said anything! But if you’re going out to the festival together, it won’t be much of a secret.”
“It’s not a secret any longer,” Ranne said with a giddy rush. “Ariana, this is Connor Kudo.”
Ariana had guessed as much. She had not met the baron’s son, but she knew Ranne had been seeing him clandestinely.
Connor made a smart little bow to Ariana. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lady mage. Ranne has told me so much about you, all of it complimentary.”
“Except for her faith in my discretion, apparently.” But she smiled and made a small curtsy.
“That may have been my fault, I’m sorry. I’ve urged secrecy. Father has in mind that I should marry among the nobility, but I set my eyes on a mercantile bride. He’ll come around, though, I’m sure. I’ve been quietly warming him to the idea.”
“But promise not to tell, Ariana, not yet,” Ranne said. “We are going to speak to his father today, announce what we’ve done.”
Ariana looked between them. “What have you done?”
Ranne clasped Ariana’s hands. “Connor and I—we’re married. We married this morning, it’s all legal, but we’re going to have it recorded officially so there can be no dispute. Then we’re going to go to Connor’s father tonight and tell him. He’ll have to accept it if it’s all done and everyone has seen us together at the festival.”
Ariana couldn’t speak for a moment. They were already married. A simple handfasting and exchange of vows was all that was strictly needed, but it was wiser to let a frustrated baron seethe against official records rather than their own word.
“Bethia’s been such a help to us,” Ranne continued breathlessly. “She’s lent us messengers when we couldn’t meet, and that’s one of her men right now, keeping Mama busy. Mama—she knows about Connor, of course, but not about the marriage. I knew she’d worry about the baron, but now it’s done, and she can claim ignorance and I hope be safe from retribution. Will you watch her, please? For a day or two? She’ll take it well, being Mama, but I don’t want her to worry. You can tell her where we are if she needs to know.”
“She’s your mother; of course she’ll need to know.” Ariana gave Ranne a quick hug. “Go on, then. I’ll take care of her. Enjoy the day. And I’m so happy for you! I really am. Connor, it’s lovely to meet you, and be good to her.”
“I will, my lady mage!”
They exited the rear door into a narrow alley and started for the street. Ariana went back to the shop’s front room. The customer made his selection and bade Vaya a good day.
Ariana took a deep breath. “Vaya, I—Ranne has...”
Vaya turned and met her eyes. “Ranne has married that baron’s boy, hasn’t she?”
Ariana nodded mutely, surprised.
Vaya smiled wistfully. “I thought as much. It was clear something was afoot, and then no one comes on a festival morning to look over every piece of leather we can show.” She sighed. “I was hoping she’d tell me, but...”
“She was afraid the baron would blame you if you knew. She didn’t want you to worry about him.”
“Of course I’ll worry! From what I understand, he wasn’t hoping for a daughter from merchant stock. But he’s not likely to send men to smash our windows. Where has she gone?”
“She and Connor Kudo are having their marriage recorded, so there can be no dispute, and then they’ll go to Baron Kudo.” Ariana hesitated. “I didn’t know anything of it before, I’m sorry.”
Vaya laughed. “I know. You could never keep a secret, Ariana, dear.” She sighed. “Well, she is safe, and she is happy, and I’ll have her again in a few days. Things could be much worse. It’s not what I would have chosen, but I’ll make the best of it, and it’s not so bad as that, really. Give me a hug, Ariana, and then let me close up. No one will want bindings during the festival, and I should celebrate for them, even if on my own.”
Ariana felt stunned as she walked home. She’d collect her father and then go to hold their viewing spot, now for fewer people. Ranne, married! And so suddenly! She was happy for her friend, but not as happy as she thought she would have been, had she known Connor and shared eager support for their union. She felt a little guilty for that, and a little resentful that Ranne had not told her.
Not that Ariana had any ground to resent keeping secrets, even secrets of inappropriate romantic overtures.
Ariana had misjudged Bethia, it seemed, whom she would not have guessed to help a merchant girl marry into a noble house. True, Bethia was friends with both Ariana and Ranne, neither born to nobility, but she had always felt... conscious of the difference between them, Ariana thought. But perhaps that had been more Ariana than Bethia.
You could never keep a secret, Ariana, dear.
The worst part of keeping a secret, Ariana reflected, was that she could not even tell Vaya she was wrong.