“My-my, Marcus, this birdie has teeth,” she said. She gave Peytra a predatory look, but it was one that she couldn’t quite read. Does she know I’m her rival? Is it something else? Peytra felt exposed, unsure of her position between herself, the Baroness, and the Duke. Or does the Baroness simply like me as a friendly acquaintance? While the Duke may have worn the mask, the Baroness seemed to have mastered that in her person.
It was then that they realized that the Earl had fallen asleep in his chair, which gave them all a good giggle. They continued the night, drinking, laughing, joking as friends. They talked about the balls of years pasts, the best costumes and the worst. They gossiped about this noble and that noble, the love lives and finances of the rich and powerful. It struck Peytr
