A Grand Affair

[Colette Moreau]

"Nicole Candraed”

For hours, Corele busied herself with every task she could imagine in order to avoid thinking about the ball. She mended the queen’s wardrobe, she cleaned the queen’s jewels, and she threaded the queen’s hairbrushes. Yet she kept an eye to the window, and by the time the sky was black, she gave in to the feelings that pulled her to her childhood home. She changed into a gown, hurriedly styled her hair and departed for House Taravin.

When she arrived, the ball was underway. She entered unannounced and exhaled a sigh of relief to find all was well. She expected the Houses would show their support for Taravin, but she assumed there would be just as many plots to the contrary. She didn’t assume the place would be on fire, but now she was among the nobles, she was content she could keep a closer eye on what may unfold.

She was mostly ignored but for cursory nods of the head and polite moments of greeting. Nicole was first and foremost a lady from a small, country house with little to no political power of her own. However, she was favored by the queen and welcomed at such grand affairs as this one for that very reason.

She was waiting along the periphery of the party when Leodon approached. She’d seen him from afar for a while, but it would have been impractical to present herself to him so early in the night. His expression was serious, his walk targeted. The way he held himself was so noble and confident, she couldn’t help but acknowledge a swell of pride. He was a Taravin through and through, and would lead their House to even greater honors.

“Lord Leodon,” she dipped a short curtsy out of respect for appearances, but he gripped her elbow and guided her out of the ballroom.

“What are you doing? Someone will see,” she whispered, casting her view around to understand who that might be. He didn’t steer her far, luckily.

“Where have you been? I’ve been worried to death.” His eyes were piercing that made her concerned. She’d never seen him angry before.

She was calm in the face of him, her expression still.  “I had duties that I had to attend for the queen.”

His jaw tightened. Corele was once a master at talking around the three oaths, but she was atrocious at outright lying. “Were you with someone else?” He looked at her gown and hair as though he noticed how quickly she had donned the attire. Corele felt her lips part in surprise. More, she was strangely offended by the accusation. Then again, the ruse under which Leodon first pursued her was because he believed her to be another man’s mistress.

She chanced a touch on his arm to sooth him.  “Of course not. I love you more than you can possibly ever know.” Her smile was filled with honesty.

He seemed to accept that and some of the tension flushed his body.  “You should get back, my lord.”

He left her with promises to dance at least once before the night was through, to which she readily agreed but only on the understanding that he would have danced with three other ladies before taking their turn.

Nicole felt strangely empty when he left her company as if the only candle lighting the room had been snuffed out. It made her think of saidar, and all she had lost until someone caught her eye and she was pulled back into the threads of the Great Game.

“Lady Eisheth,” she greeted the widow as she approached. In the classes on display this night, the highest nobles wielding power and authority were surrounded by those seeking their favor or fortune. The lesser nobles filled the gaps between them. Then there were those on the edges of the rest. Nobles, but overlooked for various reasons. Nicole and Eisheth shared that categorization in common.

“You look lovely tonight. I hear congratulations are in order on behalf of your nephew. It's a good match.” She spoke that second sentence with an upturned air at the end as though it was uncertain whether she was making a statement or asking a question. Regardless, she glanced across the sea of nobility as though Pathor or Oshara may appear then and there. Both were occupied far from their company, though.