Morgan, age 32, City of Marin

The Captain sat back in his chair. "You do not love me."

I had no choice but to be honest. I reached for my wine before answering. "No, I do not. And you should know by now that my lifestyle does not allow for marriage, even if I did."

"You could give up your position."

I blinked. "You want me to give up being Second Mistress of the most favored Household in order to be... a wife? Not to mention that our marriage would require the permission of the Head Mistress, which she would never give."

"The Queen has been recruiting me for years. I could leave the Household, too. I would have a respectable position in the Queen's guard."

"Leo," I emplored with rare use of his name, "you don't seem to understand that this is my path, my dream. I want to be the Head Mistress of my own Household one of these days. I cannot be a wife, too."

His voice was strained, and he studied the wine in his glass. "You truly do not care for me?"

My gut clenched, but I respected him enough to tell the truth. "I care for you, but I do not love you. And I do not want to marry you. I am sorry to hurt and disappoint you, but this is the way it is."

He drained his glass. "So, we go on the way we are... indefinitely?"

I sipped. "Are you not happy with the way things are?"

He sighed and stood to pace in front of the fire. "I want," he began as he turned to me, "more. I cannot help myself. I love you, and I want more."

"I cannot give you want you want, Leo."

His face clouded. "You mean that you will not."

I scowled and my nostrils flared. It pissed me off when he tried to put words in my mouth. "You are trying to start a fight so that you can storm out in righteous anger. I will not have it. You may go now before the fight begins."

"You are dismissing me?" He stared at me.

I huffed. "You are giving me no choice. You want to fight. I do not. These are my rooms. Thus, you can leave."

He drew himself up and bowed. "Goodnight, Mistress."

"Goodnight, Captain," I said, nodding my head and emptying my glass. He left quietly, shirt in hand, and I sighed when the door clicked shut.

I picked at the rest of my food, eating only because I knew I needed to, but soon, I was pulling the chord to have the servants come and take it all away. My girl came shortly after, late because she had expected to have the evening off, to help me undress, wisely keeping her thoughts and questions to herself.

She left me as I climbed into the warmed bed and pulled the curtains closed to conserve the heat. The moon shined through a crack, lighting the empty pillow next to me, and I tried not to feel lonely. I had liked the Captain well enough. He had been an attentive lover if a bit of a hot head. But marriage? Where had he gotten such an idea? That he thought I'd agree showed that he'd not really taken the time to get to know me as a woman. Otherwise, he'd have understood my life goals and plans.

I had been asleep for some time, based on the movement of the moon, when the guard calling for me woke me. "Mistress, you have a visitor. He says that it is of the utmost importance."

"Who is it?" I asked.

"Corbin Paquette, Mistress."

The new one? "What does he want?"

"He says that he has a letter for you from a mutual friend."

A mutual friend? Who do we—The Bluejay. I flung the covers off and opened the curtains of the bed. "Have him wait for me in the living area. Shut the door on your way out," I ordered.

"Yes, Mistress."

I fetched my sleeping gown and tied it on before exiting the bed chamber. He stood on the rug where the Captain had knelt only hours before, in a respectful pose. "Why did you not give me this letter earlier today?" I demanded.

He kept his head down. "It was only just delivered to me, Mistress, while I was collecting my things from the local inn. When I opened it and saw the feather and your name on the inner envelope, I knew I needed to bring it to you right away. I am just the messenger."

He handed me an unsealed envelope with his name on the outside. Inside, there was a bluejay feather and a smaller note addressed to me. I cracked the wax and opened it, and my heart skipped a beat at what I read inside.

Faryn must be eliminated, or more damage will be done.

This one is the one who can do it. Make it so.

I'd never received direct orders of this nature from the Bluejay before. Typically, my role was to hide people. But murder? I trusted the Bluejay, truly I did, but this was on another level. I handed the note to Corbin.

He took it and read it, then nodded, throwing the paper onto the hot coals of the fire, where it burst into flames. "I will need to be gone for the rest of the night, Mistress."

I cocked an eyebrow. "You have no qualms about this?"

He glanced at me before looking away. "I have known the Bluejay for many years. If he says it must be done, then there is good reason."

My heart pounded. His loyalty was intoxicating. I nodded. "You must go, then. I do not know if Far—the target—has left the city yet."

"He has not. He is drinking at the inn where I was staying."

I rolled my eyes. "Stupid man. Anyone in their right mind would be as far away as possible by now."

He nodded. "He was boasting about running away with a girl. I would presume he meant the Duke's daughter that everyone is talking about?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "If he really means to do that, he must be stopped. The daughter is set to be married in a year's time as part of the treaty with Bajaden. She cannot be compromised."

"Yes, Mistress. I will do what is necessary."

I eyed him. "You are not opposed to being used this way? Like a common assassin?"

He shook his head. "I served as a soldier for many years, Mistress. I was a common assassin. The Bluejay knows this, and this will not be the last demand like this made of me. It was part of my price."

So, his price was not just money but a barter of skills, too. I wondered what he'd done in the military to warrant such skills. I thought to ask but then let it drop. It really wasn't my business.

"You need to go. Try to be back by sunrise. If you are not, I will make some excuse for you about running an errand to the palace guard for me. You can do the same if you are compromised, and I will back you up."

"Yes, Mistress."

"Good. Go now. And good luck."

"Luck is for the weak, Mistress," he said as he turned to go. "Fate is for men," he looked me up and down. "And strong women."

I wanted to comment on how Faryn probably wouldn't agree, but I let it drop as I watched him go.

I returned to bed but merely dozed for the next several hours. I knew I wouldn't really rest until the Bluejay's task had been done. Still, I managed to drift off and sleep until my staff came to wake me.

I was in the middle of a late breakfast when Corbin was announced, and I bade him enter. He had apparently returned early enough to shower and to fetch his household livery. To say he looked good in the leather pants and red silk shirt would have been an understatement.

Ignoring my libido, I asked, "Is it done?"

"Yes, Mistress. As order."

A weight lifted and I sat back in my chair. "Have you had breakfast?"

"Not really, Mistress. I grabbed something quick from the kitchen, but it was just enough to take the edge off. I think Cook might kick me out next time."

I chuckled. "She wouldn't dare. Doesn't mean she won't yell at you, though." I gestured to the seat opposite of me. "Sit. I have plenty."

"Thank you, Ma'am." He sat and graciously accepted the service of the staff in filling his plate. It wasn't lost on me that his manners outstripped the Captain's. So, he's likely from high society, if not nobility.

I found that I didn't know what to say. I wanted to know about the night, yet I didn't. I wanted to know about his past, yet I wanted to honor privacy. I was reaching for something to say when he cleared his throat.

"May I ask a question, Mistress?"

I smiled. "You may. Though, I reserve the right to not answer."

"How did you come to be the Second Mistress?"

It was a question the Captain had never thought to ask. In fact, I couldn't remember the last time someone had. Perhaps they all knew the story. "I was married, many years ago, living in Bajaden on the outskirts of Crenith. I thought it was a love match, but it—well, it was not. I am not ashamed to admit that when my husband died young, I was relieved. I immigrated to Cephada, settling here in Marin. A contact put me in touch with the Head Mistress, who was the Second Head Mistress at the time, and she took me in, much like I did you."

I let the last bit fall, wondering if he'd catch the implication that it was the Bluejay who had placed me. I was not disappointed by his intellect.

"Our mutual contact seems to have helped us both immensely, then."

"Indeed. I owe much of what I have to him. I trust him with my life."

"As do I. Even before I paid for his services." He drank the last of his coffee and held a hand up to the girl who would pour him more. "I do apologize, Ma'am, but I must return to the Captain for my orders for the day. May I be excused?"

A sinking feeling in my stomach surprised me. I was disappointed that he was leaving. "You may, but I would like to talk to you further about our mutual friend. Let us plan to have dinner tomorrow night."

He bowed. "As you wish, Ma'am. I would be delighted."

I smiled to myself as he left. The Captain had been in interesting companion for a while, but Corbin seemed interesting in a way I couldn't quite explain. Perhaps it was the similar backgrounds we shared? I was going to enjoy finding out.