Matron Eudora Windemere was furious.

She smiled. She chatted. She ate and drank, but inside she was seething with rage.

One had to know her well to recognize the signs: a slight tightening around her cornflower blue eyes, and the merest crease of her fine brow.

Lady Adelia stayed close while her mother drifted from one set of guests to another. She kept her younger sisters in her line of sight, subtly communicating with them across the wide hall where they attended their mother's luncheon.

It was ridiculous to expect Zayne to be there. He was never apprised of such functions ahead of time and only trotted out on occasions that Eudora thought might require him.

The fact that he knew this broke Adelia's heart more times than she could count.

Her sister, Collette made a small motion with a free hand as she sipped her wine. Adelia darted her gaze to the youngest Windemere daughter, Selene, who was wide-eyed and carefully edging away from an older gentleman who kept trying to get too close a look at her bosom.

All three sisters locked eyes for a split second. Moments later, Collette was gliding forward to join her at their mother's side. Shortly, Selene approached as well.

"He's still not here," Adelia murmured behind her carefully positioned fan.

"No surprise," Collette responded, barely moving her lips as she smiled a greeting to a passing dignitary.

"Damn the luck," Selene groused. "We have hours more of this foolery to get through, and Senator Brann is far too drunk to be brushed off much longer."

"You could summon his aide," Collette suggested, nodding as her mother moved to present her to a young man. She met him dozens of times before, some Senator's aide, but Collette could never recall his name. She didn't really care to.

"Or deliver a swift kick to the nethers to sober him," Selene drawled, snapping open her fan as the mentioned Senator eyed her from across the room.

"So long as you're wearing slippers," Adelia soothed. "No permanent damage."

"More the pity," Collette muttered, drawing delicate coughs from her sisters.

They stood alone with their mother for a moment. She took the chance to turn a thunderous glare on them.

"Where is he?" she hissed.

The younger sisters turned to the elder, who gave a delicate shrug of her bare shoulders. "Out and about the Stead, no doubt," she said airily. "Lords, Mother, none of us keeps him in our knickers."

"The Captain said he was with a new Kestryl Pilot," Collette pointed out. "Very forward-thinking of him, to welcome the young man and show him the Stead."

Eudora narrowed her steely blue eyes at her second-born. "Attributing anything akin to thought to that boychild is far too generous," she snapped.

All three sisters arched the same brow at the exact same angle at the exact same time. They adored their brother and worked in concert to afford him whatever freedoms he could find for himself. It was the least they could do.

"He did say he would attend you later," Selene offered, casting a glance just short of repulsion at the drunken Senator as he worked his way toward her. "Shouldn't we be sitting down soon?"

"Yes, Mother, you look positively famished," Adelia gave her mother a tight smile.

Eudora considered her daughters a moment. "If any of you know where he is," she began quietly, "and refuse to speak, there will be a reckoning."

"Lords, Mother, how could any of us hide anything when it comes to Zayn?" Adelia sighed. "You know how he loves to watch the Roamers come in."

"And Kestryl is his absolute favorite," Selene pointed out. "Besides, he loves the Market as well, and he did get his stipend yesterday."

Eudora's frown smoothed into a welcoming smile as Senator Brann finally made his way to them. The elder sisters artfully arranged themselves to keep him away from Selene and steered him in front of their mother.

"Matron," he slurred. "A pleasure as always."

"Of course, Senator," Eudora simpered. "Thank you so much for attending. Won't you escort me to table?"

"Now, Mother," Adelia pouted, "keeping all the charmers for yourself, how rude."

Taken aback, Brann smiled. "No fear, my dear!" he declared. "I've arms for both'a you."

Adelia took one arm while her mother grasped the other. As they approached the table, she managed to maneuver her sisters to her right while Brann sat beside their mother.

Just as the staff began to bring out their salads, Adelia leaned close to Brann with a winsome smile just for him, hidden from the other diners behind her fan. At the same time, she eased the tip of her slender stiletto into his ribs just enough to nick his skin. He turned to her with wide eyes, seeing the depths of cold fury in those violet-blue orbs.

"Stay away from my sisters," Adelia warned him softly, her smile never faltering, "or I will gut you like the pig you are. Nod if you understand."

Slowly, Brann nodded, and Adelia withdrew the dagger, turning to her meal with a careful wink to Collette.

Under the table, Collette squeezed Selene's hand and got an answering squeeze in return.