The Bloodbound Heir

Chapter 2 - The Rensfield Ball

"We're so glad you came, child." Lady Rensfield appraises my hair and makeup, smiling softly, but not daring to come any nearer.

I dipped gracefully into a respectful bow for the hostess. "I appreciate the invitation, and my lady's maid certainly enjoys the chance to practice her skills."

Husband at her side, the Rensfields were both were tall and striking figures. "And how is your father doing, Daelyn?" Lord Rensfield adjusted his monocle to look down at me. "Last I heard he was trying to broker a deal for more iron."

A fan snapped shut. "Please, Reginald! The last thing Daelyn wants to discuss is business, or her father. Have you forgotten what it is to be young? Did you ever enjoy speaking about your father's pursuits?"

"Well—" His white mustache twitched as he beheld his wife's expression, abandoning the argument before it could begin. "No, dearest. I suppose you're right."

She leveled a look at her husband, daring him to contradict her. "Of course I'm right, I always am." But her husbnad was already looking off into the crowd. If it wasn't related to business, then it was related to gossip, and Reginald Rensfield didn't partake in superficial pursuits. "Tell me, Daelyn. Do you have any special announcements that you'd like to share with an old friend first?" His wife on the other hand lived for them.

My face must've been blank with confusion. "Special announcements, Lady Rensfield?"

She lowered her voice conspiratorially into a fake whisper, "I hear that Prince Soren has recently become engaged." It was not whisper enough as the nearest heads turned ever so subtly in our direction. "You wouldn't happen to be aware of the details, would you? Possibly even a participant? A Cassemir-to-be?"

My heart stuttered as sadness crept its way into my mind unbidden. Not for the prince, I'd never met the man. I'd never even been to Etheroz or left the city of Covosna for that matter. I pretended to smile, but it felt too wide. "Alas, I assure you any royal match to be found is not mine."

"Pity. I do wonder what his grace is waiting on." She hit the fan into her palm, thinking. "If your mother were alive, she wouldn't stand for this dilly dallying. It begins to look..." Suspicious. The unsaid hung between us.

"Perhaps he's just forgotten to arrange a match..." I said softly, speaking without thinking.

"Oh child, I'm sure the Duke's just been busy attempting to arrange the right match. If you think his standards for business are high, you can imagine his standards for marriage are doubly so."

This warranted a small chuckle from Lord Rensfield. "Your father may be pickier than the emperor himself in that regard."

Music floated through the air of the estate as I excused myself. The Rensfields were an older family, with their heirs long grown up and married away. While they're old and graying now, 50 years ago their lack of ambition saved their lives. With little to no political standing, the newly weds were barely spared the axe as Emperor Cassemir beheaded the rest.

They had helped my grandfather shape the new court into what it is, and by proxy had become akin to distant relatives. Close enough to have watched my father, and then me grow up, but distant enough to not risk a Bloodbinding at either of our hands. Searching for refreshments, I tried to forget Lady Rensfield's prying comments and the subsequent hurt of rejection. It wasn't unusual to be unmatched at twenty-two years of age, but for a girl of one of the highest noble houses, I could've been betrothed at birth. Every year that passed only further ostracized me from society, as if to further prove something was wrong with me that I didn't already know about.