Criselle entered Linton's mansion with her head held high.
The striking red gown she wore clung to her figure like fire incarnate, its deep hue flattering her fair complexion and making her fiery ginger hair glow beneath the chandeliers.
Tonight's soiree was no ordinary gathering. Anaya and Harold Linton, the newlyweds, had returned from their brief trip and were hosting their first celebration as husband and wife.
The Linton family was among the most prominent in Amstel Fortress, their influence bolstered by Lord Linton's longstanding friendship with the former duke.
Harold, the only son and heir, had been away for nearly a year before his recent return to Darthmore. Admirers had followed him all his life. That was why the sudden announcement of his marriage sent shockwaves rippling through their circles.
Most had assumed he would inevitably wed the duke's sister, whose infatuation with him was no secret. But instead, he had chosen another.
"Oh, there she is."
