“Grand Duchess? I’m sorry, but you’re mistaken.”

Eva attempted to pry the front of her dress from the fingers of the young woman kneeling before her.

A man leaned toward the young lady on the floor and whispered, “She’s the Archduchess, not a Grand Duchess.”

The young lady scrambled to her feet.

“I’m sorry! I mean, Archduchess…” She hurried after Eva. “My name is Kitty Ravensmoore. My family is in town for the conference, and I saw you onstage yesterday! Please, let me be your pet! I’ll be good!”

Eva stared at her with a mixture of fear and bewilderment.

“Why do you want to be my pet? And what exactly do you mean by ‘be my pet’?” Eva asked, visibly flustered.

Behind Michael, Celia giggled, not quite knowing what to make of the situation.

“I would be your dedicated person! Someone to herald you, to proclaim your talents to the masses, to support you! Anything!” Kitty responded enthusiastically.

As the conversation progressed, Celia began to find the situation considerably less amusing.

“Miss, if you’re talking about someone who assists Her Ladyship, she already has one. Me.”

Kitty regarded Celia with an inquisitive expression.

“But you’re a servant. I’m not talking about a servant. I want to be her pet. Her House Pet for the Challenges! I could help you win supporters for your House, Your Ladyship!” Kitty explained brightly, turning back to Eva.

“Celia is not a servant. She’s one of my staff, and I don’t believe I have any need for a ‘House Pet,’” Eva replied.

Then something occurred to her.

“Wait. You’re Catherine Ravensmoore’s daughter, aren’t you?”

Kitty instantly blanched.

“Please don’t speak that wretched woman’s name. The only thing I share with her is blood, and even that I question.”

It didn’t surprise Eva that Catherine’s own daughter would seek to disown her mother.

Catherine was known to be a vile woman with a vicious temper who kept everyone around her on a short leash. It wasn’t unheard of for someone of low birth who had accidentally crossed her to turn up dead shortly afterward.

Not wishing to become entangled in the affairs of the Ravensmoore family, Eva politely declined Kitty’s offer and asked Michael to help her through the crowd toward her office on the third floor.

Michael finally managed to guide Eva beyond Kitty’s reach, though the young woman continued watching her from the crowd.

Kitty resolved not to give up.

This was her chance to make a name for herself beyond her mother’s shadow. Lady Blackwood was not only strong but intelligent. She was also aligned with the Crown, a connection that might make even Catherine Ravensmoore think twice before doing anything unsavory.

This was Kitty’s opportunity to prove to her family that she was more than just a pretty face.

Before Eva could get much farther, Balthazar Crowe stepped into her path, smiling broadly.

“Looks like we have a lively crowd today.”

Balthazar was an old friend of Eva’s, only about a year her junior. They had known each other for more than twenty years, having first met in their early twenties when he frequently visited the tavern with his friends.

It had been twenty years since Balthazar left town for Tradesport to establish his business. Although they hadn’t seen each other in person during that time, they had maintained their friendship through letters. Their correspondence had become less frequent over the years, but they had never completely lost touch.

He was an exceptionally tall, broad-shouldered gentleman whose stern features softened considerably whenever he smiled, which he did often. A thick beard framed his face, and a full head of black, curly hair complemented his distinguished appearance. He wore spectacles, carried a cane, and was almost invariably the best-dressed man in the room.

Observant, perceptive, and refreshingly direct, Balthazar had become one of Eva’s most trusted confidants.

“BALTHAZAR! When did you come back?”

Eva threw her arms around him in a warm embrace.

“Just this morning. I’ve moved back to town. It’s really good to see you,” Balthazar replied in his warm, rich voice.

“Madame, is he also from Bishop? He doesn’t have the same accent as the others,” Celia asked curiously.

“No, child. My family came from Bishop, but I was raised here.” Balthazar glanced at Celia. “Is this your daughter, Eva?”

“No, she’s one of my assistants here at the Grey House, though she might as well be my shadow. A good one at that.”

Celia beamed.

“Mr. Crowe is a longtime friend of mine,” Eva explained. “So you might be seeing him quite frequently here at the Grey House, now that he’s moved back. At least, I hope so!”

She gave Balthazar an inquisitive look.

“Most definitely. Can’t drink my wine without a good show.”

“Speaking of a good show, you just missed one! There was a woman onstage claiming to be Mr. Salazar’s secret mistress!”

“I caught the tail end of that encounter. There are always hangers-on trying to leech off the publicity and money of the famous. Isn’t that right, Eva?”

Eva groaned.

Celia glanced from Balthazar to Eva, sensing that the two shared some history.

“Your mistress here has had more than her fair share of leeches over the years,” Balthazar continued.

“Please don’t remind me.”

“I heard one of your exes was at the Guild Hall claiming to be your rightful husband. Apparently, he was trying to claim your earnings from yesterday’s match.”

Eva groaned again.

“Which one?”

“Lord Mortimer Shorte. They shooed him away. Everyone knows you’re married to one of the Queen’s brothers, so nobody paid him much mind. Besides, he was reeking of drink and something decidedly sour.”

“If ever there was a man appropriately named by God, it was that one. Shorte by name, short on money, short on sense, and short on… other matters.”

“I thought you never bedded him.”

“I couldn’t bed him! He couldn’t get it in!”

Eva threw up her hands.

“What’s worse, he was supposed to be my first! When he couldn’t consummate the marriage, his family tried to turn the whole thing against me. They claimed I wasn’t pure when I married him and demanded compensation for the supposed deception!”

She shook her head in disgust.

“They wanted the Grey House, along with my father’s land and title, as compensation. But when I was examined, it was established that my maidenhood was still intact. Then Mortimer was examined, and it turned out that he was the one incapable of consummating the marriage!”

Eva gave an exasperated sigh.

“Once the truth came out, the King and the Church threw out his family’s claims. Since the marriage had never been consummated, nor could it ever have been, they declared it null and void. There wasn’t even a need for an annulment. As far as they were concerned, the marriage had never existed!”

“Someone can be that small?” Celia asked, utterly bewildered.

“Evidently.”

“Well, if it’s Mortimer, we can leave him be,” Balthazar said. “He’s a drunkard and hardly a serious threat. Anyone who knows him knows he’s a thief and a skinflint.”

Eva glanced toward the staircase leading to her third-floor office, then turned back to Balthazar.

“Actually, the office can wait. There’s something I want to show you. You haven’t seen what I’ve done with the Grey House since you left, and I’ve made quite a few changes.”

“Then I’d be delighted to see them.”

“Come. I’ll show you the Grey Room.”

She turned to Michael.

“Would you mind clearing the way?”

Michael nodded and began guiding them through the crowd.

Eva allowed Celia to return to her duties while Michael escorted her and Balthazar toward the private entrance of the Grey Room.

Norman, the guard stationed at the door, nodded respectfully.

“Ma’am.”

“Norman, this is Mr. Balthazar Crowe, a longtime friend of mine. Please see to it that the guards know he is welcome to enter the Grey Room whenever he wishes.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Michael excused himself and returned to the porter station near the front entrance to assist the staff.

As Eva and Balthazar entered the Grey Room, Balthazar noticed the portrait of Eva’s father hanging near the entrance.

“I thought your father gave up games of chance.”

“He did. But now I’m the house, and in the end, the house always wins.”

Balthazar grinned.

He surveyed the casino with obvious approval. The tables were bustling with activity, and the various games of chance had attracted a lively collection of patrons. The steady hum of conversation, punctuated by the sounds of play, filled the room.

Several patrons stopped what they were doing when they noticed Eva entering.

Some congratulated her on her first match the previous day, while others called out requests for private readings.

Balthazar instinctively positioned himself between Eva and the approaching patrons, becoming a formidable human wall.

A guard stationed toward the back of the room hurried forward to assist him in keeping the crowd at bay.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize, but I do not grant private audiences for readings,” Eva announced. “If you wish to participate in the show, you may do so at my next engagement. Thank you.”

One or two patrons appeared unwilling to accept her answer and continued attempting to push forward, but the guards blocked their path.

Eva guided Balthazar toward the private rooms at the rear of the Grey Room.

The hallway was lined with luxurious black and burgundy velvet, accented with gold trim. Eight doors lined the corridor, four on either side, with a ninth at the far end.

“That last door leads to the kitchens and the rear exit,” Eva explained, noticing Balthazar examining the layout.

She unlocked the first door on the right.

Inside was a lavishly furnished room featuring plush couches, several chairs arranged around an oval table, and a fully stocked bar with crystal goblets awaiting use.

The room was brightly lit yet completely private, its décor tailored more toward a gentleman’s tastes than a lady’s.

“Not bad. Looks like you’ve done well for yourself, Eva.”

“You’ve caught us on a particularly busy day.”

“I heard you did well yesterday. Too bad I wasn’t able to see it.”

“If you stick around, you’ll catch the next show.”

Balthazar studied her for a moment.

“So, has it gotten that bad?”

Eva nodded.

“I didn’t have much of a choice. Giovanni can’t work because of his wasting disease, and the Crown won’t provide us with the funds to support ourselves. I’ve been holding down the fort here, but until yesterday, it simply wasn’t enough.”

She sighed.

“Thankfully, the conference is bringing in business, but even that won’t be enough to sustain us through the winter. This was my only option.”

Balthazar listened quietly. He knew from their letters that things had been difficult for Eva, but hearing her speak of it in person made him realize just how much she had been carrying.

His expression grew solemn.

“The Queen must have been furious.”

“When isn’t she?”

“True.”

Balthazar settled into a chair and asked if he might help himself to a drink.

Eva nodded her permission, and he poured himself a glass of port.

“Speaking of which, I’d like to return a favor.”

He moved to a chair opposite Eva, who had settled into a plush velvet armchair.

“What do you mean?”

“Remember when I first left for Tradesport to start my business, and you sent customers my way?”

“Yes, but that was nearly twenty years ago.”

“I never forgot it. You were writing to people you knew, putting me in touch with potential clients, and helping me establish connections when I was still trying to get my business off the ground.”

Eva smiled at the memory.

“I’m glad those introductions helped.”

“Helped? Eva, they gave me the credibility I needed when I had very little to my name. Because of you, I was able to establish my business, and from there, it grew.”

“I’m glad I was able to help.”

“And now I’d like to return the favor. I’m signing up to become your first House Member.”

“No, Balthazar! I can’t!”

“Yes, you can. And yes, I am. In fact, I’ve already been to the Guild Hall and made my declaration. My dues have been paid, and the matter is settled.”

“Balthazar…”

“Look, Eva. You supported me when I was first starting out. You sent people my way while you were performing your shows, and you never asked for anything in return.”

He looked at her warmly.

“Now it’s my turn to support you. And I won’t take no for an answer.”

Eva’s eyes began to fill with tears, her lips trembling as she struggled to contain her emotions. She wasn’t merely touched by his generosity; she was deeply moved by her old friend’s unwavering determination to help her.

“Thank you, my dear friend,” she said, her voice breaking.

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she allowed herself a moment to take it all in.

Balthazar had known her for more than twenty years. Despite the distance between them, their friendship had endured through letters, occasional updates, and the passage of time. Now, having returned to town, he had chosen to support her House without hesitation.

The two spent more than an hour catching up on the events of the past twenty years. Their correspondence had kept them informed of each other’s lives, but there was much they hadn’t discussed in detail.

They spoke of old friends, their businesses, and the changes that had taken place during their years apart.

For Eva, Balthazar’s decision carried a significance beyond the membership dues he had paid.

Years ago, she had helped a young businessman establish himself without expecting anything in return. Now that same businessman, successful in his own right, had returned to lend his support when she needed it most.

It wasn’t charity or an obligation. It was the loyalty of a friend who had never forgotten a kindness.

His registration also marked something important. After years of struggling to maintain the Grey House and support her household, she finally had her first official House Member.

It was only one member, a modest beginning compared to the established Houses, but it was a beginning nonetheless.

And it was hers.

Eva thought of the challenges she had faced, the years she had spent trying to keep everything together, and the effort it had taken to step back onto the stage.

Now, she had a registered House Member, a successful first appearance behind her, and renewed hope for the future of the Grey House.

She was back.

And this was the beginning of her long-awaited return.