Amanda stood beside Coal, a sweeping extravagance laid out before them. Men and women wore a strange blend of clothing that made her feel like she’d stepped into an entirely different world, one that carried a heavy influence of the old and traditional but which at the same time flowed and fit like something from the future. She couldn’t put her finger on quite what made it different but, despite having put on her most formal attire, she suddenly felt under-dressed.

  She’d picked something simple but timeless, at least that’s what she’d thought. An off-the shoulder cocktail dress, notched at the front to reveal a hint of her breasts, cinched and slightly ruffled at the waist. The hem fell mid-calf and was much wider at the base than at the waist. It was deep blue in colour almost black, something she’d decided was a safe pick, nothing that stood out too much. The top layer was more lacy and light and had sewn throughout it subtle black and silver flecks that resembled stars only to anyone looking closely. It was one of the few formal dresses she owned, one of her nicest, but now but now it seemed lacking in comparison.

  Although many of the other dresses in the room reached the floor and even went a little further than that, she wasn’t the only one in something shorter. But where her dress hung heavy around her legs, theirs flowed light as silk all around them and flew like the wings of a butterfly. And none of them looked stiff or awkward in their fitted suits, but rather moved like dancers to whom gravity and friction were only merely choices.

  She resisted the urge to tug the top of her dress up in an attempt to be less noticeable.

  As if reading her mind or perhaps the subtle indications of discomfort, Coal remarked smoothly, “You look lovely.” Then he offered her his elbow.

  With little other option she took it and let him lead her down the short flight of stairs. They crossed the edge of the dance floor and walked around the side of the room.

  A string quartet played up near the front of the room, songs that had likely been written centuries ago. The room smelt faintly sweet, like a sea of flowers or a carnival. Nothing like whisky and beer that she was used to.

  “Now what?” she asked Coal, after they’d been stood watching the dancers for some time.

  He smiled faintly but kept his eyes on the rest of the room. “You can mingle if you like. They should be bringing food around shortly.”

  “There’s nowhere to sit,” she observed. Everyone in the room was either dancing or standing.

  “This is a ball not a dinner or a banquet. Sitting is frowned upon.”

  She frowned. She wasn’t sure what the difference between the three was. “So if I sat down on the floor against the wall, that would be considered rude?” she asked.

  He looked like he was trying not to smile too much at that. “That would be considered quite uncouth,” he replied.

  “I suppose it would reflect quite badly on you then?” she asked. The deal was that she be here, not that she play nice. The feeling of not belonging was increasing her inclination to be rebellious. She figured if she felt like a teenager dressed for a high school ball surrounded by those dressed for a wedding where everyone was the bride, then she might as well play that role to its fullest. Back in high school she’d pretty much been the stereotype of rebellious teenager, wearing oversized rock band t-shirts and ripped jeans, playing loud music, and cutting class to drink behind the back of the school theatre with her friends. Coal had forced her here, he couldn’t make her fit in.

  But he was seemly unbothered by her suggestion and never losing his smile, he simply replied, “You may do as you wish.”

  Amanda scowled. The idea had lost its appeal, although perhaps it would find it again later in the night once her feet started to hurt. She was not used to wearing heels and they’d almost certainly be killing her later. How Kass seemed able to walk in them all the time she’d never know. Even the men here tonight wore shoes with heels a little higher than the formal attire she was used to.

  She watched the dancers for awhile. From somewhere a piano joined in, but she wasn’t sure from where. Coal still scanned the crowd as if looking or waiting for someone.

  She didn’t understand their style of clothing. She was certain it should have been hard to move in and yet the way they moved suggested otherwise. It should have looked like they were playing dressups and yet it didn’t. Everything they wore fit more like a second skin. It looked like old human fashion and yet...

  “They look like they never left the 16th century,” she remarked.

  Coal gave a small laugh that he covered with a cough. This time he glanced her way. “You’re thinking a little too far back. Now, aspects of the shoes you see tonight certainly fit some of that style but you’ll notice how the vamp is extended and the instep is elongated which gives more elegant and streamlined appearance as well as a rolling stride. The dinner jacket some are wearing wasn’t invented until the late 19th century and while there are many tailcoats out there, their fit is far more streamlined than what they used to be. Both the trousers and the jacket are tailored to fit to the silhouette rather than to puff it up. The jacket line tapers along with the ribs, the shoulder cuts are clean, trousers that used to balloon at the hips now barely ripple when a man walks. Yes, we take influence from history but we modify it to give it a more timeless appeal. It’s sartorial rather then old-fashioned. We keep that which works and throw away the rest. We embrace technology with a focus on refinement while leaving just enough room for fashion that’s subtle and woven in to feel more like music than noise.”

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  Amanda only understood about half of what he was saying. He could have been making it all up and she wouldn’t have known any different but from watching the dancers she knew there must have been some truth to what he said.

  Another man joined them a moment later. This one was slightly taller and skinnier than Coal. His hair was fair and pulled back in a low ponytail. His eyes were a blue almost grey. His shirt was a dark black in contrast to the white one Coal wore. Amanda would have described his suit and vest as black as well except next to Coal’s attire it was much closer to grey.

  The man greeted them warmly. “Good evening.” His eyes found Amanda and he bowed his head slightly. “And who is your friend? I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced yet.”

  Coal did the honours. “This is Amanda. Amanda, this is Lucifer, a dear friend of mine. Amanda does some work for me from time to time. She’s a local horse trainer and trader.”

  “Ah, I take a great interest in the sport of champions myself.” Lucifer held out his hand toward her. “Even possess a few steeplechase winners in my own stable. Coal has always been more focused on the show ring but I’m all about the speed.” He smiled.

  She took his hand and shook it, unsure if there was supposed to be any subtext in that statement or not.

  “Have you seen Aster tonight?” Coal asked Lucifer as his friend turned to stand beside him where they could both stare out at the crowd together.

  Lucifer seemed surprised by the question for his eyebrows briefly shot up before settling into a scowl. “What do you want with her?”

  “I have business to discuss.”

  “Tonight?”

  Coal gave a single nod and glanced at the watch on his wrist. “There’s plenty of time.”

  “Mmm, any business with Aster is risky though. Perhaps if you tell me what you’re after...”

  “It’s not something you could help with.”

  Lucifer studied Coal with narrowed eyes. “Very well. There is something I need your help with though. If you see the Palliser sisters perhaps you could drop a good line on my behalf?”

  Coal blew some air out his nose softly. “I thought you had moved on to better things?”

  “Yes well, sometimes one gets a touch nostalgic for the good old days. That and their older brother just won exclusive rights to a northern shipping line which happens to be the only distribution route for a very specific motor vehicle I’d like to get my hands on.”

  Amanda listened with distaste as they continued to discuss various trades of all sorts of things, everything from women to horses and all in the same business-like manner.

  She was thankfully saved from having to listen to much more of it when a server held out a silver tray in front of her.

  “Macaroon, Madame?”

  She looked at the plate before her. It contained a pile of finely made macaroons, all red velvet in colour and delicately filled with pink icing. She eyed them with suspicion. The combination of being surrounded by aristocrats and colour of them reminded her of childhood stories about poisoned apples. She also sensed Coal suddenly watching her out of the corner of his eye. Something about the moment raised the hairs on her arms, and even though she knew she’d probably get hungry later she decided she wasn’t going to eat anything she didn’t at least see several other people eating first. She shook her head.

  Coal was giving her an amused look.

  “Don’t mind if I do.” Lucifer reached out as the tray came his and Coal’s way. He took one and immediately took a bite.

  “Bubbles, sir,” said the server, offering a second tray filled with sparkling wine in Lucifer’s direction.

  Lucifer shook his head and waved him off.

  “I strongly suggest you try a glass.” Coal gave him a pointed look and an emphasised pause before adding. “I hear this one in particular is an excellent remedy to many of the finer troubles of life.”

  Lucifer paused in his eating and looked at Coal.

  Coal looked back at Lucifer.

  After a brief sigh, Lucifer put on a smile and reached for a glass. “On second thoughts, why not?”

  Coal took a glass for himself as well.

  “Very good sirs. Now where would you suggest I take these next?”

  Coal glanced at Lucifer. “Where did you say you saw Aster?”

  Another stretched smile from Lucifer, followed by a sigh. “She’s up in the tower room, attending the event from a distance. I believe she wishes to avoid some of the later entertainment of the evening. She is accepting small groups of guests to socialise with, limited numbers at a time. I’m sure she’d welcome the opportunity to try such a fine dessert. In fact, I do recall macaroons being one of her favorites?”

  “That’s correct I believe.” Coal agreed. To the server he added. “Why don’t you go and see if she’d like to try some.”

  “That I will do, sir.” And with that, the server was off, although he stopped at a few small groups on his way out of the room.

  Amanda watched as nearly all of them took both a glass and a macaroon. She noticed Coal was watching closely too out of the corner of his eye.

  “What exactly was in the macaroons?” Amanda asked.

  Coal gave her a direct and serious look, a warning perhaps to keep her voice low, then he turned back to the crowd with a smile. “Oh, nothing that can’t be safely consumed when paired with the right drink.”

  Lucifer took a sip of his own one. “It’s funny,” he remarked as if he’d only just thought of it, “But I don’t recall Aster being much of a drinker of sparkling wine, do you?”

  “She has always been more of a tea person,” Coal agreed. He took a sip of his wine. “I suppose perhaps I should save some of this for her though, just in case she’s feeling generous tonight. I wouldn’t want her to miss out.”

  The two aristocrats shared a smile.