The townhouse in the capital was smaller than the estate, but Evelina preferred it for shorter stays. Easier to secure, she said. Fewer servants to bribe. Less space for enemies to hide.
I thought she just liked the balcony.
It wrapped around the entire second floor, wide enough for chairs and a small table, close enough to the street that you could hear the merchants hawking their wares and the children playing in the gutters.
On clear nights, you could see the palace spires rising above the rooftops, their golden tips catching the last light of the setting sun.
The Imperial Ball was fast approaching, and every noble hoping to attend was required to reside in the capital for the duration of the week-long event.
Evelina stood at the railing now, her white hair loose and stirring in the evening breeze. The swell of her stomach was still nearly invisible despite how long it had been.
"How are you still...?"
"My stomach?"
"Yeah."
