Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Ellery

My eyebrows rose as I discovered the hidden alcove within the gray stone structure. Why would the earl have this?

I looked around to ensure no one was watching me before stepping into the shadowed enclosure. The tapestry settled behind me, shutting out all the light from the ballroom but also revealing the small glow around the edges of a panel in the floor.

The pillar housed a trapdoor in the floor, most likely leading to the servants’ hallways. I didn’t know how often they’d use this door tonight, but it was a way for the servants to move around without being seen.

Kneeling, I examined the edges of the door as I imagined opening it and slipping away, but I couldn’t leave my mother here. Plus, the servants didn’t seem thrilled about having any of us here; I doubted they’d be happy to see me traipsing through their tunnels.

I also wasn’t a coward who ran from her problems, but I really, really wanted to be. Rising from the door, I pushed the tapestry open and slipped out of the alcove.

I smoothed my skirt as I glanced around to make sure no one had seen me, but no one was around. Creeping back into the shadows near the wall, I studied the other three pillars in the room.

Do they all have hidden doors, or is it just this one?

With nothing better to do and looking for something to occupy my time, I decided to find out. It was far more interesting to me than this party.

As I made my way out of the shadows and back toward the main crush of amsirah, some of the whispers made it to me. “He brought his fiancée.”

“The duke is engaged.”

“Isn’t she lovely?”

“I heard someone say she’s half dark fae.”

“ No ,” another guest said, sounding scandalized by the possibility of the duke marrying anyone who wasn’t entirely amsirah.

I had to admit, I was a little stunned at this possibility and more astonished anyone would agree to marry that asshole. It couldn’t be true.

There was no way the duke would marry someone who was half dark fae. And there was also no way any woman would agree to marry such a monster. Plus, Ryker would have said something to me about it.

Would he though?