The velvet curtain swept aside with a dramatic swoosh.
Marcus stepped into the alcove. He wore a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
It was the smile of a manager walking into a break room to fire someone.
"Lady Blackthorn," Marcus said.
His voice was smooth. It carried just enough volume to shatter the intimacy of the moment.
"I apologize for the intrusion."
Aldric Blackthorn flinched. He pulled his hand back from the wall.
He spun around. His expression shifted from aggression to polite confusion in a fraction of a second.
It was a terrifyingly quick transformation.
Vivienne let out a breath. She looked like a diver surfacing for air.
"Lord Aldridge," she said. Her voice was steady, but Marcus saw the tremor in her hands.
"I tried to find you earlier," Marcus lied effortlessly. "But the crowd is dense tonight. I desperately need your advice."
Aldric straightened his jacket. He stepped between Marcus and Vivienne.
