Free The Seat of Magic by J. Kathleen Cheney

across a metallic thread in the lace of her mantilla. She was truly lovely, although in a hard way, like one who wore her beauty as a shield. She’d been widowed young, and while she wore mourning for her husband still, black flattered her fair complexion. She lifted her face to his then, and he saw that her eyes were hazel, not brown. “I am looking for Miss Oriana Paredes. I hoped you or your mother might know what’s become of her.”
    That was not, in any way, what he’d expected. He kept his breathing calm only by virtue of reminding himself not to give anything away. Why was this woman asking after Oriana? The lady’shome stood next to the Amaral house, where Oriana had worked longer than a year. And the woman had attempted to speak with Oriana at the Carvalho ball, but Oriana had seemed very uncomfortable being the focus of the lady’s attention.
    He wished he had an answer, although he wasn’t sure he would share it if he did. “Has Miss Paredes offended you somehow?”
    â€œNo, Mr. Ferreira.” The lady’s chin lifted in a stubborn tilt. “But I need to find her and I don’t have access to the palace. You might.”
    The palace?
The lady had a reputation for being disturbingly direct, but she’d just gone three steps past direct and straight to insanity. “I don’t understand. Why are you seeking Miss Paredes?”
    She rose and paced the length of the rug before the couch. When she turned to him again, her jaw was set. “I am in an uncomfortable position, Mr. Ferreira,” she said, her voice cross. “I’m here on the behalf of another, someone whom I cannot reveal, who is concerned for the young woman’s welfare. He hasn’t been able to discover her whereabouts and needs someone to intervene on her behalf. Someone with greater access. As Miss Paredes was employed here, I had hoped that
you
might be willing.”
    He stared at the woman. What was truly going on behind that lovely face? “Access to the palace?”
    â€œI have reason to believe that . . .” She paused and he guessed she’d reached the truly awkward part. She started over. “I believe Ambassador Alvaro might have some idea where the young lady is. Or he could find out.”
    That name set off warning bells in Duilio’s head. Alvaro was the ambassador of Oriana’s people to the prince’s court. The lady’s request meant she knew Oriana wasn’t human—or that this unnamed person on whose behalf she’d come did. And while the idea of going to the ambassador for information had occurred to Duilio, he didn’t know whether the man would be inclined to help Oriana.
    â€œI am a widow and have no reason to request a meeting withthe man,” Lady Pereira de Santos added when he didn’t respond. “But you might do so, Mr. Ferreira. You’re a man, and can go where you like.”
    Had she thought through what she was asking of him? Sympathy for the cause of the various sea folk was often difficult to prove, but visiting Ambassador Alvaro would surely be considered a sign of Duilio’s leanings, inviting scrutiny his not-completely-human family could ill afford. And while he now had friends in the Special Police, that body was divided between the new powers and the old members who’d abused their authority. He couldn’t be sure the
second
group wouldn’t get their hands on him, and therefore, his mother.
    His hesitation must have shown, because the lady stepped closer, the scent of roses drifting with her. “You have no reason to trust me, I know, Mr. Ferreira. But I swear I only have the young woman’s safety in mind. My friend believes she’s in great danger. There are rumors starting in certain quarters that . . . something has happened to her.”
    Duilio swallowed and pressed his eyes closed. His gift agreed with that statement. Something had happened. But