Free Other Lives by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Page A

emotion. “You are too pale. Try to smile. It’s not an execution. You’ll be back home soon if he is not pleased with you. A few weeks away won’t kill you. I hope you’ll please him. Chin up.”
    Miranda wished to cry. Unwilling to give her family the pleasure of pointless tears she held back and tilted her chin up, as she’d been ordered.
     
    ***
     
    Miranda had kept to her quarters for the past four days. Which was good. He’d rather not see much of her.  
    Still, if things were to go smoothly Nikolaos needed to talk to her. Aside from a dozen words and their names exchanged at the docks, he had yet to hold a real conversation with the woman. She needed to make a good impression with Darius. 
    On the morning of the fifth day at sea Nikolaos paid her a visit. 
    Up close he was surprised to discover Miranda was even more beautiful than he’d first thought, a hard feat, that. But her gaze was sad, and it was this, not the strange amber shade of her eyes that caused him to fumble with his words and pause. 
    “I hope the cabin is to your liking,” he said, looking around the cramped quarters 
    Miranda sat in a crimson chair, her maid fiddling with her hair as the girl sat very still and proper. She said nothing and a painful silence filled the room.  
    “I know this must all seem strange to you. But a marriage to Darius is a match desired by many women. It would be a lucky alliance,” he said. 
    “What will you obtain from such a lucky alliance?”
    “The gratitude of Darius and the money that comes with it.”
    “You strike me as an unusual matchmaker.”
    “I am a fellow who looks for opportunities. There’s an opportunity, now, to find an old friend of mine a bride.”
    “And you couldn’t find any suitable girl at Asenat?”
    “My cousin told me about you. He said you were an unusual beauty. Darius is a demanding man.” 
    Miranda motioned to the maid and the maid stepped back, drifting to a corner, looking bored. 
    “That sounds refreshing,” she said.
    “Your family could profit from this union.”
    “You think so?”
    “After your failed nuptials this is a golden opportunity.”
    Through the corner of his eye Nikolaos thought the maid’s face had gone pale. Miranda leveled her gaze with him, her lips tightly curled in a mocking smile. 
    “Did your cousin also tell you about that?”
    “Bits and pieces.”
    “Bits and pieces,” she repeated. “If you want the plain truth the groom was a drunken sod that died three days before the wedding. Fell of his horse and broke his neck. He was so full of wine I doubt he felt anything at all.”
    “Tragic. You must have been crushed.”
    “My uncle was crushed. He spent money on needless preparations,” the girl’s tone was openly bold now, almost angry. But as she looked at him, it softened a bit. “Golden opportunities seldom are as golden as they appear Sir Lessar.” 
    “Nikolaos,” he ventured. 
    “Women just don’t go from living in an impoverished household to becoming the wives of sweet, kind men who lavish jewels upon them. That fairy tale you spun for my uncle is just that: a fairy tale.”
    “I never said Darius was sweet nor kind. He is rich and willing to purchase the wife that pleases him the most. And nothing pleases Darius more than beautiful objects, beautiful jewels, beautiful women.
    “By helping me you’ll help yourself. I know you are not happy with the present situation, but it would be best for both of us if you actually spoke to Darius once you arrive. You’ve made no attempts of conversation or even the slightest hint of a sympathetic smile with me. While I do not care, he will.”
    Nikolaos paused. She did not seem convinced, ever so slightly twisting the cuffs of her gown. 
    “The point is you can become a marchioness,” he continued. “Or you can go back home and find yourself some other drunkard. Hopefully one who does not like to go riding.” 
    Miranda looked away now, sighing.