Lady Falls (Black Rose Trilogy) by Renee Bernard Page A

sounded.
    “Heard he passed your painting off to the Carltons,” Kitty said as she began arranging the jars on the vanity. 
    “Gracious!  How did you hear of such a thing and so quickly?”
    “I think everyone’s tracking things a bit keener during this holiday.  But if you must know,” Kitty explained sweetly, “one of the footmen made quite a fuss over it when he was bringing his tray back down and I overheard him on the stairs.”
    “Perfect,” she sighed. 
    “Wasn’t that the painting you made Lord Trent for his birthday last year?”
    Raven shrugged her shoulders, a study in affected nonchalance.  “Yes.  But Lord Trent has hundreds of masterpieces in the house.  It’s not as if a man of exquisite taste is expected to wax poetic over an amateur scrap of canvas.”  She leaned against one of the bedposts.  “Besides, it really was a lovely choice for Mrs. Carlton.  I’m happy for her to have it.  Truly.”
    “Truly?”
    “Yes.  I may have been surprised to see it at first but, I’m…completely thrilled at the gift.”  She crossed her arms.  “Delighted, in fact.”
    “I’ll take your word for it.”  Kitty began to ready things for her mistress to rest for a while as custom dictated.  “Did the scavenger hunt go well?
    Raven’s spirits lifted at the question.  “It was glorious! It was—magical!”
    “As good as that?”
    Raven turned so that Kitty could help her out of her day dress. “Everyone had a lovely time and I think I have redeemed myself entirely with Mr. Sheffield.” 
    “You weren’t so far into the weeds as that, Miss,” Kitty said.  “I’m just pleased to see Lady Morley out and about to take part.”
    “It was one of the best parts of the day.  She looked so…happy.” Raven’s joy hiccupped at the notion.  “How is that even possible, Kitty?  Do you think anyone could experience joy in the midst of—I don’t even know how to describe her challenges!”
    “Even if she can’t remember what happy looks like, it’s the nature of a well bred woman to make a good show of it.”
    Raven stepped out her skirts.  “She deserves more than a show.”
    “Show is about all anyone can hope for,” Kitty shook her head sadly.  “My ma always says if you hope for more, you’re bound to end up with less.”
    “I cannot help but believe that happiness is the natural state that we all strive for and inherently deserve.”  Raven stroked the silk of her bed curtains and traced the embroidered vines with her fingertips.
    “Strive, well enough but I’m not sure it’s a real thing.  Maybe in fleeting moments, but to be happy?  All the time?  Is that even possible?”  Kitty sighed.  “To bed with you!”
    Raven pressed her lips together to prevent the impulsive protest of a spoiled child of fortune.  Her life had been a carousel of great joy and abject misery so what logic did she think to outline that decreed a firm hold on happiness?  She eyed her maid and tried another tactic as she yielded to the command and climbed into her bedding.  “Do you want to be happy, Kitty?”
    Kitty straightened her spine.  “I don’t look to dance a jig.  I’m content enough and that’s enough.”
    “Is it?” Raven dropped her hands.  “I suppose that’s the safer course.”
    She didn’t need to walk to the windows and look down to know that the view included a glimpse of the gazebo’s pergola peeking above the curving groves in the garden.  Phillip’s obliging kisses had ignited her soul with promises and transformed her into a creature edged in want and craving.  She wanted more.  More of him, more of the joy of his touch and more of the glorious ruin of forbidden heat. 
    Raven knew the rules of polite society—better than most as she skirted its edges, striving to be above reproach and beyond judgment.  But Phillip Warrick had skewed all with a kiss and she was fighting to see where balance might give way to her raw need to be