Chapter Four

Monty had been surprised when he first realized that Lady Delaney was not stupid like she pretended to be. He’d realized she was an extremely good actress. And then he’d sneaked out into the hall with her and learned something else about her. Something strange. Monty was a light walker. It was part of his training as a member of the Royal Protection, a group of people who swore an oath to protect those in need of protection, with their life. But Lady Delaney walked as light as he did. Perhaps even lighter, even with the ridiculous amounts of petticoats and fabrics that ladies wore. It crossed his mind that perhaps she was part of the Royal Protection too; he only knew a very few people who were a part of it, as his good friend, Lieutenant Havers, the leader of their little band didn’t like to let them all know each other, not because he didn’t trust the members, but because it was safer if an enemy ever got them and tortured them, there would be no way for anyone to give the names of all the members. 

Monty decided to recommend her to the lieutenant anyway, just in case she wasn’t a part of it, so when after stumbling around the ballroom in a state of apparent disgraceful drunkenness, he made his way out and called for his carriage and directed it to Derith’s residence. He knocked on the door and waited for someone to open the door. 

Derith lived with his parents and his three younger sisters with no servants, a simple middle-class family, that sometimes, Monty secretly envied, just because he had family. Monty had no family. He had friends, and his games, but he was an orphan with no known relatives, his parents having died when he was only eight of the Croskin Plague when it swept across the country. But at Derith’s house, he felt like the family, almost. Derith’s twin sisters, Malla and Maya only a few years younger than him invited him to their wedding, a double wedding. His youngest sister, Myki, went the next level, dragging Monty around the house and asking Monty outrageous questions. 

Myki was only fifteen, but she was a force to be reckoned with. And she was the one who opened the door. Her eyes lit up when she saw him, and she squealed. “Monty’s here!” she yelled. 

Monty’s lips twitched as she grabbed his hand and dragged him inside. 

“Derith’s in a bad mood right now,” Myki tattled as she pulled him into the sitting where Mr. and Mrs. Havers, Derith’s parents were sitting, debating over the contents of a book they’d been reading. 

Myki continued, “He’s annoyed with me because I keep bothering him, but I was bored! Malla and Maya only talk about weddings. Weddings are so boring.” She dragged the so out dramatically and then grinned at him again. 

“Now you’re here, and I can bother you instead,” she continued triumphantly.

Monty didn’t bother hiding his grin. “Myki, I’m afraid I came to speak to Derith today.”
Myki sighed and flopped onto the couch, letting go of his hand. “Go be boring then.” Her eyes lit up again. “I’ll go annoy Malla and Maya until they’re annoyed with me too.”

 She ran out of the room. Mr. and Mrs. Havers looked up from their debate to smile a welcome, completely unfazed by the storm that was their youngest daughter. “Derith is in his office,” Mrs. Havers told him.

Monty shook his head in amusement and made his way down the hall to Derith’s office, knocking lightly before stepping inside. 

Derith didn’t look up. “Myki, if that is you again, I am going to ask Papa to box your ears,” he threatened.

Monty chuckled. “As interesting a sight as that would be, I’m afraid I’m not Myki.”
Derith looked up, his face as unflappable as it always was. “I beg your pardon.”

Monty just sat down in the chair that Derith motioned to him and leaned forward. “Is Lady Delaney in the Royal Protection.”
Derith blinked, showing a bit of rare surprise. “No, I have not yet become desperate enough to recruit famously dimwitted young ladies into the Protection.”
Monty raised an eyebrow. “I see. Well, I’m recommending her then.”
Derith squinted at him. “Montague, are you actually drunk for once or is this some game that I have yet to figure out?”
Monty just shrugged. “I’m serious. She’s a good enough actress to put to shame the professionals but she's not stupid. If I had my guess, I’d say she’s probably more intelligent than many people who pride themselves on their intelligence. I wondered if she was already a part of the Protection, because she can walk without a sound, petticoats and all.”
Derith raised an eyebrow. “Do I want to know how you figured this all out? Or was it another disgraceful and probably horrifying episode that you were involved in?”

Monty frowned playfully at him, knowing very well that Derith was enjoying this conversation.

“I just went to take a break in the library, mostly to escape the clutches of Miss Olivia Swan and Lady Delaney was in there, alone. And, well she was reading. And now that I think about it, I forgot to ask her why she was in there alone.” 

His frown became more real. “For some reason or another she thought her father might have something to do with me being in there. I had the distinct impression that she was not overly fond of her father. Interesting,” he muttered, and then shook his head. “Anyway, I’m recommending her.”
Derith’s lips twitched the slightest bit upwards. “Very well. I’ll find a way to invite her.”