The Hertford garden was decorated beautifully, with lace umbrellas and flower-patterned tablecloths stretching across the long arrangement of white tables. The sun was gentle, the breeze soft... everything looked perfect on the outside, exactly the way noble ladies liked it.
But the real poison was not in the cups.
It was in the whispers.
Audrey smiled her polite, harmless smile as she adjusted her teacup, pretending to enjoy the sunshine. In truth, she hated the brightness. It made it harder to hide expressions.
Around them, the other noble ladies chatted lightly, gossiping about fashion and scandals, completely unaware that Audrey had moved her own table far to the left... away from them, but still close enough to avoid suspicion. With her sat Seraphina and Mirielle, both pretending their smiles were natural.
