ora

n?" she sneered, recovering some of her bluster. "Don't forget

n over the deed to the Feitian Pavilion and transfer the five thousand gold coins to the family treasury. In excha

her mind clearly racing to decipher my angle. Corinne even s

ne and great deeds of the main branch. Side-branch members like me were footnotes at best, mentioned only in passing in dusty ledgers. To have my name and deeds formally en

was just a name. An e

within the family, give me a voice, perhaps even a claim to influence in the f

was one of the most desirable properties in the city. And five thousand

g with her pride. I de

deal myself. "And a small fortune in gold. Such a significant contribution to the family's wealth.

ere the ultimate authority, the guardians of the family's traditions and, more importantly, its finances. They would

out over everything else. In her mind, she was making a brilliant trade. She would get the tangible wealth, the power that money

e asked, her voice sharp with suspici

his family. I earned this honor. I deserve to b

ard, so unimpeachable, that it

final show of authority. "This is not for me to

You have until sunset tomorrow." I paused at the threshold and looked back at her. "If the ans

d. Then I left, leaving he

framed the situation to her advantage, portraying me as a dutiful, if slightly ambitious, daughter who wis

e pragmatic Lord Mont

could imagine Montgomery booming. "Her

An entire estate for a few line

ieve did. A simple transa

othold in the very heart of the Carlisle legacy. It was the first step in a long campaign to reclaim what wa

r arrived from Genevieve

wealth into her control. I kept only the silver

the manicured lawns towards the ancient, stone building that

vieve, blinded by her gree