Page 193 of Of Iron and Moonlight

“Hardly discreet,” Merrick agreed.

“But still someone she welcomed into her private chambers…” Kora straightened abruptly as a thread connected. “Our assumption has been wrong.”

Merrick leaned forward. “Go on.”

“The blade was delicate. The setting intimate. Someone she trusted completely. Someone who could enter her chambers in broad daylight without raising suspicion.” She paused. “The murderer was a woman.”

“Brilliant,” Merrick said. “Frustrating, but brilliant.”

“Perhaps the Duchess of Kryovarre,” Kora said slowly. “Vernika was close to Issabet despite the rivalry between their husbands. And she has been conspicuously absent since the murder. If Kryovarre wanted leverage over Wolmer, placing his wife near the empress would have benefited him. Issabet may have confided in her.”

“Possible,” Merrick conceded. “Issabet was known to resent Wolmer, despite his love for her. She might have gravitated toward Vernika simply to irritate him.”

“Genefra is unlikely,” Kora thought aloud. “She has motive through Duskmere, but she could never conceal something of this scale.”

Merrick gave a faint huff of agreement. “What of Ardor? Heleine?”

Kora considered. “Heleine was frustrated by being confined to the palace but not unusually so. I cannot picture her raising a blade. I sense no deceit in her.”

“Cassian’s silence is troubling,” Merrick challenged.

“Even so,” Kora replied, thinking of the woman she had come to trust, “Heleine does not strike me as someone who would plunge herself into scandal. She benefits more from stability.”

Merrick leaned back. “Then perhaps the answer lies outside the obvious duchesses.”

The next name surfaced before Kora could dismiss it. She hesitated. Then she let it slip, “The Countess of Moscowa.”

Merrick’s mouth curved slightly. “Seraphine derHamefbeck? Certainly loyal to Genefra. But I have never known her to serve Duskmere directly.”

“She and Genefra are both born of Kryovarre,” Kora countered quietly. “Rumor has it Seraphine is Valdir’s mistress. If true, she stands at the edge of his confidence. And Genefra once told me she and Issabet were close.”

Merrick’s brows lifted, pride almost wounded. “Valdir’s mistress? News even to me.”

“Court rarely disappoints with its surprises,” Kora said, somewhat ruefully.

A soft knock sounded at the door.

Merrick vanished from the chair in the same breath, already at the window, posture taut. “If it is Seraphine,” he murmured, brown eyes intent, “we will need proof.”

“I will find it,” Kora whispered, rubbing the dampness from her palms.

He gave a short nod and slipped through the casement.

The knock came again, firmer this time.

“Your Grace?” Terrice’s voice carried through the wood.

“Just a moment,” Kora called, schooling her face into calm as she reached for the door.

“Good morning, Your Grace.” Terrice dipped a neat curtsy. Her face was gentle as ever, framed by brown hair pinned at her nape. She glanced around the room. “Where are your attendants?”

“Oh,” Kora said, “I dismissed them for today.” It seemed the wiser choice with Merrick’s not so infrequent visits.

Terrice looked somewhat bemused but shrugged it off. “Did you forget we were meant to breakfast with Lady Genefra this morning?”

“Yes,” Kora admitted with a quiet breath. “Entirely.”

“No matter at all,” Terrice said warmly. “I’ll help you get ready.”