Standing ovation. The cast came out and gave a bow.

From behind the screen around his theater box, Gauge helped Tija get her clothes on. Sometime after the scene about his mother’s funeral, Tija had straddled him in the luxurious seat, and he’d welcomed the distraction. He liked the warm scent of her, like cinnamon and lust. Her bright red lipstick was no doubt smeared across his face, and he used the reflection of her necklace to wipe it away. Gently, he used his thumbs to fix her melted eyeliner and combed his fingers through her fallen hair.

“You’re so gorgeous, and I’m lucky to have shared even a moment in your company.”

Tija’s smile was radiant with a hint of gratitude. There was even a girlish flush to her cheeks, and Gauge kissed her.

Jan had melted into the shadows for their privacy, but Gauge could feel the butler’s apprehension through the curtain. The old spy didn’t enjoy leaving his charge alone. The Count only had to gesture with one finger, and Jan returned to the box as Gauge pulled back the screen. He stood at the balcony, and the cheering amplified into a roar.

Yes, the people adored Gauge, but no one understood him. There was one among the blur of faces with their over-enthusiastic clapping who’d given him hope.

Across the way, Lexia’s theater box was empty. Gauge had noticed her during every scene of the play, including during the emotional tribute to Lya Tempest. Her tears had moved him, as everyday Gauge walked on this Winter, he thought of his own mother’s declining health and his impotence to stop it.

But unlike Lexia, Gauge also thought of his seething hatred for his father, which festered like a canker in his mouth—

“Gauge? Shall we go?”

Ever the enticing distraction, Tija waited at the curtain, eager for the rest of their night to begin. Jan looked equally pleased with leaving the very public venue. Gauge gave a final wave to the people of Winter and followed his ‘butler’ through the curtain—

Running smack into Ms. Tempest.

While Gauge blinked at the unexpected intrusion, Lexia waved to Tija, saying, “That’s a magnificent dress. You two make a stunning couple. Hello, Jan.” She also waved to the old spy, who…

Was Jan blushing?

He nodded back, and Gauge finally found his tongue. “Thank you for the kind words, Ms. Tempest. I hope the evening was to your liking.” When he held his arm out to Tija, clearly dismissing the younger woman, they all peered at him as if he’d sprouted a second head.

“I don’t know what you are Gauge, savior or monster, but never meddle in my affairs again. Stay away from Lexia.”

It hurt Gauge to be rude to anyone, let alone a young woman whose company he enjoyed immensely, but Axis had been clear. There was little choice in the matter. Tija took his arm, and Jan, who clearly disapproved of the rudeness judging by the scowling frown on his face, followed Gauge down the stairs.

Lexia, however, was hard to spurn. “It was a beautiful play. I’d never fully appreciate how young you were or how lonely.”

Gauge stopped.

Froze to the spot.

Lonely.

Yes, that’s what he was.

“There you are, child. Hello, Count Snow. I see my daughter came to wish you a good evening.” Dr. Tempest looked ruffled enough to better Gauge’s humor, and he smiled.

“Hello, doctor. Yes, Ms. Tempest, you are so kind.”

Gauge wasn’t sure what he’d meant to start when he met her eyes and emphasized ‘kind,’ but he certainly triggered a marvelous chain of events.

Lexia said, “I would like to discuss those unions with you. Tomorrow.”

Tomorrow.

“Tomorrow?” Someone repeated sharply.

Axis.

He was waiting at the bottom of the stairs with Mrs. Tenz and her son.

Lexia, ethereal in her radiance, beamed. “The Count and I are meeting tomorrow to brainstorm some standardizations for the unions forming within the crops and mines.”

Mrs. Tenz clapped her hands and said, “That’s brilliant. It would give us a place to start.”

Tija said, “Honestly, we could use those in the factories. It would help keep situations like Walker from repeating.”

There was an olive branch here Gauge could extend, and there was a mischievous sparkle in Lexia’s black eyes as if she’d realized it at the same time. Gauge turned to Axis and tried not to falter at the hardness in the green glass of his eyes as he said, “Now there’s a fine idea. Prince Flicker, would you care to join us?” He’d resisted the urge to call him ‘Master.’ No, teasing Axis was only appropriate when Gauge didn’t want something from him.

“Mrs. Tempest, why doesn’t Axis like me?”

“Oh, it’s not that he doesn’t, little Snow. It’s that he wants Lexia’s attention all to himself. He’s a little boy, younger than you, and he needs more practice in sharing.”

Please, share her, Axis…

But the young Prince shook his head. “I wouldn’t want to intrude. I’ll send my thoughts along with the usual quarterly proposals.”

Mrs. Tenz, Tija, and Lexia shared the same disappointed pout.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

It was rather remarkable really.

Dr. Tempest popped the bubble by saying, “Lexia, would you like to walk Axis home in the snow?”

The prospect perked her up enough to smile again, although it was half as gorgeous as the beam from earlier. “Of course.” She kissed Leon’s cheek before taking Axis’ free arm. Flicker nodded good night before escorting Mrs. Tenz and his fiance out of the theater.

Gauge’s spine hurt, and Jan sensed it.

The old spy indicated the exit. “Sir?”

Tija reasserted herself on Gauge’s arm, and they made to leave when Dr. Tempest spoke up.

“Actually, Master Flicker and I would like a word with Count Snow. Can we speak in the conference room?”

Every major venue in the capital city sported at least one conference room because these impromptu meetings always happened when the Founding Families shared a venue. It was almost enough to make Gauge roll his eyes. The pain had made him grumpy.

He kissed Tija’s temple and whispered in her ear, “Go back with Jan to the Cathedral where you’ll be safe. I’ll follow shortly.”

She left with her eyes lingering on Gauge.

Dr. Tempest took off his glasses to clean them, saying, “That was wise. I don’t believe Valve is happy with her right now. Or with you, for that matter.”

“Bite me, Leon.” Gauge turned and walked into the conference room ready to get this over with. His cane clamored when he threw it on the table, and he let it. After tossing his top hat beside it, he rubbed a white gloved hand over his black braids and growled into a sigh. “This is ridiculous.”

“Yes…” Valve walked into the room with more noise from his coughing than Gauge had just made. “Your sense of ‘justice’ is ridiculous.” He cut off one end of a cigar as he took a seat at the far end of the table.

Gauge said, “Don’t smoke that in here,” knowing full well the man would do the opposite.

The flame of Valve’s embossed lighter illuminated his fat cheeks in a most unflattering way before he puffed on the cigar and floated a ring into the air. Master Flicker said, “If I haven’t thanked you recently, I will again. These cigars are your… finest…” He couldn’t finish the sentence for all the coughing.

Gauge smirked. “I’m glad to see they’re doing your health some good old man. You’ve got color to your cheeks.” And a red stain on his mouth.

Dr. Tempest cut the air. “I think that’s enough of the prerequisite banter. May we proceed?”

“Sure. Why the hell are we meeting?” Again, Gauge was grumpy. He couldn’t sit for the painful contortion sensation in his spine, but he could barely stand any longer for the ache in his legs. The match with Axis earlier had cost him dearly. With both hands planted on the tabletop, he leaned forward less for dramatic effect and more for the support.

Physical therapy.

Gauge needed to perform it more regularly starting tomorrow.

Dr. Tempest seemed to notice and took pity by cutting to the chase. “Valve is upset you killed one of his foremen without discussing it with anyone, and I’m concerned about you spending time with my daughter.”

Very to the chase. That was probably the most direct the doctor had ever been, and it raised Gauge’s brows over his glasses.

Valve finally stopped coughing enough to say, “What he said. Although spend all the time you like with young Ms. Tempest. It’s driving my son crazy.”

Leon’s head snapped around and glared at the hefty man.

Gauge hung his head and sighed.

This was stupid.

“I’ll remind both of you once that Winter is mine. And that includes every citizen under these domes—” Gauge held up a finger to stave Tempest from arguing. “I have the utmost respect for your daughter, and I’m sorry to disappoint you Master Flicker, but I also respect her engagement to Axis as unfortunate as it is for me. We’ll discuss the reasons they can’t marry at the pre-engagement screening which,” he pointed at Valve to say, “your son and your protégé,” he pointed at Tempest, “skipped entirely without respect to me. Both of you knew he’d intended to propose, and both of you kept me in the dark. So I’d say the first slight goes to me.”

Dr. Tempest stared for a long moment of silence before giving a curt nod.

Valve waved his cigar, the smoke trail forming a white flag, conceding.

Gauge swiped a hand down his face before disguising his collapse in the chair as a graceful plop. “Secondly, Walker committed the act of sexual assault, condemning himself to a coppery death. Those are the laws, and if you weren’t encouraging such ugly behavior, Valve, I wouldn’t have been forced to kill him.”

“Ah. But there was another factor in his demise, was there not?” Somehow Valve got all of that out without a cough and while sounding sly and knowing. Then he coughed up a storm.

Gauge hoped he wasn’t following the man’s meaning, but…

Dr. Tempest filled in the blanks. “Tija. She is complicit in his death by entrapping him. She is almost as guilty of the crime as Walker was.”

Gauge’s mouth fell open. He couldn’t begin to comprehend his own incredulity—his own disgust. How could they even equate the two?!

And what would Lexia think of her father’s pronouncement?

Almost as if Leon knew the direction of Gauge’s thoughts, he held up his hands, saying, “I don’t necessarily agree with Valve, but since the man can’t stop coughing, I thought I’d finish his trail of thought.”

Necessarily.

When Valve took his handkerchief from his face, blood was smeared across his mouth. He pointed at Gauge and vehemently argued, “You know I’m right, Snow. That viper deserves to be in the wall right next to her victim.”

Gauge had had enough. He straightened despite the pain, took off his glasses, and glared at the man across the table. The room went quiet, and Gauge fought to maintain the eye contact even as the soft candlelight pierced through his corneas. He said, “Entrapment is not the same as attempted rape. At most, my employee has deserved exile from the capital. At most.”

Damn this penetrating halo.

Gauge’s icy tone lost some of its effect as he hid his eyes once more behind the amber lenses.

Leon rapped his knuckles on the table. “Here, here. We have it then. You’ll exile her from the city tonight.”

Gauge wasn’t finished. “But… Neither of you have evidence of entrapment.”

Valve gargled in fury.

Leon pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. He said, “The entire city knows.”

The old Factory Master croaked, “Exile her tonight.”

“And if I don’t?” Gauge asked it quietly, softly. Almost not loud enough for them to hear.

But both men heard, and they blinked at him. Even Valve’s errant lungs gave the moment its due silence.

In truth, the accords mattered very little between the three men. This so called ‘balance of power’ was only an illusion to keep up appearances for the sake of public opinion. At the core—at the heart—these men owed everything to Gauge. And not often, but on occasion, they forced him to remind them of it.

Gauge’s mind, body, and soul ached and longed for bed. “Gentlemen, if you don’t wish your dirty laundry aired to a people perfectly content with tearing you apart, limb from limb, then don’t make demands of me. You’ve soured my evening, and now the only salve for it, Tija, is your new mark. For her own safety, I will sequester her off where she’ll stay out of trouble. Are we in agreement?”

Leon nodded. “I think that’s best for her.” He flicked a quick glance at Valve regarding her safety.

The Factory Master also nodded into his handkerchief, once again at a loss for breath.

Gauge put on his top hat and grabbed his cane with a curse. “All this for a fucking rapist.”

Outside, the snow came down heavily. Heavier than Winter had seen since Lya’s funeral. Gauge wondered how Lexia was faring with the memory and hoped she was too busy enjoying herself with Axis to notice.

Tija greeted Gauge naked in his conservatory, both improving and further exhausting his evening. He was almost in too much pain to enjoy the surprise. Not to mention, he didn’t feel right accepting her pleasurable offerings without first telling her the bad news.

“Exile?” Tija breathed, grasping her throat.

Gauge took her hand down and kissed it, saying, “I think we can hide you as an employee in my mines, if you would prefer that instead. But you would need to dye your hair or wear tinted glasses—Something to hide your distinct beauty.”

Which was impossible. Her cheekbones alone were a giveaway.

Never mind, it would make for a miserable life—hiding in seclusion and dodging bounty hunters.

Tija must’ve shared Gauge’s thoughts because she shook her head, swallowed, and held her chin high. “I can move to another city and find my way.”

Brave girl.

Gauge pulled her into an embrace, and when Tija sniffled, he vowed to spit on Valve’s grave.