Lady Kylith was the next to arrive, accompanied by her niece Ysmay and the handsome auburn-haired actor from the Basket Street theater, resplendent now in black and silver. It appeared the man had wasted no time in spending their money.

“You remember Master Atre, don’t you?” Kylith said as she kissed each of them.

The actor bowed deeply. “I hope I give no offense, my lords, with my humble presence.”

“Great artists are always welcome here,” Seregil assured him. “I think you’ll find yourself in good company.”

“I hope you will visit our theater again, my lords,” Atre said. When he smiled, the corners of his dark blue eyes tilted up in the most engaging way. A touch of cosmetics there? Or perhaps it wasn’t necessary. Atre’s skin was smooth, his eyes bright with youth. A naturally handsome man.

“We have several other plays, depending on the night,” Atre was saying.

“If Seregil can be coaxed from the bakshi tables,” Kylith said, lazily waving a fan in one hand. “Oh, but I see the delightful Lady Kari is here!” Kylith went off to greet her friend with Atre in tow.

Duke Malthus entered with his wife, Ania, and they both hugged Alec warmly.

“We haven’t seen nearly enough of you this summer!” Ania exclaimed as Malthus carried their silk-wrapped gift to a table already groaning with them.

“I couldn’t agree more, dear lady,” Seregil replied.

“I’m off to our summer villa in a few days. Malthus must stay and work, of course, but you two should come with me.”

“I will consult our calendar,” Seregil promised.

Their friend, Eirual—yet another of Seregil’s past lovers—who owned one of the most elegant pink-lantern brothels in the Street of Lights, swept in soon after with several of her protégées. The queen had set the fashion for higher necklines. Eirual and her courtesans led the fashion and flouted it all at once; their gowns featured bodices made of colorful jeweled lace and high lacy collars, but sheer enough to still offer a tantalizing hint of the assets beneath.

Eirual was half Zengati, and her exotic beauty had made her fortune in the Street. But it wasn’t only her looks; she enjoyed life to the fullest and made sure those around her did, too. The lovely Myrhichia was with her, her dark, elaborately coiffed hair sparkling with sapphire hairpins.

“My darlings!” Eirual cried, kissing them both soundly. “Why in the names of all the Four don’t you have a country house to whisk me away to?”

“And rusticate away from the delights of the city?” Seregil shuddered. “I wouldn’t last a week!”

“And yet you’re always disappearing.” Lady Syllia and her current lover, the celebrated actress Lavinis, had come up behind Eirual and stood there, smirking at Seregil. Seregil could smell wine on their breath from here. “Where do you two get off to, anyway?”