Chapter 64 - 64 At the Table

The formal dining room was a chamber of polished mahogany and cold silence. The long table, set for five, gleamed under the soft light of the crystal chandeliers. The seating arrangement was a map of the current power structure, a deliberate and unspoken statement. Darius, of course, was at the head. To his right, in the position of influence, sat the Duchess Gwen. I was placed on Darius's left, visible, a deliberate display. Lady Mary was seated across from me, a placement that made comparison inevitable. Lord Charles was at the other end, positioned to project his voice down the length of the table, a perfect spot for applying pressure.