A Truly Blind Eye

Oh, that was ever so slightly disappointing: that the girl had only middling power, a middling dowry, and middling aspirations to go with her disgraced family name. At least she was, apparently, a great beauty – but such a shame about her mind. Of course, many of the Blind Eye’s clients might hear such a tale and claim a dull wit was actually a boon. Smart women were harder to manage – and certainly more likely to oppose their partner’s drinking and gambling in a place such as this. A clear flaw in his sample size, damn. For himself, cleverness was the most important thing.

Someone beautiful and stupid would bore him almost immediately. He knew that much from experience. If he’d harbored any personal curiosity regarding Lady Vrai, it flickered out.

“Very well. We shall do what we can.” Privately, Quinn had his doubts. Love matches were rare among the great houses of Minrathous – and perhaps everywhere – if only because noble young ladies had few socially acceptable ways to meet young men. He did not truly believe such a thing could be teased out of his books. And yet …

What was the harm in trying? Only that he might waste the young Lord Vrai’s time. From where he stood, Lord Vrai could stand to have some of his time wasted. Quinn watched Vrai’s face, a sudden smile flashing his white teeth at that almost touch. He froze in place, as he was bid.

“I am. A whisper of disrepute may ruin a lady – but I find it is not so for gentlemen.” Quinn’s eyes followed that flash of crimson tongue, pupils blown wide and dark. He leaned in slowly, close enough to kiss. Lord Vrai was on the edge of making his decision, and Quinn felt it was important that he arrive at it naturally, with no further magical influence. People always felt better that way, after. Less apt to feel the hook set, less likely to look back and wonder.

“I won’t offer a third time.”

@Malik Vrai