the gorgeous hunk of a king, he escorted her to the private dining chambers where a table for two had been set with golden plates, flatware, and goblets bearing the Spades crest. It was now evening and the buttery glow of candles filled the room. Candlelight flickered from the candelabra at the center of the black tablecloth and from several sconces upon the walls.
Like every other place in his château, the room was gorgeous. This one was filled with oil paintings of men and women, and she wondered who they all were.
Once he had seated her at the table to his right, and then had seated himself, servants appeared bearing platters of roasted fowl and roasted vegetables, along with several other delicacies. Kira appeared for only a moment as she poured amber ale into their goblets, and then she quietly slipped out of the room.
Alexi was in a good mood and dug into the meal with enthusiasm. Unlike her sister, Alexi never had to watch her weight. She’d always thought Alice was beautiful just the way she was, but her twin had struggled with accepting herself. Since she hadn’t had to face what Alice went through, Alexi could only be supportive and did her best to try to make her twin realize that she really was gorgeous, inside and out.
As usual, thoughts of her missing sister dampened her mood. To get her mind on something else, she gave a sweeping gesture and asked, “Who are all these people?”
“In the portrait above the fireplace are my parents, the former High King and Queen of Tarok.”
He pointed to the one beside it. “That is Jarronn. He and his new queen are now the High King and Queen of Tarok as well as King and Queen of Hearts. Jarronn is my twin, the eldest by several hours.”
“I didn’t realize he’s your twin.” Alexi studied the black-haired man in the portrait and noticed the heart tattoo on his biceps. “You’re obviously fraternal twins like Alice and me. The two of you don’t look anything alike, except for your eyes.”
Darronn seemed disinclined to discuss his elder brother, and gestured past his own portrait to one of another dark-haired man with penetrating black eyes. He was bare-chested and positioned in a side-view so that the diamond tattoo at the back of his right shoulder was visible. “My younger brother Karn, King of Diamonds.” And then he pointed out a blond man with a club tattoo and a devilish smile. “The youngest, Ty, is King of Clubs.”
Alexi’s eyes moved to the portrait of a blonde woman who had a captivating smile, but something about her eyes seemed dark. “Who is she?” Alexi asked when Darronn didn’t volunteer the information.
Darronn gave a casual shrug. “The youngest of the Tarok clan.” His voice grew soft as he said, “The portrait was done a long time ago, before the sister I knew and loved died.”
“I’m sorry, Darronn.”
He shook his head. “Do not be. It was of her own doing.”
Suicide? Alexi wondered, but did not ask aloud. It was obvious from the look in his expressive green eyes that he did not want to discuss his sister, so she changed the subject. “My cousin Annie is an artist, but she primarily does landscapes.” Alexi frowned at the thought of her cousin who would be worried sick by now.
Darronn actually smiled as he glanced back to the picture of the former High King and Queen of Tarok. “My mother was the artist of all that you see. Even the one of her and my father.”
Alexi smiled as she admired the paintings. “She was incredibly talented.”
When they finished eating, and Alexi had downed a good two goblets of ale and was feeling fiiiiiiine, Kira appeared with a platter of strawberry tarts. Alexi glanced up at the picture of the King of Hearts and almost sniggered. Was Darronn the knave who stole the King and Queen of Hearts’ tarts?
While they each ate their share of tarts, Darronn asked her questions about her life and her career in San Francisco. He seemed particularly interested in her law practice.
Like every other place in his château, the room was gorgeous. This one was filled with oil paintings of men and women, and she wondered who they all were.
Once he had seated her at the table to his right, and then had seated himself, servants appeared bearing platters of roasted fowl and roasted vegetables, along with several other delicacies. Kira appeared for only a moment as she poured amber ale into their goblets, and then she quietly slipped out of the room.
Alexi was in a good mood and dug into the meal with enthusiasm. Unlike her sister, Alexi never had to watch her weight. She’d always thought Alice was beautiful just the way she was, but her twin had struggled with accepting herself. Since she hadn’t had to face what Alice went through, Alexi could only be supportive and did her best to try to make her twin realize that she really was gorgeous, inside and out.
As usual, thoughts of her missing sister dampened her mood. To get her mind on something else, she gave a sweeping gesture and asked, “Who are all these people?”
“In the portrait above the fireplace are my parents, the former High King and Queen of Tarok.”
He pointed to the one beside it. “That is Jarronn. He and his new queen are now the High King and Queen of Tarok as well as King and Queen of Hearts. Jarronn is my twin, the eldest by several hours.”
“I didn’t realize he’s your twin.” Alexi studied the black-haired man in the portrait and noticed the heart tattoo on his biceps. “You’re obviously fraternal twins like Alice and me. The two of you don’t look anything alike, except for your eyes.”
Darronn seemed disinclined to discuss his elder brother, and gestured past his own portrait to one of another dark-haired man with penetrating black eyes. He was bare-chested and positioned in a side-view so that the diamond tattoo at the back of his right shoulder was visible. “My younger brother Karn, King of Diamonds.” And then he pointed out a blond man with a club tattoo and a devilish smile. “The youngest, Ty, is King of Clubs.”
Alexi’s eyes moved to the portrait of a blonde woman who had a captivating smile, but something about her eyes seemed dark. “Who is she?” Alexi asked when Darronn didn’t volunteer the information.
Darronn gave a casual shrug. “The youngest of the Tarok clan.” His voice grew soft as he said, “The portrait was done a long time ago, before the sister I knew and loved died.”
“I’m sorry, Darronn.”
He shook his head. “Do not be. It was of her own doing.”
Suicide? Alexi wondered, but did not ask aloud. It was obvious from the look in his expressive green eyes that he did not want to discuss his sister, so she changed the subject. “My cousin Annie is an artist, but she primarily does landscapes.” Alexi frowned at the thought of her cousin who would be worried sick by now.
Darronn actually smiled as he glanced back to the picture of the former High King and Queen of Tarok. “My mother was the artist of all that you see. Even the one of her and my father.”
Alexi smiled as she admired the paintings. “She was incredibly talented.”
When they finished eating, and Alexi had downed a good two goblets of ale and was feeling fiiiiiiine, Kira appeared with a platter of strawberry tarts. Alexi glanced up at the picture of the King of Hearts and almost sniggered. Was Darronn the knave who stole the King and Queen of Hearts’ tarts?
While they each ate their share of tarts, Darronn asked her questions about her life and her career in San Francisco. He seemed particularly interested in her law practice.
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