For Darkness Shows the Stars

sparse white hair. With both sides of his face relaxed like this in repose, Elliot could almost imagine what he’d looked like before his first stroke had damaged the nerves in his face.
    Had Benedict been telling the truth? Had this man forced her mother to marry her father? Elliot tried to remember a time when her mother had displayed any bitterness toward the Boatwright. From a young age, she’d known her mother wasn’t happy in her marriage—known it almost from the time she’d become aware of the type of man her father was. But it was the only life she knew, so she hadn’t examined it all that closely. Her mother managed the estate, smoothing over the worst of Baron North’s extravagances and cruelties. Elliot had learned enough from her to try to do the same after her mother’s death.
    What would her life have been like had she been born a Grove? She’s never known Horatio and Olivia’s father, but judging from them, she imagined he was a more progressive, hardworking man. The Groves had some Post technology in their house. They were open to new ideas. They were friendly with the Fleet. Perhaps, if she’d been Olivia Grove, she could have asked Felicia to do the unthinkable. Perhaps Kai would love her now.
    But if she’d been Olivia Grove, would Kai have ever known her at all?
    She pressed a kiss to her grandfather’s forehead and departed. Her family would expect her to come to dinner. Appearances had to be maintained, no matter what was going on upstairs . . . or inside.
    By the time she arrived in the parlor, there was a lively debate occurring between Tatiana and Benedict as to who was the better rider.
    “When I saw you today, on the back of that Innovation horse,” Benedict was saying, “it seemed perfectly clear that you have great talent.”
    Tatiana blushed prettily. She seemed to have taken extra care with her clothes and hair this evening, utilizing some of the Post-style fabrics she’d purchased after the Fleet moved in. Tonight, she wore red, and the color set off her olive skin and dark hair. Elliot still hadn’t changed from the trousers she’d been wearing in the dairy. Her father’s eyebrows had nearly hit the ceiling when she’d entered.
    “Surely you’ve seen better horsewomen in Channel City.”
    Benedict smiled indulgently. “I think you would impress everyone in Channel City. Innovation horses are spirited mounts, and you have taken to yours quite well. Besides, they are rare—it’s not many that even have the opportunity to ride them.”
    This was precisely the kind of response Tatiana had been fishing for.
    Elliot folded her hands in her lap, hoping to still the nervous energy that coursed through her system. How could she bear a whole evening of this, while her grandfather lay dying above and the Posts and their secrets waited, a few kay away?
    “It’s a shame you haven’t done very much travel, as I have,” Benedict said to Tatiana. “You—and your sister—would be such an asset to society in Channel City.”
    “Father says the city has been overrun by Posts,” Elliot blurted. Three faces turned in her direction.
    “I most certainly did not,” her father huffed.
    Elliot’s jaw tightened. That was a lie. He’d been using it as an excuse not to take them for years.
    “It’s true,” he continued, “that there are many free Posts there these days . . . but it’s hardly overrun. Indeed, most of the Posts there are quite genteel and remarkably stylish—for what they are. Not unlike these Cloud Fleet Posts renting our lands.”
    “Of course,” Benedict said quickly. “There are many very fine Posts.”
    “It’s surprising to me to hear you say such a thing, Elliot,” said Tatiana. “You always seem so generous toward our own Posts. Remember back when you were a child, you had that little Post friend. You know, the son of that mechanic . . .” she trailed off, and her mouth gaped. She stared at Elliot with an expression of astonished accusation.
    Elliot forced herself not to smile. Finally, her sister had put it together. A few months too late, perhaps, and even more embarrassing, given Tatiana’s obsession with Kai and Olivia Grove.
    Tatiana’s face turned just as red as her new dress. Part of Elliot wanted to gloat over her sister’s cluelessness, but the other part worried about how she’d punish her maid for not telling her, or worse, if she’d look at Kai more closely now, and compare him to the boy she remembered. It