Augusta immediately dropped to her knees. "La Regina, the white fox was indeed felled by my shot."
The moment our words landed, Aldric's expression shifted. He stared at me, his voice sharp with disbelief. "Camilla, there's no way you missed that shot."
"Your aim, your riding. You don't miss. What kind of game are you playing?"
Lenora's face changed the instant she heard the fox had been Augusta's kill.
Augusta caught Aldric's tone and turned to him, eyes reddening with wounded hurt. "Does the heir not believe I made the shot either?"
Aldric realized his blunder and quickly helped her to her feet. "Of course I do. I was simply so stunned I couldn't believe it at first. Your marksmanship has truly improved, my dear."
Lenora studied Augusta, still kneeling, then turned her gaze to me with a thin smile. "Camilla, you are the trueborn daughter of Don Falcone. No woman from any of the Five Families can match your skill. How could you possibly lose?"
This bride-selection gathering had been dressed up as a hunt, but every Family had received word beforehand. It was nothing more than a grand performance to crown me as the Valente heir's bride.
In all the Five Families, who could outshoot or outride me? But this time, I had no intention of winning.
I lifted my head and let out a regretful sigh. "I beg La Regina's pardon. My horse grew temperamental for reasons I cannot explain and threw me from the saddle. I injured my left shoulder and could not draw my bow with any force."
"But my elder sister's marksmanship was superb. I accept my defeat without reservation."
Augusta stood beside Aldric, tilting her delicate face up at him. "Are you not pleased that I brought down the white fox?"
Aldric smiled and took her hand. "Don't be silly. I'm delighted."
Lenora beckoned her attendant forward. "How did Camilla take such a fall? Go at once and see whether she's been hurt."
"If anything has happened to her, Don Falcone will hold me responsible for not looking after her properly."
Lenora's attendant helped me to my feet and led me away to be treated. She lifted the edge of my sleeve gently; my left shoulder was scraped raw and swollen red.
The attendant gasped. "What a terrible fall."
When the salve had been applied and I returned, the attendant gave Lenora a confirming nod. Lenora exhaled at last, but she was far from ready to let the matter rest. "Camilla is Don Falcone's trueborn daughter, unmatched in marksmanship and horsemanship. Today's loss came only because she was injured. The contest was hardly fair to her. Why not wait until she has recovered and hold a second match?"
The words had barely left her lips before Augusta's eyes turned red again. She bit her lower lip and looked to Aldric. "My sister is the Don's trueborn daughter. The title of the heir's bride was always meant to be hers."
"Does it even matter that I shot the fox? In the end, the position will go to Camilla regardless."
Tears rolled down her cheeks like pearls slipping from a broken string.
Her little speech had the opposite of its intended effect on the assembled women of the Families. Resentment rippled through the crowd. The selection was supposed to be fair. Why was Lenora so blatantly favoring me?
Discontented murmurs swelled. "This isn't right. Augusta was the one who made the kill."
"Exactly. Camilla got hurt. That's just how it goes. A loss is a loss."
Their reasoning was simple: losing to any other Family daughter would sting, but letting Augusta take the position was a different calculation entirely. An adopted daughter no one respected becoming the Valente heir's bride posed no real threat.
Aldric wiped Augusta's tears with a tender hand, clasped her fingers tightly, and stepped forward to face Lenora. "Mother, the rules of this selection were set well in advance. Every Family in the city knows them. Augusta brought down the white fox. She is the heir's bride."
"The Don's word is law. It cannot be undone."
"I care for Augusta, and I wish to take her as my wife."
Augusta flushed scarlet, her face tilted up toward Aldric. "I would gladly remain by your side, never to part."
