Necropolis (Royal Sorceress Book 3) Read Online Free

between themselves and their children, just in case the children died when they were very young.
    “You have given her too much freedom,” Lady Elizabeth continued, blithely. “She has no doubt run out into the forest where she will hide for a few hours, before returning to us.”
    Gwen looked over at Lady Fanny, purposefully ignoring the older woman. “Take me to the Governess,” she ordered. “I need to see the body.”
    “It isn’t a fit sight for a young woman,” Lady Elizabeth said, as Lady Fanny started forward. “I think it would be better if ...”
    “I have seen more bodies in the last year then most soldiers see in their entire lives,” Gwen snapped. She had no idea if that was actually true, but she had seen far too many dead bodies in her short career. Some of them had even reanimated and tried to kill her. “And you will hold your tongue or I will see to it that you are socially blacklisted everywhere in High Society.”
    Lady Elizabeth opened her mouth and shut it again with a loud snap. Gwen was the Royal Sorceress, Master Thomas’s designated heir ... and someone who had the ear of a great many important personages. And she was the person who had earned the eternal gratitude of most of High Society by destroying blackmail material that would otherwise be used against them ...
    “Stay here,” Gwen ordered. No doubt Lady Elizabeth would eventually convince herself that she hadn’t heard what she’d heard, but for the moment she’d stay quiet. Gwen looked over at Lady Fanny and winked. “Take me to the body.”
    She eyed the younger woman carefully as Lady Fanny led her away from the manor, towards a copse of trees where the female servants had gathered. Most of them were young, young enough to be easy to dominate, although a handful were clearly older and tougher. But Lady Fanny looked almost as beaten down as some of the younger servants, despite being a born aristocrat. It was clear that Lady Elizabeth had wasted no time imposing her authority on her new daughter-in-law.
    “You don’t have to put up with her, you know,” Gwen said, softly. It was strange to realise that she might have ended up in the same boat, if she hadn’t been born with magic. Her marriage would have been arranged for best advantage and she would have been expected to simply accept whatever her father decided. “There are places to go.”
    “Not for me,” Lady Fanny said, so quietly that Gwen could barely hear her. “My family would never take me back.”
    “I’m sorry,” Gwen said. The Swing had caused a number of changes in society, but there was still so much injustice and mistreatment at all levels. It was far from unknown for servants to be regularly beaten by their masters, even though it was technically illegal. And Lady Elizabeth could ensure that they never worked again, if they left her. “I’m truly sorry.”
    They stopped in front of a blanket covering a body. Gwen knelt down, ignoring the gasp from Lady Fanny, and drew the blanket back, revealing a woman she vaguely recognised. She was tall, almost skeletally thin, with a tart disapproving face and an expression that suggested she was permanently sucking on a lemon. Her hair was drawn back into a tight bun, so tight that Gwen knew she spent too much time each day pinning it firmly into place. And her right shoulder was missing completely, along with her arm and parts of her throat.
    “A Blazer did this,” Gwen muttered, as she examined the wound. The heat had been sufficient to seal the damage or the woman would have bled to death, although it was clearly immaterial. She doubted anyone could have survived such wounds long enough to reach a Healer, assuming there was one in the area. “Who is this woman?”
    “Madame Constant,” Lady Fanny said. “She came with very high recommendations.”
    Gwen shuddered. She’d only met Madame Constant once, but it had ended badly for both of them. Madame Constant believed, beyond a shadow of a doubt,