Rose in Chains
by Julie Soto
Contents
Chapter 9
Overview
At a winter solstice state dinner years earlier, Briony is maneuvered into dancing with Toven Hearst, exposing Bomardi power games and public scrutiny. Liam Quill and Canning Trow escalate the display, while Rory’s first dance with Cordelia reveals their budding romance. Veronika Mallow pointedly challenges the school exchange and arranged unions, hinting at the ideology behind future violence.
Summary
Seven and a half years earlier at a winter solstice state dinner, Briony, Rory, and King Jacquel greet Evermore and Bomard dignitaries. Tension mounts as Larissa Gains snubs them, Sammy Meers playfully seeks Briony’s first dance, and Toven Hearst needles Briony about lineage and status. Veronika Mallow arrives with the Hearsts, snubbing protocol and unsettling Briony.
When dancing begins, Toven publicly invokes Bomardi precedence to force the first dance, cornering Briony into compliance to avoid a courtship spectacle. As they waltz, he taunts her about Eversun “evolution” versus Bomardi lineage and hints at using her to provoke Larissa. Rory’s simultaneous first dance with Cordelia exposes their mutual attraction.
Liam Quill cuts in for the second dance by rank, then Canning Trow claims the third and behaves crudely, underscoring Bomardi entitlement and Briony’s lack of agency. Briony breaks away before more partners can claim her.
At the edge of the floor, Veronika Mallow confronts Briony, condemning arranged matches and reframing the joint schooling as collateral for peace, implying such promises can be broken. Briony departs with Anna, later recognizing Mallow’s rhetoric as the seed of the Bomardi attack years afterward.
Who Appears
- Briony RosewoodSeventeen at a state dinner; coerced into dances, resists Bomardi entitlement, and notes Mallow’s ominous ideology.
- Toven HearstManipulates precedence to force Briony’s first dance; taunts her about lineage and status, provoking public scrutiny.
- Veronika MallowRude, incisive guest; criticizes joint schooling as collateral, foreshadowing future anti-Eversun actions.
- Rory RosewoodBriony’s brother; openly dances with Cordelia, revealing a budding romance with political implications.
- Cordelia HardstarkBriony’s friend; partners with Rory for the first dance, signaling mutual feelings.
- Liam QuillCuts in for the second dance by rank, extending the Bomardi display of control over Briony.
- Canning TrowThird in line’s son; claims a dance and behaves crudely, emphasizing rank-based entitlement.
- Sammy MeersLightheartedly seeks first dance, highlighting Briony’s sudden desirability and court optics.
- Didion WinchesterWants to dance with Briony but is sidelined by Bomardi precedence and Toven’s gambit.
- Larissa GainsSnubs Briony in the receiving line; watches Toven with jealousy amid a suspected quarrel.
- King Jacquel RosewoodHosts the dinner, observes Briony’s choices, and endures Bomardi breaches of protocol.
- Orion HearstIntroduces Veronika Mallow; part of the powerful Bomardi delegation.
- Serena HearstAttends with the Hearsts; coolly surveys Evermore’s ballroom and traditions.
- Finn RaquinBanters with Briony; observes the shifting dynamics on the dance floor.
- General Billium MeersChecks Sammy’s teasing; maintains cordiality with King Jacquel.
- Gin PulveySeat of Bomard; his presence underscores political stakes and alliances.