“First is that there is no world—literally not one single version of the universe—in which you can convince me that you care about being a duchess,” Ariadne said.
“You have me there,” Phoebe agreed. “There are extenuating circumstances, but this isn’t really the place.”
“And second,” Ariadne said—she really was on the most remarkable tear of interruptions today, “because Aaron is staring at you as we speak.”
“He’s—?”
When she looked over to the place where Ariadne indicated—with glee that was simply not warranted in Phoebe’s opinion—Aaron was indeed staring back at her.
Or, rather, glowering.
And when he caught Phoebe’s eye, he began walking in her direction.
“Uh oh,” Ariadne said—again with a trulyabsurdlevel of glee. “Looks like your time is up. I hope you enjoyed your party while it lasted.”
“I’m not leaving,” she said, eyes darting between her friend and her—God help her—new husband. “The party’s not over!”
“I don’t think that matters to him, somehow,” Ariadne commented.
And then Aaron was before them.
“Cousin,” he said briskly.
“If you really think thatthatis going to be how we are going to play this, then you have really spent too long away from the Lightholders. We will be havingwords. Many, many,manywords. But I am benevolent, so now, I shall allow you to abscond with your bride.”
Phoebe had to credit her new husband with having nerves of steel because he did not respond to this very obvious taunt.
“Good,” he just said. “Phoebe, let’s go.”
“What?” she said. “No. I—no! The party is still ongoing. It’sourparty. We can’t just… leave.”
He gave her a considering look, turned his back on her, and called to the room.
“The festivities are at an end. Please return to your homes.”
Then he turned his back on the expressions of surprise and gave Phoebe ahighlyself-satisfied look.
“I told you,” Ariadne said in a sing-song undertone.
Phoebe shot her friend a dirty look, then gave one to her husband, too, for good measure.
“You can’t just do that,” she protested.
“It would seem that I can,” he said with infuriating calm.
“That wasnotpart of our arrangement,” Phoebe hissed at him.
“Ooh, a secret arrangement?” Ariadne cooed. “Thosenevergo awry. Never ever.”
This time, Aaron was the one giving dirty looks.
Ariadne was no more affected by the glare from her cousin than she had been from Phoebe.
“Well, I know where I’m not wanted,” she said, soundingenormouslyentertained. “I’ll just fetch my husband and leave, shall I?”
She gave Phoebe a wink and blew a kiss in the air in the general direction of her cheek before heading away. She’d only made it a few paces when she paused and turned back toward them.
“Oh, and Aaron?”
