She was right. So much pain around me, and I was asked to cause more.
Lavonia patted my back. “Let’s go to the main dining room.”
“Can’t she be turned into a vampire?” I asked.
Fiona shook her head. “Ravenhill tried that. It didn’t work.”
I didn’t pay attention to the route Fiona chose, thinking of the poor wili.
The sumptuous dining room wouldn’t be out of place in Buckingham Palace with its chequered marble floor, chandeliers, and paintings. It was like walking into a crystal ball filled with sunlight.
Such a beauty right next to such a horror.
The butler bowed as we entered. His azure aura spread calm.
“Lunch for four, Lowe.” Fiona took a seat.
The butler clasped his hands behind his back. “Miss Harlowe can use His Grace’s private dining room.”
Envy tinted Fiona’s aura with hunter green. Lavonia’s aura glowed burgundy with shock, and Rosella’s was orange with surprise.
“His Grace’s orders,” Lowe added. “Of course, Miss Harlowe can have lunch here, should she wish so.”
Fiona’s pursed lips. “That’s a great honour. Myrtha is a countess here, and she has her own private dining room, but Ravenhill has never invited her. Only Darius can dine with the duke.”
“I don’t know what to say.” I sat at the table, pretending to admire the fine porcelain plates and the exquisite linen tablecloth.
Lavonia rested her chin on her palm. “You truly are his favourite.”
So it would seem.
20
SAD AND ROMANTIC
Alex
Afew days had passed since Irene had arrived at the mansion, and aside from a quick moment when yet another wili had faded, I hadn’t seen her. I’d given her the time and space to get accustomed to her new life and to mourn her father.
I sat at the desk in my study, signing bills and reading reports on the area the Dark Court controlled. The position of Duke of the Dark Court wasn’t different from that of any other duke in the kingdom. There were bills to pay, land agents to meet, and documents to read. At first, this part of the job bored me, but now it gave me a sense of normality in a world that didn’t make sense.
Pencils, cushions, and books floated around me as Darius read his beloved magic book in front of the fire.
He’d found the book with a silly, long name in the ridiculously big library and claimed it was the most ancient, powerful, and complete book on magic in history. He never, everleft the book, not for a moment. He slept with it, walked with it, and went to the privy with it.
I swatted a floating pencil away. “Can you stop this?”
“I’m practising.” He popped a chocolate bonbon into his mouth.
“Two thousand rooms, nine thousand hectares, and you must practise in my study.”
“I love company.”
“I’m trying to focus.” A book hit the back of my neck. “Dammit!”
“Honest mistake. How is Irene?” Darius lowered the book. “No progress yet?”
“I’m not sure she wants to see me.”
