Page 16 of Summer

“Summer,” Rikkie says, switching to Hothiny.

“Yes?” she responds with a tilt of her head.

“How long were at Protegre?” Rikkie asks.

“Three years, my lady,” Summer replies. I blink my astonishment – three years? That is all? She’s at least five and twenty; what did she do before that? Was she on Earth? The thought makes me shudder. I’ve never been to Earth, but what I’d heard of it was appalling. Filth, decay, destruction…I sincerely hope that’s not where Summer came from. To live in that environment…well, it would take a woman not fit to wed my brother.

“Three years,” breathes Rikkie, her eyes wide. “And before that? Earth?”

Summer is hesitant in her answer, and for a moment something flashes across her eyes. Before I can pick it apart, it’s gone, replaced by her infuriating placidity. “No, my lady – I wish not to bore you with the details of my life before. I am grateful for the opportunity to be here and serve my future husband.”

“So, it is true,” Wrunga breathes.

Summer’s gaze flits to me quickly. I narrow my eyes, and she looks away. Let her think she’s overstepped, maybe it’ll cool that vicious tongue of hers.

“Of course it is,” I snap, then collect myself. No need for them to see how angry I am at the entire situation. How I ache for my brother, that he should be forced to marry this human woman instead of…

“That is why you all came, is it not?” I add.

“All of this welcome just for me? I am flattered ladies of your status would take such interest,” Summer says, cutting through my rage. If she hopes to suck up to them like she has my father and mother, she’ll find herself quickly corrected. They are keen eyed members of society – they can scent a lie before it’s even told.

“Why wouldn’t we be interested?” Poliope asks. “After all, the duke is a well-respected male. The entire Vestinhoth family is,” she adds, nodding to me.

“The entire family?” Summer asks, her gaze cutting to me once more. There it is again – that look of insolence, her lips turned in a small smile. As if this is a joke.

Rikkie scents foul play and grins. Poliope does not, so her words sting all the more.

“Why, yes!” she says emphatically. “Aaoric – sorry, Marquis Aaoric – is an accomplished male indeed. He attended Frihus University – you’ve heard of it, I assume? Of course, everyone in the galaxy has. Graduated near the top of his class, then set out on quite the adventure across the universe. He traveled to many planets and galaxies, before coming home to take up his duties.

“And Genny,” she adds, pointing to me and setting my teeth on edge with that name. “Held top marks amongst the pupils under our governess. While Aaoric was in school and traveling, she learned all the ways of the estate. Why, some say she runs more of it than her parents.” Her hand claps over her mouth, her eyes wide. Rikkie grins in vicious glee while Wrunga glances about the room, her gaze tracking the servants.

“That is a kind assessment,” I cut in cooly. It’s not wrong – Father’s stubbornness would have bankrupted us many times over if it weren’t for me. Mother was an enabler, always wanting more, more, more. I steadied his hand; I guided the smaller pieces of the estate. Now that Aaoric had returned home, Father tried again and again to get him to take the reins from me to no avail.

But admitting this out loud would be to call the duke ineffective, a slight he would never tolerate. If father knew the extent I underplayed our fortune so he wouldn’t spend it all he’d have my head.

“What Lady Poliope is trying to say is, my father has done an extraordinary job at leading our family. Aaoric is educated and well equipped to become the next duke, and I have done a passable job in his absence. I’m sure once he marries, the two of you will continue the tradition.” My voice is cool, level – placating. I don’t suspect the servants will tell Mother or Father about what Poliope said. I don’t suspect they’re even listening. Most of our conversation is rather droll anyway.

“I shall do my best to measure up,” Summer says, further easing the tension. “Tell me, though – what of you three? Have you prospects?”

Summer effectively diverts the conversation to something inane – courting. I resist the urge to roll my eyes. This is who is to marry my brother? A human woman who wants only to gossip with the local ladies about who they fancy?

The afternoon rakes down my skin like nails. Summer eggs on the conversation, asking question after question about each of the ladies. By the end of the afternoon, they’re gushing – even Rikkie. She rises from the chaise and grips Summer’s arm in her hand.

“We shall call again,” she promises.

I school my expression as they file away, each sharing such gestures of familiarity with Summer that I am taken aback. First her impolite questions about their life, their history, their matches! Then this touch? I half expect one to lean forward and kiss her on the cheek.

I count to thirty once they leave before turning to leave. The room is suddenly too hot, too small, and I’m unable to breathe. It’s not until I’m outside that I realize Summer has followed me. Her breaths aren’t as heavy as they were a few days ago, likely acclimating to the exertion. She must have been such a lazy thing at that school.

I’ve seen the bodies, echoes through my head again, and I stop short. Summer runs into me with a faint “ooh!” It gives me the opportunity to wheel on her.

But the words die on my lips. Her pale face is flushed, her eyes wide and sparkling. Tendrils of her hair stick to her forehead and temple, and my hand is raising to push them away before I know what I’m doing. Instead, I ball up my fist and keep it squarely at my side.

“Is it true?” she asks me.

“Is what true?” I snarl. My hand flexes at my side, my palm sweaty. What is it about this woman that sets me so on edge?

“That you run the estate,” Summer clarifies, dropping her voice.