Page 39 of Summer

“It’s not that simple. Aaoric does not have an expiration date – I do. This is my sixth season. No one even bothers to dance with me anymore. Even if I wanted to pretend, to drag it out as Aaoric has, I’ve no ability. I’ve no grounds.”

An idea blossoms in my mind, but I quickly crush it. She’d never agree to it, and it’s far too risky. I shake my head to clear my thoughts. Clearly the heat of the ballroom has turned my brain to mush.

“Have you ever considered…courting a female alien?” I offer.

She stiffens, her fingers clenching her dress. “My parents…”

“Do not have your best interests in mind. Perhaps if you told them? They might try to find matches for you that are more fitting?”

I’ve said the wrong thing. Gennelle stands suddenly, turning angrily on me. Her voice is low, hushed, but full of vitriol.

“Don’t presume to understand my parents. Just because you’ve conned them into thinking you love my brother, that you’re some stupid human that will spit out his babies, that you know them. If they knew what I truly desired…” She laughs, but it’s not a happy laugh. “I’d be sent off to some school, written out of the family, meant to live my life in poverty far from everything I love.”

I don’t know what to say, because she’s right – I don’t know anything about her parents. I know they bought a human because their eldest son wasn’t getting married fast enough. I know their children hate them, that the servants fear them, that everyone respects but ultimately dislikes them.

But I’ll never understand what it’s like to live under their roof for nearly three decades.

“You’re right – I don’t know,” I say softly.

She narrows her eyes as she regards me, as though I might bite her. “Did you just admit that I might be right?” she asks.

I shrug. “I am sorry that your parents are that way, it’s unfair,” I tell her.

She sits back next to me, slowly sinking onto the bench. “Are your parents that way?” she asks.

I bark a laugh and tilt my head back to look at the moon overhead. “I haven’t seen them since I left Earth,” I reply.

“When was that?”

“A long time ago. Don’t try to change the subject, we were talking about you getting married, and what we could do to stop it.”

“You don’t change the subject. We were having no such conversation. Your suggestion was talk to my parents, as if they are reasonable creatures.” She tosses me a sideways glare.

“I don’t hear any great ideas from you. Don’t spend all your energy on trying to get rid of me, maybe focus on yourself for once?”

“I do focus on myself.”

“When? How?” I press. Her agitation only grows, her body strung tight, but she can’t answer. She gapes at me, her mouth opening and closing as she struggles for words. I cannot help my smug expression, further enraging her.

“I have a life! I take care of the estate. Do you know what would happen if Father took over once more? Poverty. Disgrace. The male is incapable of making good investments. In fact, I must hide how much wealth we have so he doesn’t spend it all!”

“You give the duke an allowance?” I stifle a laugh.

Gennelle stares at me, her eyes wide with shock, before a smile slides over her lips and she giggles. Her hand goes to her mouth to cover it, but it spills out from around her palm.

“Okay, so you take care of the estate. That’s not for you,” I press once her giggles subside.

“But it is. I would be penniless if the estate was left to Father.”

“A selfish endeavor that keeps a roof over your entire family’s head, as well as invests in the future for your family? Are you listening to yourself?”

She screws up her mouth, wrinkling her nose.

I resist the urge to kiss the frown off her face. “Do you have any hobbies?” I ask.

“I…” she starts, then pauses. “I like to…cross stitch.”

“Oh? That’s the hobby you reach for – cross stitch?”