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Tom's smile slips. "Oh, yes. They're doing well."
"Will he come for Assembly Day? I can't wait to see him again, and introduce him to all my friends here."
"Well, I wouldn't get my hopes up yet, Gemma. He might not be able to get away just now." Tom adjusts his cuffs. It's a nervous habit. Something I've begun to realize he does only when he lies.
"I see," I say quietly.
There's a knock at the door and Ann pushes through, eyes wide. She's shocked that I'm in the parlor alone with a man. She covers her eyes with her hand to block her view of us. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I only wanted to let Gemma, Miss Doyle, know that we're ready to practice our waltzing."
"I can't just now. I have a visitor."
Tom stands, relieved. "Don't neglect your waltzing on my account. I say, are you all right?" He's squinting at Ann, who is still averting her eyes.
"Oh, for heavens sakes," I mutter under my breath. I make the necessary introductions. "Miss Ann Bradshaw, may I present Mr. Thomas Doyle? My brother . I'll just show him out and then we can get to our infernal waltzing."
"That was your brother?" Ann asks shyly while I'm gliding her around the ballroom.
"Yes. The beast himself." I'm still a bit ruffled by the news about Father. I'd hoped by now he'd be on the mend.
"He seems very kind." Ann steps on both my feet and I wince in pain.
"Tom? Ha! He never opens his mouth except to put on airs. He's insufferably impressed with himself. Pity the girl who gets him."
"Still, I think he seems very nice. A true gentleman."
God in heaven. She likes my brother. It's so laughable that it's somewhere beyond comedy and right into tragedy again.
"Is he engaged to anyone?"
"No. No one seems to measure up to his first love."
Ann's face falls. She stops without warning and I twist uncomfortably before springing back to her side. "Oh?" "Himself."
It takes her a minute to get the joke, but then she laughs and blushes some more. I haven't the heart to tell her that Tom's looking for a rich wife, probably a pretty one, too, and that she will never be able to compete. If only he could see and hear her as she is in the realms. It's infuriating that the things we can do thereall that powermust remain there for the time being.
"I cannot dance another step with you or I shall be bruised for a week."
"You're the one who can't remember the rhythm," Ann chides, following me into the hall.
"And you can't remember that my feet and the floor are not one and the same."
Ann starts to retort, but we're interrupted by the sight of Felicity barreling down the hall. She waves a sheet of paper over her head.
"He's coming! He's coming!"
"Who's coming?" I say.
She grabs our hands and twirls us around in a circle. "My father! I've just had a note. He's coming for Assembly Day! Oh, isn't it marvelous?" She stops. "Gracious, I've got to get ready. I've got to prepare. Well, come ondon't just stand here! If I don't learn how to waltz like a proper lady by Sunday, I'm doomed!"
Paradise has turned sour. Mother and I are fighting.
"But why can't we take the magic out of the realms where it could do some real good?"
"I've told youit isn't safe yet . Once you do that, once you bring magic back through the portal, it's fully open. Anyone who knows how could get in." She pauses, tries to get herself under control. I remember these fights now--the ones that used to make me hate her.
I pull up a clump of berries, twirl them in my hands. "You could help me do it. Then I'd be safe."
Mother takes the berries away. "No, I can't. I can't go back, Gemma."
