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“My lady, you have letters,” Eleanor said as she entered.
I outstretched my hand for them. The first was from my aunt, the second from Tristian, and the third…from Evander. I was tempted to open his first, but I took Tristian’s. As always, they had been inspected, as I could see the envelopes were opened.
Tristian had written, I find myself unable to wait, for I fear I may lose my chance, and seek to request the honor of your first dance this evening. —Tristian Yves.
I set the letter down and opened my aunt’s, which was mostly about her life at Drust and how she missed me now that I was gone, but I couldn’t concentrate on it. It all felt like a distraction before reading his. I could wait no longer.
I deserve your anger and reprimands, for I know that I have disappointed and hurt you. It truly was not my intent. And there is nothing I seek more than to fix what Ihave broken between us. Aphrodite, I will not fail you this time, I swear it. Forgive me just this once, spare me just this once…never will I hurt you again. It will be like it was, laughter between us, not bitterness. They say we cannot go back, but they say, too, that love is the greatest of all forces, and I am inclined to believe in love. Take my hand tonight and allow me your first dance. Allow it to be our first of many.
—Yours, Evander.
“Do you wish to wear the family pearls or diamonds tonight?” my mother asked.
I had not realized she had entered. Of course, she most likely knew the contents of the letter I now held to my chest. Her ability to appear when I least wished her to was astounding—or very well calculated on her part.
“I believe pearls will do just fine, Mama,” I muttered, rising from my bed.
“Can I wear the diamonds, Mama?” Hathor ran in to ask.
“You may not!” she said.
“Mama, can you not be so obviously biased in her favor! I am your daughter, too,” Hathor said.
If Hathor kept Mama occupied, perhaps I could make my escape.
“Aphrodite, where are you going?” my mother called afterme.
“For a walk around town!” I said, rushing down the stairs.
“But you need to prepare!” She followed after me.
“The ball is not for several hours. Mama, I could walk to the other end of the town and back and still have time.”
“Then help your sisters!”
I spun around and looked over her shoulder. “Hathor, do you need my help?”
She crossed her arms. “I am quite capable of looking well enough without you. It is not as if you ever know much to do anyway.”
“Yes, thank heaven for natural beauty,” I said, knowing how she would reply. She inhaled like a pufferfish, her arms dropping, and I, along with my mother, braced for impact.
“Let her go, Mama! Hopefully, she falls into a pigsty and never returns!”
“Hathor!” my mother yelled at her.
“And then her ghost would forever haunt you,” Abena said, her head appearing at the top of the steps. “Everyone would say, ‘Oh, such a shame about poor Odite.’ All your days, they would talk of her. And I would tell them you cursed her.”
“You little bug!” Hathor went after her.
“Girls! You will cease this moment!”
I glanced over to the library door where my father was watching. He looked at me and shook his head. I winked, moving to the door.
“Chaperone,” he mouthed to me, and just then, fortunately, Silva stepped out of the drawing room.
I rushed over and linked arms with her. “May I steal you away?”
Before she could answer, I took her with me out the door as another maid joined, rushing with our purses.
