AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Right.” Ursa’s smile fell. “Well, maybe you could sing on the weekends if you really wanted to. But during the week, you’d learn the business.”
“It’s an amazing offer.” Ariella wished she could be as excited about it as she knew she should be. Her aunt was proving to be the exact opposite of what she’d heard whispered about her. It seemed selfish to turn this opportunity away. “It’s just not what I want. I’m sorry.”
“No.” Ursa patted her hands. “Don’t apologize.” Ursa pushed up from the couch and walked to the bar in the corner of the room, pouring herself a drink.
“I just want to give a real try at singing, and if I settle for something else, I’m afraid I’ll never really go for it, you know?” A child’s dream, her father had called it.
“If you marry Chad, you’ll never get that chance,” Ursa said, sipping her drink. “You need time, but will your father allow it?”
Ariella shook her head. “No. He’s already said he’ll cut me off financially if I don't marry. Which wouldn’t be a problem, except he’s never let me work. He’s curated this perfectly fixed box to keep me.”
“So, what you need is time and money.” Ursa’s lips curled up at the ends. “I think I have an idea.” She put her glass on the bar and retreated to her seat across from Ariella.
“You do?” Ariella asked.
“Your father is due to leave on his hunting trip tomorrow and will be gone for two weeks. That gives you some time, but not enough. What you need is a fresh beginning.”
“That can’t happen here in Caspian. I’d have to find somewhere else, somewhere my father won’t find out when I step into a club.” Ariella mused. “And it takes money to do that.”
“That’s what you have me for! How can I let you rot here under Henry’s thumb? I will help you.”
“Oh, I couldn’t do that. I can’t take money from you.” Ariella shook her head. Her father would lose his mind if he learned she had taken money from Ursa.
“Of course, you can!” Ursa assured her. “I’m your aunt. Your family. And who knows better than I how cruel my brother can be when he’s lost his temper? You said yourself he’s created a neat box to keep you in. If you don’t take a chance on yourself now, when will you get to do it?”
She had a good point. When her father returned from his hunting trip, he’d make getting her engaged to Chad his primary focus. There would be no other shot at doing this.
“Well.” She allowed herself to play with the idea for a moment. “It would be a loan, though. I couldn’t just take your money; I’ll pay it all back. If I were to do this.” If she paid back her aunt, there wouldn’t be anything hanging over her head. A simple loan.
“There’s no need for that.” Ursa’s lips twisted up. “I’ll help you, and in return, you can help me with something.” She got up from the couch and went to her writing desk. Picking up a pen, she quickly scribbled across a sheet of paper and brought it back to the sitting area and placed the paper on the coffee table between them.
“A favor?” Ariella asked.
“A small one.” Ursa pinched her fingers together. “The best place for you to have this fresh start is Kassel. There is a five-block strip that has dozens of nightclubs. With your looks and voice, I’m sure you’d get a permanent spot at any of them.”
“That does sound like a lot of opportunities.” Ariella agreed. Kassel was a much larger city than Caspian, easy for a girl to get lost in.
“Yes.” Ursa nodded with certainty.
“What sort of favor do you need?”
“Well, I was supposed to head to Kassel myself to meet with one of my business partners. But I have this launch that I can’t get away from. I would call him to reschedule the meeting, but I’d rather not. He doesn’t travel very often, and if I miss him this time, it could be months before I’m able to.”
“You want me to take a meeting for you?” Ariella didn’t know the first thing about perfumes. She’d probably make a fool of herself and embarrass her aunt in the process.
“It’s completely straightforward. There’s nothing to worry about. He just wanted to pass along a package, but it’s too precious to put it in the mail. You’ll meet him, get the package from him, then just hold onto it until I can meet you to get it from you.” Ursa explained in a sweet voice. “I know your father and I have had our differences. And I’m sure I’ve been an absolute witch to him. But it’s because we’re siblings, you see. I’m sure you and your sisters have argued in the past. Said and did things you didn’t mean?” She leaned toward Ariella.
“I’m sure we have.” Ariella couldn’t remember any particular fight—just minor squabbles here and there. But her sisters were much older than her, so if there were any sibling rivalries, they would have been more affected by it.
“See.” Ursa clapped her hands. “But we’re older now, more mature. Henry, for all his faults, is my brother, and it’s time I became a better sister to him. And what better way than to help his youngest daughter?”
“But you’re helping me leave.” The words slipped out before Ariella could trap them inside.
“I’m helping you have a chance at happiness.” Ursa corrected with a pointed finger. “And he’s a father. Isn’t that what all parents want for their children?”
“I suppose.” Ariella had told him more than once marrying a stranger would make her miserable, but so far, he hadn’t seemed to let that fact interfere with his plans. But maybe once he saw how happy she was on her own, living in a big city, starting a career she dreamt of, perhaps then he’d come around.
“All right then. It’s settled.” Ursa picked up the paper and handed it to Ariella. “His name is Ares Morgan. The meeting is set for tomorrow night at the Notes nightclub on the southwest side of Kassel.”
