Page 29 of Boy of Chaotic Making

He’d sent his mother a wedding invitation. To the house, in case she was able to receive it before Peter got his hands on it, and a backup had gone off to Ruth Portendorfer, her neighbor and the mother of Merritt’s best friend. His ribs squeezed. Would his mother be able to come to the ceremony? He had to accept that she might not. So long as PeterFernsby had his way, Merritt would have no place in that family. He wondered, briefly, if the separation was meant to punish him orher. His father had known from an early age that Merritt wasn’t biologically his. A better man might not have penalized him for the sins of his mother. Then again, Merritt would gladly bear the penalties on her behalf.

She’d insisted Peter was good to her. His sisters, too, had promised Rose Fernsby lived well. He’d have to take solace in that, even if he didn’t see his mother again until her husband’s funeral.

As he followed the walking path between bare trees, he noticed another body moving toward him. It took only a beat for him to recognize her as Lady Briar, Cora’s older sister. She had an umbrella in hand, though it wasn’t unfurled, and strode alone. She must have been lost in thought, for she didn’t notice him until they were only a few paces apart, and only then with a start.

“Mr. Fernsby! I didn’t see you.”

Merritt dug cold hands into his coat pockets. “I don’t blame you; the pavers are vastly interesting.”

She glanced down at the stones underfoot. “Ah yes.” She smiled. “Very interesting.”

Merritt really should start wearing a hat; this would have been a prime opportunity to tip one. “I hope I didn’t disturb you.”

“Not at all.” She glanced back the way she’d come. “Are you against company for your stroll?”

That surprised him. She’d seemed of a mind to be alone. “Not at all. To be honest, I’d love a conversation that doesn’t involve magic or weddings in some form or another.”

She nodded. “I absolutely understand.” She turned and fell into step beside Merritt, retracing the way she’d come. “The woman in taupe, wearing glasses—was that Miss Larkin? I didn’t have an opportunity for an introduction.”

“Yes. She took your curricle out to LIKER headquarters for some supplies for an exorcism.”

Briar missed a step. “An exorcism?”

“Just in case your grandfather is haunting the walls.”

She studied his face as they walked. “Goodness, you’re serious.”

“I am serious at all times.”

She studied him a little longer. “I think you’re fibbing aboutthat, Mr. Fernsby. I’ve heard about your sense of humor, and I don’t for a minute believe you find the pavers interesting.”

“Oh? What are they saying about me behind closed doors?”

She waved a hand. “Nothing worth gossip, I assure you. Cora merely told me everything that happened before our arrival.”

“And Cora—Lady Cora—how is she handling things?”

Briar’s steps slowed. She waited a beat before speaking. “Thank you for asking. She’s involved in this more closely than anyone, and no one seems to ask how she’s faring. But.” She sighed. “All things considered, she’s doing well. She’s optimistic. It’s expected, in our family, to have things like this arranged. Just never ... I mean, no offense, Mr. Fernsby—”

“Never to a suitor with four legs?” he offered.

She looked relieved. “Precisely that.” She flushed. “My goodness, here you’ve specifically requested we not speak of magic and weddings, and I’m prattling on about them anyway.”

He enjoyed her candor. “It’s all that’s on our minds. What else is to be expected?”

She nodded, and they followed the path toward the front of the house, silent for several seconds. Briar broke the beat of their footsteps by asking, “Miss Larkin. You’re engaged to her, correct?”

“I am.”

She grinned. “Tell me how you met.”

Hands growing warm, Merritt moved them from his pockets and clasped them behind his back. “That is a story that deserves an entire novel. But in short, I inherited a house thatwashaunted. By Owein, actually.”

“I ... that is, I’d heard that he’d only recently become a dog.”

He nodded. “Anyway, Hulda was sent by BIKER to oversee the transition and make everything comfortable. I suppose we took a liking to one another.” That was theverycondensed version of it.

“How charming.” Her grin faded slowly, a little with each step. “We, my siblings and I, that is, weren’t permitted to search among common folk for a spouse.” She laughed. “Not that we had the freedom to choose from among the elite, either.”

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