Page 87 of Boy of Chaotic Making

“I never noticed,” she whispered, taut as the high string of a violin, “that the carpeting doesn’t reach the walls.”

Merritt blinked. “Pardon?”

“And the cream shades in the carpet,” she continued. “That cluster vision I had when meeting with Professor Griffiths ... it happens in this room. The lighting ... The lighting made me notice it.”

Merritt recalled the vision; she’d let him read it out of that receipt book she’d been marking up. Nothing in it was harsh or violent, but she’d said it felt important. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough,” he offered by way of encouragement.

She nodded vacantly, then perched on the edge of the closest chair, back erect. Blightree pushed past all of them and stood on the far side of the pedestal. He dipped a large quill into an ink vial. It was nearly empty, and the tip of the pen scraped along the glass bottom.

Hulda jolted. Merritt touched her shoulder, but she wouldn’t break the silence. She couldn’t commune with him as Owein did, so she simply overlapped their fingers.

“The time has come. Prince Friedrich?”

The prince stepped forward. The room was not overly large, but it still felt like minutes passed before he reached the pedestal. He dipped the pen and began scrawling his name at the bottom of the scroll.

“Stop.”

Prince Friedrich’s hand stopped midletter. Merritt held his breath and looked around the room, trying to determine who had spoken. At first he thought it Briar, but when he found her, she was focused on her sister, who sat beside her, hands clenched into tight, white fists.

“Cora, what is the meaning of this?” Lady Helen asked.

Cora stood and lifted her head. Red rimmed her eyes, and her jaw protruded with clenched teeth. “I saidstop! Stop this!”

Her father set down the quill. “What outburst is this? You know—”

“Iknowwhat you’ve said!” she shouted, sounding like a completely different person with her voice raised. Gooseflesh prickled Merritt’s arms. “I know what I’ve beentold, but you would never listen to me. Neither of you ever listen to me!”

Lady Helen’s hand swept to her breast.

Tears rimmed Cora’s eyes. “I don’t want to be forced into a marriage like Briar!”

“Cora,” Briar warned.

“Especially not with a barely literate dog!” she screamed.

Owein reeled back.

“He’s not adog,” Merritt countered. “Not in tru—”

“It’s demeaning!” she shouted over him. She whirled on Blightree, taking her plea to him. “Please, I’ll do anything else. Just don’t make me sign this contract. Don’t sign away my future!”

Lady Helen bolted to her feet. “Stop this at once, Cora! This is unseemly!”

“No!” she screeched, and pallor overtook her mother’s face. “All I ever do is what I’m told. Sit quietly and take it all with a smile. I’m not a decoration to be painted however you choose. I’m a person!”

So am I,Owein protested, but Merritt didn’t voice it.

“That isenough.” Prince Friedrich fumed.

But Cora spun toward Merritt and Owein. “Why couldn’t you have just left? When the roof fell, you should have just left! It was obvious you weren’t welcome!”

“Cora!” Briar grasped Cora’s forearm.

Cora ripped away, tears streaming down her cheeks. “If you had just left, no one would have been hurt!”

“What are you saying?” Lady Helen cried.

“You,” Hulda whispered, squeezing Merritt’s fingers. “You’re the one who did it.”

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