Page 4 of The Exile's Curse

At the time, she hadn't let herself think about the cost to her family. Even in Anglion, that was something she had tried not to dwell on. She was alive. Safe. She was fairly certain they knew that much. There were a few complicated channels of communication—both legal and otherwise—between Anglion and her sworn enemy Illvya, and news trickled back and forth. The captain who'd transported her across the sea between the empire and the island nation had promised to take word back that she was safe. But it was too dangerous to stay in contact with Charl's crimes so fresh. She had to hope it was enough that they knew where she was.

Safe but exiled was preferable to dead.

"I know, darling," Ana said. "It's foolish. But you were gone for so long a time. I haven't had my fill of you yet."

Chloe smiled. "Nor I of you. But I’m not going anywhere, and we must start to find a new routine. You have friends of your own and things that you must want to get back to."

"Nothing that cannot wait a while longer."

She kept the smile in place but hoped it didn't appear strained. She'd expected her family to be happy to have her home. Had imagined hours and days alone with them. She'd thought it would feel nothing but joyous.

Ithadbeen joyous. But there was an edge of worry to her mother's attentions that made her uneasy. She didn't want to cause her mother any more pain or, Goddess forbid, cause a relapse of her illness, but she couldn't let Ana keep her at home forever.

But she could indulge her for another day or so. Ana's fears would lessen once she accepted that Chloe really was home. At least she hoped so.

Chapter 2

Imogene waited until her very correct seneschal had left the room before embracing Chloe in a hug so tight, she nearly couldn't breathe.

It was a long time before either of them let go. "You're finallyhome." Imogene smiled so wildly, blue eyes sparkling, that she looked about sixteen again. Far less regal than a duquesse should despite her expensive gown and the pearl-and-sapphire combs taming her dark hair.

It was impossible to stop an answering grin. "So it seems."

"And is it wonderful?" Imogene asked. She plopped herself down on one of the spindly legged sofas dotted around the room, patting the pale green velvet in invitation.

The grin faded a little. "It is...disorienting," Chloe said after a pause. "Things are different." Nothing stood still in ten years, and it seemed she was constantly noticing changes—small and large.

Take, for example, Imogene's parlor.

The du Laqs still used the townhouse in Coteau-Arge, near the Imperial Palace where they'd lived when they'd first wed rather than the grander home the old duq had favored. But the last time Chloe stood in this room, it had been awash in pale blues and grays, all low velvet divans and watery-sheened wallpaper, with crystal light fittings and lamps shimmering light everywhere.

Now it was a confection of light greens and yellows and pinks, the furniture light and airy, the fabrics floral. The walls were now white with a border of tiles also painted with tiny flowers. Real flowers graced the tables in tall white porcelain vases, filling the warm afternoon air with scents she'd half forgotten. Anglion and Illvya shared some plant life but not all of it. She thought of her notebook tucked safely back in her dressing table at home and her stores of Anglion herbs. She would have to go shopping. Round out her collection with some of the Illvyan remedies she had been unable to obtain in Anglion.

Imogene lifted an eyebrow, then shook her head, patting the sofa again. "I suppose they must be. But your family must be so happy to see you safe."

"They are. And I am exceedingly happy to be home. But I will confess it was nice to leave the house. They all keep watching me like I might vanish into thin air if they look away." Chloe sat beside Imogene, wondering if she sounded crazy.

"You all just need time to adjust," Imogene said. She cocked her head. "You've been through a lot."

That was the goddess's own truth. But Chloe was worried that it was perhaps too much to truly recover from. That she would never fully understand what it had been like for her family left with the aftermath here in Lumia, and that they would never fully understand what her life had been in Anglion. Or how Charl’s betrayal had changed her. "I hope so."

"I find time solves many problems," Imogene said sagely.

Chloe giggled. "That was very duquesse-like of you."

Imogene stuck out her tongue in a very un-noble fashion. "You try being one for years and see how you sound."

"No, thank you. No more dabbling with the aristos for me."

Imogene's face fell. "Dearest, I didn't mean—"

Chloe patted her knee. "It's fine. Charl has been dead for ten years now. As you said, time is...useful." Useful but not a cure-all. Sometimes the memories of her marriage seemed like a distant dream. Sometimes the grief of what he’d done still cut through her like a knife. And, sometimes, so did the memory of the times they had been happy.

"Have you had any word from his family?" Imogene asked.

"No. I'm sure they want nothing to do with me."

"Perhaps. But there must be legal matters to see to. You were his wife."

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