Page 40 of Mostly Shattered

“Good. I don’t want you all hyperactive and fidgety tonight.” Her expression is all business. “You will wear this gown. We’ll have to figure out another dress for the charity ball. The Freemonts will be here at six to sign the betrothal agreement. It’s with the lawyers right now. I just came fromthere. After it is signed, an elder from the wizard council will seal it.”

“That was fast.” I feel like a deer in someone’s gunsight as the start of my horrible future is laid out for me. I hold the soft silk over my arm to keep it from dragging on the floor.

“No reason to put a decision off once it is made,” Astrid answers.

I’m deciding not to marry Chester. And I’m definitely okay not putting that decision off.

“What’s wrong with your hand?” She eyes the puncture wounds. The skin is a little bruised and discolored. “Vampire?”

I don’t answer.

“Never mind. I’ll give you something to heal that before tonight. The Freemonts will never know.”

“Thanks.”

“Your affair with Costin stops now. We can’t have anyone finding out about that.”

I don’t bother denying the affair. None of them seem to believe me, anyway.

“After a few years of marriage, people will lose interest, and you can discretely take up with him again,” she says. “Nod that you understand.”

I nod.

“Have you seen Anthony? He wasn’t in his room this morning. I want to make sure he puts in an appearance tonight. It’s important that thefamily shows solidarity.” She looks at me expectantly.

I shake my head in denial. “I haven’t seen him this morning. I believe he went out with friends last night.”

“Very well. About tonight… Before signing, you will be expected to formally apologize for that unfortunate business with their lost shipping container,” she continues. “Keep it short and don’t get emotional. It’s a formality.”

I worked for a short time as a shipping clerk for my father’s company. I miskeyed an entry, and a secret shipment was lost somewhere in the Atlantic. I have no clue what was in there, but it was enough to get me instantly fired. I had no idea it belonged to the Freemonts.

“What are you going to say?” Astrid asks.

“Um.” I frown. “I formally apologize?”

“Good.” She nods. “Hopefully, this marriage will end that discussion once and for all. Between us, I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the cause of this whole threat against our family.”

Gee, thanks, Mom.

“If you ask me, they’re being ridiculous about the whole thing. We have the merfolk and every other sea creature searching the ocean bottom for it. What more do they want?” She waves her hand as if she can erase the whole unpleasant incident. “MabelFreemont is a drama junkie who hasn’t seen a fainting couch she didn’t want to land on. Between us, she’s always been jealous of me because she wanted to marry your father. Instead, she wound up with Francis Freemont, who has the face of a puffer fish.”

I snort, trying to hold back a laugh. “I never understood how that man got a stable of mistresses.”

The second I say it, I regret it. I don’t want my mother to think I’m criticizing her life.

Astrid takes a deep breath and then gives a wry smile. “Love potions and a yearly membership to the aquarium. His latest mistress has the mouth of a trout. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s a fish shifter.”

This time, I can’t hold my laughter back. Partly, I’m shocked that she said it to me, but mostly, it’s the fact she’s laughing too. The sound is very rare in our conversations.

I have to wonder what is causing this shift in her demeanor toward me. Does she see me as an equal now that I’m marrying into her same circumstance? Only I need to believe she loves my father in her way. I don’t love Chester. I don’t even like him. The sound of his voice makes my skin crawl.

I’m not stupid enough to ask.

My laughter fades, and her expression returns to the reserved façade I’m used to seeing.

Astrid studies me for a long moment and I wait for her criticisms. Finally, she says, “I’m proud of you, Tamara, doing this for your family.”

Proud of me.

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