Page 21 of Prince of Masks
But that is a dangerous thought, because those dreams are for the special cases, like Mother, not the ones like me, born with dormant power.
“So which of your darling suitors do you want to marry?” Nonna asks and, since she’s holding the plate of macarons to me, I guess she won the argument I tuned out of.
Mother chews on venomous words but doesn’t voice them. She’s stiff in her chair, a moody look aimed at the soot-covered fireplace.
I take a chocolate one and, for the sake of my mother, onlynibbleon the edge.
I frown at Nonna. “Which one doIwantto marry?”
She lifts a yellow macaron and takes a bite. “Yes, which of these men doyouwant?”
That frown cuts deeper into my face. “I… I don’t know.”
“Well you should know. Marriage is something of a commitment.”
My grin comes with a short, curt laugh.
It’s so lower gentry of her. To think I have any sort of choice.
“I…” The hesitation brings the macaron down to the napkin on my lap. “There is this one guy… He’s…” My shoulder lifts. “You know.”
“Hardly sounds promising.”
“He’sgood. Gentry, handsome, and he’s training to be a Master of Star Theory.”
Mother scoffs.
My face falls.
Nonna’s question comes soft, “Will he love you well?”
Asta flashes in my mind, Eric’s mouth hot on hers, his arm looped around her, holding her—
I smile because I can’t bring myself to answer the honest way. No, I don’t think he will. But I think, like me, he will pretend. And that is enough, because it has to be.
There are worse fates, worse marriages—like Landon’s parents, who share not a lick of love between them. Not even friendship or respect, they simply tolerate each other.
Nonna taps my knee. “The thing I loved most about your grandfather was how well he loved me.”
A smile curls the corner of my mouth.
Sothatis where I get it from, the rush of being the one, the centre, the favourite.
“It ran deeper than his blood, it lived in his bones. That made for a happy life.” She nods, wise and all-knowing. “And your mother,” she adds. “Your grandfather never would haveapproved the marriage to your father if he wasn’t convinced that Hamish loved her more than life itself.”
He does.
Father truly does love her.
If Mother dies first…
I shudder on the thought, because I know,I knowFather will join her.
I look down at the macaron. “I’m short on those offers.”
Mother considers me for a moment.
Nonna rubs my back.
