Page 52 of Potions & Prejudice
“Well?” Auggie said.
“Yes,” I responded weakly. “I’ll dance with him.”
And just like that, my night went from bad to worse.
Twenty-Two
DRAVEN
“Is my bowtie straight?” Edgar asked, staring into the tall mirror that sat in the corner of my room at the Darkstone Manor.
“It looks fine,” I said, standing behind him and flattening my black tailcoat.
“But is it straight?” Edgar flashed his sharp teeth, orange eyes flitting up to meet my gaze.
I sighed.
He turned. “Why do you look like you’re attending an execution instead of a dance?” He paused. “Wait, is there an execution happening? I’ve never been to a ball before. Also, why are we staying in that tiny little apartment over your tavern instead of in this mansion?” He pointed his tail to the room. “This room alone is bigger than the size of your apartment.”
“It’s complicated,” I said.
“Is the manor haunted?” His ears curled inward.
I ground my teeth together. “Edgar, I said it’s?—”
“Okay, okay. So is my bowtie straight or not?”
“Yes, Edgar.”
“And, just to confirm, there are no ghosts living here?”
I narrowedmy gaze at him. “No. Now, why aren’t you in Georgie’s room?”
I’d gotten the dragon for her, but somehow, I managed to be the one spending all my time with Edgar. He was supposed to be Georgie’s companion, not mine.
“How did you get this manor?” Edgar flew over my head and settled onto my bed. “How does one just happen to own a mansion?” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Are you secretly rich?”
I brushed some lint off my dark blue waistcoat, the bronze buttons glinting in the warm firelight. “It’s not a secret. Everyone knows I’m rich. The manor has my last name.”
“Well, I didn’t know.” Edgar raised a paw to his chest. “Isn’t that something you should’ve told me?”
I turned to face him. “Why would you need to know that?”
“I don’t know. Who is your fortune going to? Let’s say that you die and Georgie dies. Am I next to inherit?”
I blinked a few times. “You’re a dragon.”
“So? I’d be put out on the streets—no home, no food.” His big eyes welled with tears. “Do you have a will?”
“Edgar.” I rubbed my temples. “Can we talk about this some other time? I have to prepare for this damned ball.”
Edgar cocked his head. “Well, I think everything is done. The decorations are stunning. The musicians are setting up. I even snuck a little taste of some of the food. It was exquisite. And I usually only like things that are bleeding.”
“Good to know,” I said drily. So much for getting him out of my room so I could have some space. “I’m just ready to get this night over with.”
I walked toward the door, and Edgar took flight, coming up next to me. “If you’re dreading it so much, why even do any of this?”
Because I was an idiot and thought it might make Georgie happy. “It’s tradition.” I stopped at the door, facing Edgar.
