Page 97 of The Demon's Discovery
Greta
Ihad just finished up making one of the fae elixirs when a messenger from Belette Manor arrived. Vassago had been gone most of the day, attending to some business in the city with Magnus, and I’d been left to my own devices in the classroom.
In truth, while I missed his supportive presence, it was also nice to have some quiet time to work with just my thoughts. I worried that we were becoming too intertwined, and I think he sensed I needed some space to spread my own wings… metaphorically speaking.
I’d spent several days after our return from the conclave exhausted, everything that had happened and trying to jump back into the routine at d’Arcan more than I was ready to handle. After plenty of naps on the sofa, most of which curled up on Vassago’s lap, I had finally recovered and was diving in to my alchemy with both feet.
Leaving the dark-green liquid in its flask on the worktable, I followed Grace out to the hall where one of Henrik’s butlers waited.
“Greta,” he said, inclining his head slightly before handing off a parchment invitation. “You look well. Miss Beatrice asked me to make sure you received this personally.”
“Thank you very much, Colman. It’s nice to see you.”
“And you. You seem well?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“May I return with a response?”
I broke the familiar crimson wax seal and read the invitation with a surge of excitement. “Please let her know that Mr. Feland and I will happily attend.”
“Yes, he said as much, but she was insistent I get your answer directly.”
I frowned. “When did he give a response?”
“Just now. He’s at the manor having a rather…boisterousconversation with my lord.”
I narrowed my gaze at the messenger, gauging how much he was likely to share with me. “About what, Colman? Anything important I should know?”
“Your name came up a time or two. As did a ring and a man named Feiser.”
“Indeed? Thank you.” I could only guess at what Henrik was thinking if his intent was to summon Vassago for a dressing down. He’d not recover from such a thing, especially now with tensions running so high.
“Miss.” Colman bowed again, a light smile playing on his lips as he spun on his heel, leaving as quickly as he’d come.
Two weeks. That’s all the time that was left until Bea’s ball.
I couldn’t believe it had been such a long time since we’d spoken. We’d never been apart so long before. Guilt surged in that I hadn’t had much more than a passing thought about her since I’d left the manor with Vassago.
“Something exciting?” Grace asked, finding me in the hallway several minutes later, still staring at the invitation.
“A ball,” I said.
“Oh! How wonderful. You’ll need a dress then.” She nodded sagely.
“I’m not sure there’s time for a new dress,” I frowned. Money was no issue, as Vassago made a habit of leaving handfuls in my pouch at every opportunity, despite my weak protests about it.
“You could wear that lovely gown from the stone kin ceremony,” she suggested.
I blushed, wondering if there was a protocol about wearing one’s gifted wedding gown to a ball at your former employer’s manor. But the more I thought about putting it on again, the way it had made me feel to wear it, the more it seemed as though something like a ball was the exact reason they’d sent the dress home with me.
“That’s a good idea.”
“And I’m sure the girls would love to help with your hair and cosmetics.” She examined my curls as she took hold of my arm, walking with me into the dining room. “Care for a cup of tea? I feel like we haven’t had much of a chance to have a quiet word the last little while. Unless you’re in the middle of things?”
I thought of the elixir on the table, but there was nothing further I needed to do with it. “Sure.”
Instead of leading me into the dining room, she kept walking straight into the kitchen. “I want you to be comfortable coming in to get what you need. This is your home too.” She reached up to the top of a cabinet next to the sink and pulled down a fist-sized parcel. “In case of emergency.” She grinned, opening the wrapping. Inside was a brick of pure chocolate, cut into a bunch of bite-sized pieces. I took one as she offered, and she gave a slow smile as she let hers melt on her tongue. “Sinful. And one of my few secrets from the rest of the house. Well, yourself and Calla excepted.”
