Chapter 11 #2
And much to Imogen’s chagrin, she did. She meant to approach this with a little tact, but something about being in her family home, sitting with her sister, the last of her kin, made her go soft.
She told Neomi everything, from finding Balar passed out on her land all the way to fishing yesterday and what he’d said by the fire.
Neomi sighed dreamily. “He sounds lovely. And he’s right, you know. I’m glad someone said it—your birthmark is just a mark. Part of you. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Imogen sat back in her seat with a noncommittal hum. Neomi would say that. She’d been saying something similar since they were youths.
The thing was, Neomi was beautiful, inside and out. Always had been. With clear, peachy skin, auburn-brown curls, and bright blue eyes, she was the type of beautiful country maiden that the stories said could capture the heart of a knight or prince.
But she settled for Collin. Ugh.
Not letting her get away, Neomi reached across the table to snag Imogen’s hands. “He seems to really like you, Genny! What do you intend to do?”
Swallowing hard, Imogen’s gaze fell to the floor. “I don’t know. It’s…sudden.”
“Well, sure. But that’s not bad, right? Sometimes things just happen. That doesn’t make them bad. And really, how else were you going to meet someone?” Neomi laughed at her own joke, and Imogen tried to grin, too.
“It’s a lot to wrap my mind around, I suppose,” she admitted. “I don’t dislike him.”
“Well, that’s something,” Neomi giggled. “This is good for you, Gen, trust me. You need the company.”
“I have Shadow. He’s family.”
Neomi pulled a face. “I’m your sister and kin, I refuse to be equated with a dog or goats.
And besides, I worry about you alone out there.
” Shuddering, she squeezed Imogen’s hands again.
“You could come stay at the farm for a while if you’re lonely.
Maybe you’d feel better about courting if you were around more people. ”
That absolutely wasn’t true, and she couldn’t tell Neomi she’d rather die than live under the same roof as Collin. Instead, she said, “Thank you, I appreciate that. But I’m happy in my home.”
Pouting a little, Neomi asked, “Will he even fit in that little cottage of yours? You might have to expand.”
“It’s a bit early to be thinking about that.”
“Maybe, but I’ve put the idea in your head, so now you have to think about it.” Neomi sighed dreamily again. “Oh, Gen, I’m so happy for you! He sounds kind. I’ve seen him in passing a few times—he’s so big and strong. He’ll take care of you. And a manticore, how exciting!”
Imogen grinned ruefully. “He has brothers. Four of them—all just as handsome and exciting.”
“Hmm, very tempting,” Neomi said. “And I didn’t say handsome, you did. But I’m happily married, thank you.” Her gaze flicked over Imogen’s shoulder, and her smile widened. “And speaking of!”
Bounding up, she bounced across the kitchen to where Collin was just coming in the door.
Imogen held in her groan as she turned in her seat to face them. Never give a bully your back.
Collin caught Neomi in his arms, making a show of planting a smacking kiss on her lips. As she sighed and nuzzled into his chest, he looked up to smile smugly at Imogen, as if to say, you tried your best, but look how much she loves me.
Just as Neomi had always been beautiful, Collin had always been handsome.
Golden blonde hair and brows, a neatly trimmed russet beard, and clear blue eyes gave him the look of a storybook hero, his straight white teeth always flashing in good-humored smiles.
His parents owned a pretty plot of land on the other side of Granach, with a thriving little vineyard.
He’d been popular in their school days, never wanting for attention or company.
So why he felt the need to tease and harass Imogen so much, she couldn’t understand.
Coal, they called her. Because her face was red as coals.
Or the time they smashed berries on the right side of her face.
“So you’ll match,” they said. Once, they’d tried to scrape at it to see if there was unblemished skin beneath.
They brought her paint to cover it, and several times painted their own faces with exaggerated red shapes to mock her.
They always noticed when it had grown bigger and snidely asked her when it would take over her whole face.
The only conclusion she could come to was that Collin’s was a truly malicious heart.
That was why she was so horrified when he and Neomi began courting. Imogen tried everything to separate them, begging their parents not to allow the marriage, protesting to Neomi again and again. But nothing worked.
Their one true, ugly fight as sisters was all because of him.
“How could you, Neomi? After everything he’s done!”
“We were children, Gen. It was harmless. And so long ago.”
“But he’s awful! Can’t you see that? I hate him!”
“Well, I love him. And love bests hate.”
What could Imogen say to that? Nothing. And so her sister had married Collin Kenny, the person Imogen hated most in this world, moving him into the family home.
He’d helped their father at least, easing his burden. But now that their parents were gone, the farm was Collin and Neomi’s—and if what Imogen suspected was true, the farm wasn’t prospering. If it failed because of Collin…
Another reason to hate him.
Smiling that smile of his, Collin nodded at her. “Look who’s finally graced our door. Hi there, Gen.”
Imogen bit back her scowl, but only just, managing to nod at least.
Only Neomi got to call her Gen or Genny, but the moment Collin married Neomi, he assumed everything of hers was his now, including the family farm and Neomi’s intimacy with Imogen.
She didn’t begrudge that married couples shared much and had a kind of closeness that was unlike other relationships, but she did mind the way he had to intrude upon everything.
He seemed to be a part of every aspect of Neomi’s life—in a way that Imogen didn’t see reciprocated.
Perhaps that was how they preferred it—she knew it’s how he preferred it—but Imogen didn’t like it.
The Ahearn farm was one of the largest in the area, always productive.
But the Kenny’s vineyard had made them a small fortune, selling their grapes on to the great winery at Endelín.
They’d expanded their house, obviously trying to imitate the manor home of the Brádaighs, and bought a shop for Collin’s younger brother to run in Granach.
His mother had made it clear that Collin was a catch—one Neomi was lucky to have caught at all. Imogen didn’t know how Neomi withstood weekly dinners at the Kenny household.
Imogen grimaced as Neomi summarized for Collin what they’d been talking about. Her sister, bless her, left out some of the more…personal bits. Yet, Imogen couldn’t help wanting to pinch Neomi’s lips shut. She didn’t have to tell him absolutely everything.
Collin’s grin grew wider with every word, and Imogen wanted to wipe it from his face.
“So, that big manticore is the one, is he?” Collin said. “You need more than a human man to crack your nut.”
Neomi made a noise halfway between a chuckle and a groan. Elbowing Collin, she admonished gently, “Don’t tease.”
“Just curious is all,” said Collin, bestowing Imogen with another golden, winning smile. The kind that made everyone like him—and Imogen’s stomach curdle. “Everyone wants to know why their favorite otherly is asking after our quiet little Gen.”
“He likes her, obviously,” said Neomi in her guileless way. She smiled beatifically at Imogen, as if she truly believed Balar would be mad not to want or like her sister. That was why it was always difficult to stay angry or annoyed at Neomi. She was sweetness and sunshine personified.
“I hear the publicans all miss him—and the barmaids, too. You going to start going with him now, Gen?”
“What he does is none of my business.”
“But you’ll want to keep all those other jealous women away from him,” Collin teased. “Better keep an eye on him.”
Imogen scowled at the way Collin’s eyes danced, as if he couldn’t think of anything funnier than the idea of Imogen walking into a tavern with Balar and having to compete with barmaids.
Rolling her eyes, Imogen stood. “I’ll get out of your way.”
“Oh, no, Gen, stay for dinner! You can tell us more about Balar!”
Avoiding her sister’s grasping hands, Imogen patted Shadow, getting him to stand and head out the door. Taking up her walking stick, she turned just long enough to wave.
“I’ll see you soon.”
“Gen, wait—”
“I have to stop in town. Take care!”
And although she heard Neomi protest more, Imogen kept walking, tugging on her hair.