Chapter 8
EIGHT
I make my way to the dining room for family lunch, anxious to get it over with so I can head to the library to see Linc.
I fell asleep thinking of our kiss last night, and haven't been able to stop thinking about it since.
Between that, and finally saying some of the things I've been thinking out loud for the first time, I'm feeling lighter than before.
Though I also have questions, mostly about what is hanging between us and if the kiss means anything, and only Linc is going to be able to answer those.
I pause in the doorway, trying to make sense of what I'm seeing. The table is set for eight instead of six.
"What's going on?" I ask Bella, who is already in her seat.
She shrugs. "How should I know?"
"Ah." I don't probe her any further. She's blunt and sometimes a little overly honest, but that means she tends to be telling the truth about these things. I actually appreciate it. She'll be sharp about it, but she'll answer my questions when she can.
I take my seat and wait for the others to arrive, a little surprised when Bella's husband, Lord Thomas, arrives.
He doesn't usually come to lunch, I imagine because he's tending to business regarding House Vermouten.
I'm not entirely sure how it works when he seems to live in the House Rothorne apartments but runs a House of his own.
For him to be here, it implies that Lord Fallmartin must have summoned him.
A strange silence falls over the room, and I find myself wishing I had Pip with me so I could at least have something to focus my attention on.
The door swings open and I look up, hoping it's my father with an explanation, but it's Bastian who sweeps into the room with an expression that says he thinks he owns the place.
He pauses when he takes in the table. "What's going on?" he asks, echoing my question in a rather eerie way.
"I still don't know," Bella responds, gesturing for one of the servants to pour her some wine.
No wonder Linc has found it easy to fall into dependency on the stuff, it's everywhere, and completely unavoidable. I push the thought to the side. It's something to think about later if he decides he wants to continue not drinking.
The double doors at the entrance to the dining room, and Lord Fallmartin sweeps into the room with two women coming after him. I'm guessing they're the guests two other places have been set for.
I rise to my feet alongside the others, knowing by now that this is the appropriate way to greet the head of my House.
"Family," Lord Fallmartin says. "Lady Tufflion and her daughter will be joining us for lunch this afternoon."
I look over to Bella to see if she reacts to the news. I'm not sure why I think she'll be the one who tells me what's going on over Eliza, but something about the situation tells me that's going to be the case.
"This is my daughter, Lady Beatrice," Lord Fallmartin says, gesturing to me.
I swallow hard and dip into a curtsy. "A pleasure to meet you, Lady Tufflion."
"Hmm." She looks down her nose while she studies me, as if trying to find out the secrets of my soul just with a look.
"And my nieces, Lady Eliza and Lady Isabella," Lord Fallmartin continues, gesturing to Eliza and Bella in turn. "Along with Lady Isabella's husband, Lord Vermouten." He gestures to where Thomas is standing beside Bella.
"A bounty of girls, Lord Fallmartin," Lady Tufflion says.
"Indeed." He doesn't look as disappointed by that as I expect him to.
"I'm not here to meet them. Where is your heir?" the woman demands.
Lord Fallmartin nods, a tight smile on his face. "This is Lord Bastian, heir to House Rothorne."
My brother steps away from his position at the bottom of the table and bows to the woman, completely ignoring her daughter.
"Passable," Lady Tufflion says. "This is my daughter, Lady Ermentrude."
The woman behind her steps forward. She looks around my age, but I've already learned that appearances don't mean anything when it comes to vampires. She looks my age, but she could be five hundred years old for all I know.
"Lady Ermentrude," Bastian says.
"Lord Bastian," she returns coldly.
"Excellent," Lord Fallmartin says. "We should eat, and celebrate the betrothal between our two families."
I look down, mostly to hide my amusement at the horrified expression on my brother's face as I retake my seat next to him, with Bella opposite.
I'm surprised the seating arrangements haven't been rearranged so that Bastian is sitting next to his wife-to-be.
Or maybe Lord Fallmartin has realised what a bad idea that is.
Bastian scowls at his plate and cuts into a radish with a little too much force, sending it bouncing over the table.
The urge to laugh takes hold of me, but I manage to squash it down.
I don't think Bastian would react very well to me laughing at him, and Lord Fallmartin probably won't be best pleased either considering that we currently have guests.
"You didn't think you'd be free of Uncle's marriage pacts, did you, cousin?" Bella asks him quietly enough that my father won't hear, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"I won't be married to someone I don't know," Bastian mutters, glaring at nobody in particular.
"Oh, and what makes you so special compared to the rest of us?" I ask him. I should stay quiet. I know better than to provoke him, especially when he's in this mood, but I don't seem to be able to help myself.
Surprise flits over his face, while satisfaction comes over Bella's.
"You've got bite, cousin," she says, raising her glass to me.
"I am a vampire," I respond sweetly, picking up my goblet of blood and taking a sip.
Her lips quirk up into a smile. It almost feels as if we're bonding.
"You're both being ridiculous," Bastian counters. I think he's trying to be dismissive, but it mostly comes across as a bit sulky.
I shrug. "Then you should tell our father that you're rejecting Lady Ermentrude's hand, see how far it gets you."
"Are you trying to provoke me?" Bastian growls.
"I'm simply pointing out how it is, brother," I say. "Just like you've been doing to me since we arrived."
The look on his face almost makes me back down, but I don't. He's brought this on himself.
Lord Fallmartin clears his throat. "We've been given a great honour in joining our two Houses," he says. "Lady Ermentrude is the only child of the late Lord Tufflion."
Understanding dawns on me. He's agreed to this marriage because it will ultimately absorb House Tufflion into House Rothorne, along with all its riches and assets.
I suppose it could be undone if Lady Ermentrude outlives my brother and doesn't have an heir of her own, but I'm sure my father won't let that happen.
I look at Bastian. I doubt my brother will either.
Right now, he's angry because his choice has been taken away from him, just like mine has, but when he calms down, I'm sure Lord Fallmartin will spell out to him all the reasons this union is a good idea and his apparent thirst for power and riches will take over.
"The wedding will be in a month's time," Lord Fallmartin continues. "And we'll be announcing the betrothal at our dear Eliza's wedding to Lord Tyberan next week."
My cousin beams, still seeming happy with her wedding arrangements. I wouldn't be in her position, but I suppose it's a good thing she's happy.
"But for now, I would like to raise a toast to my son and heir, Lord Bastian, and to his future wife, Lady Ermentrude," Lord Fallmartin says, picking up his goblet and raising it.
Around the table, all of the assembled guests do the same, though it does nothing to improve Bastian's mood. I'm glad I have plans to be out of the House Rothorne apartments this afternoon, because I certainly don't want to be inside them.