Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
It's only as I step into the House Tufflion apartments that I realise I've never actually been in the rooms belonging to any of the other Houses before.
Even without investigating the rooms further, I can see that they're smaller than the ones we live in, and less lavishly decorated.
It shouldn't be a surprise. Linc helped me read up on the history of House Tufflion the other day, though I'm sure there are a lot of things the history books have missed about it.
A servant comes to greet us, dipping into a curtsy. "Lady Beatrice, Lady Vermouten, if you would like to follow me," she says, gesturing for the two of us.
Bella doesn't seem in the slightest bit bothered by the introduction and drifts off after the woman. I follow behind, trying not to feel too nervous about sitting down to tea with my brother's future wife. The invitation was somewhat of a surprise, especially with the wedding only a few days away.
The servant shows us into a sitting room with several plush-looking chairs that have seen better days, and a huge portrait of a man I've never met. I assume it must be the late Lord Tufflion, but I don't dare ask.
"Ah, you've arrived," Lady Tufflion says as she rises to her feet. Her yellow dress covers her right the way up to her chin, quite at odds with the style of dresses other women at court wear, myself included. I hope she doesn't think down on me for having more of my neck and throat on display.
I glance over at Bella, reassured that I'm fine. Her dress is very similar to mine, just with a slightly different cut.
"Lady Beatrice, it's a pleasure to have you here," Lady Tufflion continues, reminding me that I should be paying attention to our host and not just observing everything.
"Thank you." I give the woman a tight smile, not really sure what to make of her. I've only met her once, and that was with more people in the room.
"And Lady Vermouten." The welcome is less warm, but I don't know why.
"Now that you're here, I must retire. Lady Ermentrude will be here in a moment." She sweeps out of the room and leaves us alone without saying another word, but shooting a glare in Bella's direction.
"What did you do to her?" I murmur. I don't really expect her to answer me, but it needs to be said.
"She considers House Vermouten to be beneath her."
"That's ridiculous."
Bella shrugs. "It's not uncommon. Thomas doesn't have a particularly high standing at court."
I frown. "Why did Lord Fallmartin marry you to him if he doesn't have a high standing?" That seems to go against everything he's said and done since I arrived at court and his focus on elevating House Rothorne. Which means I must be missing something.
"Because Thomas has excellent skills as an estate manager.
Uncle Gerard employed him for about ten years before the two of us were married.
It was a kindness to me," she admits. "I wasn't ready to be married again, but there were a lot of suitors asking Uncle Gerard for a betrothal.
He gave me a choice. I could either announce that I was going to choose one of them by a certain date, or I could quietly marry Thomas who I already knew. I chose the latter."
"I didn't realise."
"I didn't tell you," she responds.
"Do you regret your decision?"
For a moment I don't think she's going to answer, but then she gives me a small smile. "No. Never."
The door opens before I can ask any other questions, and Lady Ermentrude sweeps in. It isn't until now that I consider her not being here to greet us as a little rude.
Her dark hair is braided in an intricate crown, looking like it took hours to do, and her dress looks like quality velvet with so much embroidery that I have to wonder how she's still standing with it all on.
I rise to my feet and offer her a friendly smile. "Lady Ermentrude, it's a pleasure to get to know you better," I say.
Her expression changes, revealing nervousness I didn't expect. "Thank you for coming, Lady Beatrice, Lady Vermouten."
"Isabella is fine," Bella responds.
Lady Ermentrude nods and takes a seat opposite the two of us.
I sit back down, not entirely sure that I didn't just make some kind of mistake.
"I should ring for tea," Lady Ermentrude says. "I'm sorry that it wasn't here when you arrived. Mama is flustered over the wedding. I think she's fearful that she's going to have to return to her own House once it's done."
"Why would she need to do that?" I ask. "Aren't you the heir to House Tufflion?"
"Part of the wedding contract is that if Lord Bastian and I have a child, then House Tufflion will be forfeit to House Rothorne."
I raise an eyebrow. "Why would she agree to that?"
Lady Ermentrude picks up the bell and gives it a ring, presumably summoning the servant.
"She thinks that it's an improbability that we'll have a child, but now the wedding is approaching, she's starting to doubt herself.
But I don't think it will matter either way.
If Lord Bastian and I have a child, I'm sure he'll let Mama come and live with us in House Rothorne. "
"Er, yes, I'm sure," I say, while Bella gives me a look that says she's not convinced at all, but luckily doesn't actually say as much.
"It won't be his choice anyway, but Lord Fallmartin's," Bella points out.
"Oh, that's true. I hadn't thought about the fact that I'll have to live with him once Lord Bastian and I are married. It's going to be so strange. Here, it's just me, Mama, and the servants. But there are a lot more people in the House Rothorne apartments, aren't there?"
I nod, a little overwhelmed by the way the conversation is going, and hoping that I don't come across as this naive when I talk to people while having no idea of vampire customs. Though as far as I'm aware, she's older than I am.
A servant enters the room with a tray and sets it down between us. The china is beautiful, but a little faded in places, which makes me wonder about Lady Ermentrude's dress.
My gaze slips across to it, noticing several patches where it's clearly been altered.
I'd say that it likely used to be her mother's and was resized for her, more out of necessity than anything else.
Which at least explains why they accepted a marriage contract that includes the possibility of their House being folded into House Rothorne.
They don't have the spare money for the alternative.
It does make me wonder what Lord Fallmartin is getting out of this, but I'm sure he'll have some sort of plan.
My heart aches for the two of them. That can't have been easy, especially not when they're ultimately deciding to lose their House in the process.
"How do you take your tea, Lady Beatrice?" she asks, drawing me back to the conversation.
"Oh, just with milk. I'm not used to sugar yet."
"Of course, you're newly arrived like Lord Bastian."
I nod. "We're twins."
"It must have been nice to grow up with a sibling."
"Yes, it was." It's the part since coming to court that's been more of a struggle, but I don't say as much. I don't want to scare her just a few days before the wedding.
"I hope we get to know one another well once I'm married to your brother," Lady Ermentrude says. "It'll be a little bit before your wedding, won't it?"
"It's part of the New Year celebrations," I say as I accept the cup of tea from her.
She serves a second cup to Bella. "You must be excited."
"You must be too," I respond.
"Oh, yes, absolutely. Marrying Lord Bastian is a dream come true. He's very handsome, don't you think?"
"I've never really thought about it," I admit. "He's my brother."
"Of course. Silly me." She gives me a smile that I think I'm supposed to take as a little bit ditsy, but I'm not convinced by it.
Either she's lying to herself about her feelings, or she wants us to think of her a certain way.
I wouldn't like to say which it is, but I'm going to have to watch her closely once we're all under one roof.