Chapter Four
Finn
There were few things Finn looked forward to more than his sister’s grand dinners, which were a celebration of the land and their family and being alive–the pleasure that is eating and talking late into the night as the sun sets and the candles are lit and his friends are all able, for this one night, to be in the same place, safe and healthy under their family’s roof.
After a long day at the markets, with plenty of money in his pocket, Finn stopped by his friend’s homes to double check that they would attend the party. There was George, a friend he had known since childhood, and his little brother Jack. There was Freddie’s best friend Talia, and last, there was his fiancée, Hestia.
Walking through the bustling town, in the heat and dusk of it, Finn found this little task of inviting Hestia odious. With the others, it was simple; but Hestia expected him to come and sit down; to pay her little compliments; to talk of pointless things. Hestia did not understand what this woman, Marigold, did–that silence could be as valuable as gold. As intimate as a secret.
Marigold–he thought of her as he reached the door to Hestia’s house– he thought of the way she had smelled, like grass after a fresh rain.
Hestia’s brother answered the door and let Finn in. He said Hestia was just upstairs and that she would be down “in a moment.” Finn understood what that meant. He sighed and took a seat in their parlour, which was lavishly decorated in shades of red and orange, colors that suffocated him in the heat. The room seemed overheated, and Finn debated opening a window to let the fresh air in, but Hestia hated such things; the chance of a bug landing on her skin. He wondered how she would do at the farm.
Finn hoped that Hestia would decline his invitation, that there would be an engagement she had forgotten about. This hope, he told himself, did not spring from any lack of love for Hestia. It was simply that he would be more relaxed without her. And if he was more relaxed, he could enjoy his family’s company unabashedly.
If she came, Hestia would expect to sit by him at the dinner; she would expect him to include her in all of his conversations, to play the part of fiancé, to take care of her.
When Finn expressed versions of these concerns to Rosemary, she was aghast. Shouldn’t youneed to take care of her, Finn? she would ask. To which Finn would respond: she should be able to take care of herself, all my sisters do. And this would spark fresh controversy, with Rosemary defending Hestia, who she was friendly with since the engagement. Rosemary was always in allegiance with women against her brothers, which Finn found deeply annoying, as Rosemary was normally the best person to talk to about any problems.
When Hestia finally did appear, she looked beautiful, as she always did. She had striking red hair and a slender figure; her family’s wealth was such that she was always stupendously outfitted in the latest fashions. Today, she wore a red frock to match her hair, a few ruby jewels, and the engagement ring Finn had given to her. Her hair was in a braid down her back.
She was the prize of the town, and he had won her. His family was the oldest and most prominent in town; hers was the most prosperous.
But as she glided toward him, with her trained gait and her milky skin that had never known a day in the sun, Finn thought that it was so very strange to know in your mind that someone was beautiful and not be attracted to them.
Enough of that, though. He was thinking too much. He remembered how proud of him his father had been when he announced the engagement. “A practical choice,” was his father’s comment, and the word ‘practical’ was a high achievement in his book. Finn knew that he had done just what was asked of him: brought more money into the farm.
“Are you coming to our dinner tonight?” Finn asked, as she took the seat opposite him and fashioned the windows so that they were closed even tighter than before. Then she drew the curtains, making the air even mustier.
Hestia examined her ring with a little giggle.
“Of course,” she said, “I should be at family events, shouldn’t I?”
Finn shook his head.
“No, there’s no should–I promise. If there are other things that you’d like doing more, you may do them, and no one will begrudge you for it. Plenty of people are coming, so.”
Hestia looked concerned.
“So, do you want me to come?” she asked. “It sounds a little like youdon’twant me to come.”
Finn shook his head and looked down at his knotted hands.
“No, it’s not that at all,” he said. “I just want to make sure that you don’t feel any pressure, that’s it. It’s at the farm, and I know you prefer a more fashionable setting–”
“Who says I prefer a more fashionable setting?” Hestia said, while Finn put his head in his hands. He wished he hadn’t brought it up.
“It’s just that, you never seem to have a great time, on the farm. There are bugs, and–”
“And is that a defect of mine?” Hestia asked crisply.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up. I see that I’ve offended you, and I was only thinking of your happiness–”
“You’re just worried I’ll spoil your fun if I come,” Hestia countered, crossing her arms.
Finn sighed and felt ashamed. With her usual precision, Hestia had guessed at what he was thinking–and what he was thinking was rather selfish and wrong. But how could he admit to that? He would have to be better. Less selfish.
“No, that’s not the reason. And this is silly. I just wanted to make sure that you wanted to come, and you do, which I am, for the record, happy about.”
