“Mon Dieu,” Lorelei muttered, grasping my hand and holding it close as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. “To whom?”
“One of my father’s artisans.”
“I missed your wedding!” she exclaimed, dropping my hand as her thoughts registered.
“It was uneventful.”
“What is he like? What does he look like? How much older is he?”
“I am older thanhim, by three years.”
“He is twenty-one?” Lorelei looked horrified. “I don’t understand the pairing.”
“Ah yes, I’m withering away at twenty-four.” I rolled my eyes. “An unorthodox match for an unorthodox family.”
“No! I mean, I half expected someone much older,” she explained. “Well ... that should be good for you, no?”
I lifted a shoulder before it slumped again.
“Is he handsome?” Lorelei grinned.
“Very.”
“What is his name?”
“Arkady.”
Lorelei raised a brow. “And his specialty?”
I plastered a smile across my face. “He works with clay and stone, sculptures mostly,” I commented through a taut jaw.
“Lucky for you, I suppose. Well, with all they say aboutthosetypes ...”
“What is it they say, pray tell?” I rolled my eyes again.
“How do you not know?”
“I loathe gossip, you know this. I haven’t read a tabloid in years.”
“Painfully boring.”
“Guilty.”
“Well, that is why you have me to keep you in the know.” She glanced over her shoulder before leaning in. “Who else would be able to tell you that sculpting certainly isn’t the only thing his hands will be good for—”
“Enough.” I pushed her shoulder away.
“What? Am I bringing back wedding-night memories?” she teased.
My face became hot; if I steeped any longer, I would steam.
“Cher seigneur.” She grasped my knee. “Did you not?”
I shook my head, focusing only straight in front of me, counting the people who passed.
Shame was the only discernible feeling deep within my chest. It was such a silly thing to be bothered over. It was no one’s business other than my own, yet it felt like an objective judgment of my worth. Maybe it was my own insecurities, conveniently read aloud in my head in the voice of my mother.
“Enough about me, how are your endeavors?”
