We stopped in front of the greenhouse. Ivan wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. I stared up at the vines escaping from the broken glass, at the bulbous shapes that twisted in on themselves and bulged against the sides of the house. A shiver ran through me as I thought again of my mother and the doctors working to rid her system of the poison.
“Why are we here?” I breathed.
In reply, Ivan turned to me. He reached up, his fingers brushing my cheek as he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. The world hung between us, suspended in a moment where everything was perfect.
“I wanted to be alone with you. I wanted to know that what I feel between us is more than just unfinished business between you and Dorien.”
Those words ached with longing, with a desperate need that twisted in my heart. As Ivan’s lips grazed mine, I let the bad thoughts go, releasing them into the crisp air. The mountains tore them from me as Ivan wrapped me in his warmth. Far from being ice, his kiss was sweet and light and breathtakingly beautiful.
A rustling in the trees startled me from my reverie. My eyes fluttered open. I caught movement behind Ivan’s shoulder, and I pulled back as Aroha stepped out of the shadows, a cigarette dangling from her lips.
“Just coming for a smoke,” she sneered, patting her pockets for a lighter. I stiffened as she approached. I thought we were… not friends, exactly, but we had an understanding. That was before she tried to burn my hand.
Ivan narrowed his eyes. “Don’t come near Faye again.”
Aroha laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. She stepped into the shadow of the greenhouse and cupped her hand around her cigarette as she tried to light her smoke. “You think you have power here, Ivan?”
“I do not care what she does to me.” Ivan’s hands balled into fists, and he stepped toward Aroha. I grabbed his arm, and my touch seemed to steady him. Because I knew he spoke the truth – he didn’t care about himself. But Madame Usher knew that – if he stepped out of line, she would go after Elena.
If she isn’t already.
“Whatever.” Aroha finally got her smoke to light. She took a long drag, tossing her head back. “It’s nothing personal, Faye. I gotta survive here just like you, and sometimes that means aligning with a bitch like Heather. Little word of warning – I’d stay away from her. She’s not done with you yet.”
Chapter Fifty-One
Faye
“Students, we have a very special event to mark the end of the term.”
My fork poised halfway to my mouth. I knew by now that Madame Usher saw her ‘special events’ as new ways to torment me. I didn’t dare glance at any of the Muses – I was sure something in my face would give away the things we’d been doing together in secret.
“Is it another visit from one of your friends in Europe?” Heather asked, her voice high with excitement.
“It’s even better.” I watched through lowered lashes as Madame Usher passed a gold-lined envelope to Dorien. He flipped open the flap and drew out a fancy-looking invitation, his. “Harrison has left for the city to post a hundred of these invitations to my most influential friends in the business, including all your parents. We’re to host a little party here at Manderley.”
Dorien’s fingers slipped, and the paper dropped into his soup. Madame Usher didn’t seem to notice.
“I’m pleased with the progress you’ve made this year, and I want to show you all off. There will be many important people – conductors, producers, patrons, journalists – for you to impress. Master Radcliffe, perhaps you could make suggestions for the program.”
“Certainly.” The Master beamed at each of his students in turn, seemingly unaware of the tension crackling around the table. “Heather and Elena, you’ll each perform sonatas. Elena and Ivan should tackle the Liszt piece they’ve been working on. Dorien and Faye, I’d like you to perform the composition Faye has written. Titus, Aroha, Faye, and Elena will delight with some Beethoven, and then we will finish with the world premiere of my newest concerto.” His shoulders squared with pride. “I have the sheet music ready. You shall start learning it today.”
Heather dominated the conversation about the party, gushing over the Master’s choices. Madame Usher offered Aroha a grant from her husband’s endowment fund to pay for her parents’ flights from New Zealand. I noticed no mention was made of doing the same for Elena and Ivan.
I escaped as fast as I could to the safety of the deserted Red Room. It wasn’t safe for long. Elena let herself into my private practice, choosing the seat by the window again. There was no trace of the broken girl hiding in the shadows this time. She smiled as I played through my parts of Radcliffe’s concerto until I was certain I had them perfect.
I set down my violin. “Why are you here? Did Madame Usher or Heather send you?”
Elena opened her mouth, as if to speak, then snapped her it shut. Instead, she shook her head.
I advanced, hands on hips, looming over her. “Then why?”
Elena’s eyes widened with fright as she stared up at me. No, not at me.Behind me. I whirled around.
The door hung open. Elena must’ve forgotten to lock it after she came in. Ivan stood in the frame, his expression stony.
“Elena.” He gestured to her and barked something in Romanian. She shook her head. He repeated the command.
“You are not the boss of me,” she announced in a haughty voice, rising to her feet. She floated across the room to face him, and I was reminded of what he told me in the garden, about their mother being visited by the fairies.
