“Call me whenever you need to make use of it. We have a pilot on call for such things,” Celine explained. “He can be ready to fly on short notice.”
Shock made her stare at Celine.
“What about your husband? Wouldn’t he—”
“Don’t worry, I know how to handle my husband,” Celine told her. “I’ve had a lot of practice over the years.”
Valerie took the card, pocketing it quickly before the older woman changed her mind.
Celine glanced at where she’d placed it in her dress. After a brief moment of silence, she regarded Valerie carefully and said, “Considerthatthe end of your engagement to Gabriel. I don’t want you anywhere near my son. It has nothing to do with you, you understand, Valerie? In fact, I quite like you. It has everything to do with…everything else.”
Madame Allegria. Everton. Their family’s lineage and money. What was expected in society. The future of their company.
Celine Larchmont, when plotting out her son’s future, had never accounted for Valerie.
Valerie would deal with the fallout of the failed engagement later. Her priority would be getting Dravka, Tavak, and Ravu off Everton before Madame Allegria ever learned of this.
“And what about that?” Valerie asked, gesturing to the Blue Light drive, still in Celine’s grip.
Celine’s lips pressed together. “I haven’t decided yet. It is an intoxicating thing, to have one of Everton’s most powerful citizens under one’s heel.”
Valerie took a shuddering breath in.
“Will you give me a few days?” Valerie asked quietly. “Before you announce anything about the engagement, before you informher? It’ll give me enough time to get them off Everton.”
Celine frowned. “You aren’t going with them? Ravu said—”
“I can’t,” Valerie said, thinking of the tracker imbedded in her shoulder. If Valerie went with them, Madame Allegria would follow. She always would. She didn’t want to think of the consequences whenthathappened.
Celine looked at her carefully. Finally, she nodded. “I’ll give you a few days before I force her to retract the engagement in the Gazette.”
A small reprieve.
“Thank you,” Valerie said, inclining her head, rounding the desk as Celine started towards the door.
Valerie walked her outside into the pleasant night air. The breeze was warm, another sign that summer had almost arrived at the Programmers’ discretion.
“The private vessel can’t go far,” Celine murmured once they stepped outside. “But it will take them as far as Nimida.”
The Nimida colony was a transport hub, one that catered to all beings from all corners of the universe. If the Keriv’i reached there, they could easily catch transport to the Second Quadrant. From there, Dumera was in reach.
Valerie nodded, seeing a driverless car waiting at the end of the walkway, idling at the curb. Celine must’ve called one before she came downstairs.
“Good luck,” Celine said, surprising Valerie when she reached forward and squeezed on her hand.
The woman turned, walking forward a few steps, her high heels clicking on the pathway.
“Celine!” Valerie called out.
The blonde turned, quirking a perfect brow.
Valerie blew out a small breath, not quite sure what she wanted to say.
“Your night garden really is beautiful. I’m sorry I didn’t get to see more of it,” she said softly, inclining her head to the woman who would’ve been her mother-in-law.
The smile that Celine gave her was possibly the most genuine one she’d ever seen from her. Something passed between them. An understanding, one that went beyond Everton, beyond the situation they had both found themselves in.
A simple understanding.
