“I’mSatrine,” I whispered.“Thisis my twin sister, and your other daughter, Maxine.They don’t know about theworlds.They think Edgar faked your suicide.You’ve been banished with me toFleuridiafor two decades.Edgar’s going to jail now.We’reliving in a renaissance festival, or more like a Victorian festival, actually,it’skindaboth, but a really good one.And I’ll fillyou in on the rest when we don’t have an audience.”
I swayed back, caught Mom’s eyes, she was staring at me likeI’d lost my mind, and then I announced loudly, “Of course, baths first.”
“Are you okay?”she asked.
“I’m okay if you’re okay,” I answered.“And the rest, we’llsort out later.”
She held my gaze.
Then, thank you God, she slowly nodded before she turned toMaxine and asked softly, “Would you like a bath, my beauty?”
“Yes, Momma,” she answered timidly.
Momma?
Oh.
Of course.
She looked like her mother.
Because she kind of was.
God, this was soeffed up.
“I don’t want her out of my sight,” Mom told me.
“I’ll take care of everything, Countess,” Idina said frombehind me.
Mom’s attention shot back to me, she dipped her chin andmouthed,Countess?
I mouthed back,Go with it.
Out loud I said, “Follow Idina.I’ll get you some food andbring it up.Yes?”
Mom nodded.
I walked out of the room with them, to the staircase, whereI gave them over to Idina, who walked them up the stairs.
I stood at the foot and watched until they were out ofsight.
Quickly, I went back to the sitting room.
“When she’s back to herself, I’ll formally introduce you,” Itold Ansley.
“Of course,” he replied on a slight bow.
I didn’t know how “back to herself” I could make her, sinceshe was three inches shorter than me and twenty-five pounds lighter (maybe nowmore like thirty-five, fucking Edgar) and clothing for rich people was made toorder, and I had a shit-ton to fill her in on without anyone hearing, but I’dfigure that out later.
“I’ll go make us all some tea,” I decided.
“The house servants are still here, my lady,” Loren noted.
Get yourself together, girl.
“Right, right, then I’ll call for some tea.”
I went to the cord Edgar always pulled when he wantedsomething, and I pulled it.
