“I know you’re not a Demarr.”
Straight to the point.
I sighed. “Lute, bring the painting from my office.”
“The large or the small one, my lady?”
“Both.”
“Yes, my lady.”
I turned back to Arvel. “I’m exactly who I say I am. But I fail to see why it matters to you, my lord.”
He leaned back in his chair. “I would like to know everything there is to know about you, my lady. And I will. Right now, I want to know why you are lying.”
I sighed. “I see you intend to make your interest in me into my problem.”
Lute returned, placed the small painting on the table, and held the larger one up.
I looked at the small painting. On it Griele Demarr hugged a ten-year-old girl who resembled me. Griele’s smile was soft and warm. She didn’t look anything like my mother. My eyes grew hot.
Arvel watched me like a hawk.
Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.“This is my mother and I.”
He looked at the painting. It was a beautiful work of art. I had no idea where Solentine had found the artist on such short notice.
I nodded at the bigger painting. “These are my parents and my brother.”
Arvel stared at the painting. In it Brune and Griele Demarr sat in chairs, while Rumian and I, both adults, stood behind them in our family colors.
“This proves nothing.”
“Would you like to see the official papers? Perhaps my Demarr family crest?”
“Papers can be forged, and I doubt the Demarrs have a shortage of crests.”
“This is bordering on rude, my lord. I had a long and eventful night. I’m tired. You show up first thing in the morning and demand the proof of my lineage without any justification for it.”
“I’ve never heard of Brune and Griele Demarr having a daughter.”
“I can’t help that you are poorly informed.”
He leaned forward. “You don’t look like your parents.”
Clover gasped behind me.
He glanced at her.
“It’s all right, Clover. He didn’t hurt my feelings.” I glanced at Arvel. “I was adopted at the age of nine.”
Arvel drew back slightly.Yes, you were inexcusably rude.
“Do you have any other pointed insights to offer, my lord, or can we conclude this meeting?”
“I don’t know what Solentine has on you, but I will find out and I will free you of it.”
“Solentine is the best cousin I could ever wish for. He is caring and protective, and he respects my freedom and independence.”
