“Consider it a favor,” I said as we wound down the grand staircase and into a room I’d only peered into before. The ballroom was tucked away on the far right side of the estate, and I hadn’t much use for an empty, lavish place like that. The marble floors glittered, and sea glass and silver chandeliers created a beautiful juxtaposition to the black tables and chairs surrounding the main dance floor. Wide windows showcased the sprawling emerald meadows with hints of the crystalline bay creeping into view.
The preparation was underway, and other staff drifted by, all of them moving with a calm sort of precision given their expertise.
Maribella strode over to the nearest round table and placed the stack of cream linens down. “Now, you go. Get prepared for tonight. This whole party is in your honor.”
“Would it be terrible if I skipped out?” I teased, even though I sorely wanted to. My stomach flip-flopped at taking the step to making this engagement that much more real.
Maribella shook her head, an impish grin on her lips. “You won’t want to. Jacques snuck in your favorite crab soup, just for you.”
“Oh, the guilt card,” I said. “How did you know my weakness?”
“You’re too kind, Elrich,” Maribella said, her eyes softening. “Don’t think we aren’t aware of how you’ve made an effort to get to know each of us. It’s appreciated.”
My chest squeezed tight. I’d tried to form connections back at the Durand Estate, but whenever I got attached, my parents would use the person as a bargaining chip when I didn’t conform to what they wanted. However, the Tritons didn’t seem to need the same ironclad control over me. Maybe here, I could make the friends I’d always wanted.
“Thank you,” I said, skimming my fingers through my hair. “I suppose I’ll see you at the engagement party.”
“We’ll be watching out for you,” she said with a wink, and then she began to place the tablecloths over the rounds. I sucked in a breath and took my leave, heading over to the doorway.
The nervous energy inside me hadn’t abated, but I had no outlet, so I strode into the kitchen and stepped out to the balcony. The bay glittered before me, but all I could see was those moonlight waves as Ursuline and I had soared through the water the other night. My heart thrummed at the reminder, and the reality that in a few short hours I’d be publicly pledging myself to another twisted my gut.
I hadn’t seen Ursuline around all day. Would they even show up to this? The Triton family didn’t need their lawyer to bear witness to our engagement party. I wasn’t sure if I’d rather they attend or prefer they didn’t.
The idea of seeing them while celebrating my engagement sent a sharp shard through my chest.
The salt-soaked air offered a small comfort, and I basked in it for a little longer, the sun seeping through the layers of myclothing, all the way to my skin. I wasn’t sure how long I stood there, staring out at the bay, but I lost myself in the dreamy blue.
A rap on the glass behind me snapped me to attention. I whirled around to see the last two people I wanted to face.
My gut sank.
The door opened, and my father and mother stood in view. I could feel their criticism from here.
“What are you doing?” Angus asked, his voice sharp. “You look disheveled.”
My mother tutted and beckoned me into the house.
“You showed up early,” I said, disappointed. I’d been hoping for a little more time, hoping the party would be underway once they arrived and I could avoid them more easily.
The coolness of the estate slithered over me, along with the unease. My parents hadn’t reached out once since they’d bartered me off. Not a single call. Not even a message. And now I’d have to face them alone.
The silence between us spoke volumes. Of blood that had never formed a family. Of a discomfort we shared.
“Am I interrupting anything?” Arielle asked, stepping into the kitchen. Unlike before, she now wore a seafoam-green chiffon dress that looked ethereal but sparkled with gemstones in the beading of the bodice. Her copper hair was in glossy waves down her back, and the makeup she’d applied made her features pop, her skin flawless. She had a natural beauty that was guaranteed to make admirers flock to her, and she transformed into elegance and class with ease.
“Oh, of course not,” my mother tittered, slipping her mask on in front of one of the Triton family. The tension lessened since Arielle was here, and I grasped onto the lifeline she offered with all my might.
“Are you ready to head into the ballroom?” I asked, hoping this wouldn’t be another point where she jetted off on her own agenda.
Arielle swept into an effortless curtsy, the epitome of grace. If I were someone who’d ever fit into society, she’d be the perfect wife. Pretty, affable, and content with living the rest of her life in secret, she blended with this lifestyle more than I’d first realized.
Unlike me.
I offered my arm, and she accepted. We gave my parents a nod before I escorted her down the hallway to take the long route to the ballroom.
The second we were out of earshot, she leaned in. “They’re dreadful, aren’t they?”
A laugh escaped me. Maybe this wouldn’t be the end of the world. As much as I hated the situation, Arielle wasn’t cruel, and she at least had a lighter spirit that could pull me out of these tense situations. Even if I craved more. “There’s no love lost there.”
