“No, we wouldn’t want ascene, would we?” He played at straightening one of the gauntlet buttons in his starched white cuff. “Seeing us, claws out, they might think we were monsters in a house of death.”
“Cal.”
“I know. Mustn’t drag the entrails before the guests. At least, not yet.” His ironic smile made her flinch and that vestigial sense of chagrin pecked at him once more. “I’ll behave.”
“Iwon’t.” Odessa strolled in with her gown trailing in her wake, a glass in her hand that his mother glanced at but didn’t remark upon given her own indulgence. “There’s going to be a tour?”
“Of the house,” his mother said. “For the sisters, and whoever else wants to come.” The last part came out as a sigh. She knew better than anyone that forbidding Odessa anything outright was tantamount to an invitation.
Then the meaning of her words sank in. “Sisters? What sisters?”
“My sister. Nadine.” Apparentlyeveryonewas convening in the hallway now, which made him wonder just how much of their conversation Ben had let his wife-to-be overhear. Noelle, standing beside Ben like a pale blonde shadow, gave him a cautious smile. “I keep forgetting, you haven’t met her yet.”
She was wearing a gauzy slip dress that looked like it belonged to his sister. It was tradition for the bride to spend the night in the Unicorn Room, but judging by the marks on her throat, Ben had spent the night flouting tradition the same way Odessa did convention.
Glaring at his sister in reproof, he said, mildly, “If she’s even half as charming as you, I shall look forward to it.”
“Goodness,” Noelle laughed. “You’re so formal, Cal.”
“That’s our Baby Cal,” said Odessa. “Esquire at large, born into the wrong fucking century.”
“I’m not a lawyer, yet.”
“For the love of god, don’t let him talk to her about law school or he’ll bore her to an early grave. I’m so fucking tired of hearing about torts.”
“That’s because you are one.”
Noelle laughed again, before looking to Ben, who hadn’t. At his stony face, she fell silent, clasping her hands in front of her like a chastened girl. But she needn’t have bothered. Ben had just noticed the raven pin, his eyes narrowed like a serpent poised to strike.
“That’s what you’re wearing to my wedding? You look like a pallbearer at a funeral.”
“That’s what he always looks like,” Odessa said helpfully. “Consumptive. Stodgy. Victorian.”
His mother made a vague, editorial cough.
“I think he looks fine,” Noelle said. “His tie matches the roses.” When he turned his glare on her, she smiled and reached up to adjust his tie. “And you look very handsome.”
So it begins, Cal thought wearily as a heavy knock sounded at the front door.
His mother slipped away to answer it and a clamor of voices filled the foyer as people began to spill into the main hall. There was a group of men and women from the historical society and, behind them, a tall and buxom brunette who was hovering at the bottom of the stairs with her arms folded, seemingly oblivious to how the gesture plumped up her decolletage.
Noelle released Ben immediately, racing over to greet her with an embrace that the other woman melted into. Her pale eyes locked with his as she looked over Noelle’s shoulder, widening in a shy and startled way that immediately piqued his interest.
When he smiled at her, she turned as crimson as her dress.
“This is my little sister, Nadine,” Noelle said proudly. “Though she’s not quite so little anymore. She’s taller than me, now.”
“Stop,” Nadine grumbled, batting the other woman’s hand away good-naturedly.
“I’m your new brother-in-law.” Ben stepped forward and grasped her hand so roughly that she winced. “Benjamin Cullraven. I’ve always wanted a little sister—and if you’re half as charming as my wife-to-be, I’m sure we’ll get along very well.”
Noelle looked up, giving Ben a sharp double-take.
“Excuse me,” Odessa said. “Did I die?”
“Ignore her. We do.”
“Let me give you a tour of the house,” his mother said quickly as Odessa opened her mouth again. “You came here at the perfect time. We’ve just had the wallpaper restored—it’s all authentic Victorian, imported from China. That lovely metallic sheen comes from bronze powder.”
