If I am to do as Eivor requests—no, demands—I need to get into the Dresvanni estate.
What information could he possibly want? Something to undermine the marriage—or something to make it less likely that the Dresvannis will pull out of the marriage?
I have a feeling the information Eivor Fiorelli wants is anything he can use against the Dresvannis. Anything to get and keep the upper-hand.
My attention is caught as Eivor walks into the room.
“My, my. You look beautiful, my precious niece,” he says with a big smile and walks over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
Rosalie’s body language changes completely. Before she stood with a straight back, head held high, and unafraid to say what she thought about the dress. Now her shoulders move up closer to her ears, she leans forward a bit, and I can tell she’s chewing on the inside of her cheek.
“Thank you, Uncle,” she says with a small smile. Her voice is softer and more timid.
“What would you liked changed about the dress?” the seamstress asks. “What would make it feel more you?”
“Change? Are you kidding? This is a beautiful gown. I’ve never seen you look so good, you’re glowing, Rosalie baby.” Eivor rubs her bare shoulders and moves closer to her, looking at her in one of the mirrors.
“Well…” Rosalie clears her throat. “There’s one or two things I’d change.”
Eivor moves around to look at her from the front and takes a step back. “I can’t see what, but anything for my Princess.” He grins at her.
She smiles again and nods. “It’s not much, I promise.”
“I know you’ll do me proud,” he says while waving his hands around. “This is going to be the wedding that changes the family for good.”
Patricia coughs a little. “You’re forgetting our wedding, Dear, aren’t you?”
Eivor laughs. “Of course not! Of course. What a day that was; I could never forget,” he says as he walks over and sits down next to his wife. I watch him take her hand and kiss it.
The seamstress is picking and plucking at the dress with her pins.
Nikolas is looking incredibly disinterested in the conversation as a whole. His presence is completely unremarkable. Eivor seems far less interested in the young man’s life than he is with Rosalie’s…
It’s only one in the afternoon. I have a feeling it’s going to be a very long day.
“A drink, darling,” Eivor tells Patricia as he lets go of her hand.
I see the woman’s smile falter, but she keeps it up and nods. She gets up and gets him a glass of whiskey from the nearby cabinet.
“Bring the bottle over,” he insists.
Rosalie looks behind her shoulder. “How was Alessio this morning?” she asks me.
“Ah,” Eivor seems to scold her. “Don’t question the man, he’s working. Besides, we don’t need to hear abouthimright now. This is all about you.”
I start to zone out, though I shouldn’t. The conversation is dull and I could not care less. Besides there’s nothing dangerous to be on the look out for.
At least, I think.
Then again, things are too quiet. Too pleasant.
Since I’ve been here, there’s been very few things to actually protect Rosalie from. You’d think they’d have more enemies. I know of the conflict they had with the Dresvannis—this marriage is meant to solve it—but what of their allies who disagree with the marriage?
While I’m thinking about this, the ring of the doorbell catches my attention.
“I’ve got it,” Nikolas insists.
“Were you expecting a package?” Patricia asks. I’m not sure who she’s asking.
