Mother is hostingdinner at my childhood home tonight. While I’m happy to have the opportunity to see Neris again and pretend that not much else has changed since my marriage, I dread it. Lady Mari Pendry, my mother-in-law, effervesces with overenthusiastic charisma as she exchanges polite air kisses with Mother. Her straight blond hair curls slightly at her temples, softening the sharp angles of her face and prominent point of her chin. Her gown is the color of a robin’s egg, complementing her peachy complexion and bringing out the soft blue of her eyes.
Lord Aled Pendry is an older version of Gruffud with sleek dark hair and stormy eyes. He greets Mother next, kissing the back of her hand with practiced courtesy. I smile at Mother, though her caramel eyes regard me with little warmth. Her slender fingers grasp my shoulders and squeeze with surprising firmness as she lowers her head to press her cheek against mine. A greeting fit for an acquaintance rather than her own flesh and blood.
As I step back into line with my new family, I catch Neris making a swift escape up the staircase. She doesn’t even look our way, which is so unlike her. My logic slips through my fingers asI step forward to go after her. Gruffud slings his arm across my lower back, his hand catching my hip. I stop, my eyes flicking to him, and his brow lifts in a question.
“Apologies,” I say, my voice hushed. “May I be excused? I just need to … powder my nose.” I can keep up appearances as well as any daughter of Rhosyn, but lying is absolutely not my strength.
Still, Gruffud releases me. He drops a kiss on my temple, murmuring, “Don’t take too long,” and it feels like a threat more than anything.
I nod and excuse myself, ignoring Mother’s questioning look. I’m on my way to the staircase when I spot Arionna in front of it. Intricate braids weave around her head, decorated with tiny golden beads. The corset beneath her sapphire dress has cinched her waist so tightly that her breasts are practically hoisted up to her chin. It’s a wonder she can even breathe—Ican hardly breathe in my corset, which is considerably looser. Arionna is absolutely stunning as always. Her confidence in her body is a constant source of envy for me, but she’s lost her mind if she thinks Mother would approve of such inappropriate attire for a highborn daughter of Lord Eurig Davies.
A dull ache settles into my chest at the thought of Father.
“Little sister,” Arionna says with a mischievous smirk.
“Hello, Arionna. You look lovely.” I respond.
“Thank you, and you look …” She reaches out to the neckline of my dress and tugs it down, exposing my cleavage.
“Arionna!” I hiss through my teeth as I tug my neckline back up.
She smirks and steps around me, moving to greet the Pendrys. I heave a sigh and hurry up the grand staircase. I make my way to what used to be my old bedroom—now Neris’s new room—where a framed painting is nailed to the door. In the painting, a waterfall cascades over a mountain, flowing into a winding river with lustrous waters. A rainbow reflects throughthe beams of sunlight. A smile tugs my lips up as my fingertips settle over the familiar brushstrokes.
Mother had scoffed at this painting, declaring that it didn’t portray reality. That such a sight couldn’t truly exist in nature. But the idea for this particular painting had come to me in a dream. Many of them do.
I knock on the door beneath the ornately carved frame. “It’s me, Winnie,” I say.
No response comes from inside, but Neris’s footsteps approach before the door swings open. I’m left staring at her retreating back. Odd.
“Neris?”
She glances over her shoulder at me. Loose blond coils are plastered to her face where beads of sweat have formed. Her hand is white knuckled around an ivory, wide-tooth comb.
“Are you alright?” I ask.
“Yes. I just—” She lets out a harsh breath. “One of the servants fell ill and there was no one else to fill in with the dinner preparations.”
My lips tug down, and heat spreads across my chest. “Did Mother askyou?—”
“Winnie, drop it,” Neris interrupts. Her voice only has the slightest edge to it. “Lady Rhosyn is not my mother. We both know that my adoption was unofficial; your mother can summon me to do servants’ work whenever she pleases. Besides, I do enjoy baking.” The smile on her pretty face is almost believable. She drops onto the stool of her vanity and swivels to face the mirror. Setting down her comb, she lifts a silken handkerchief to blot her face.
My steps are quick as I make my way toward her. I run the comb through her hair, pinning it in places to keep the curls out of her eyes. Then I withdraw rouge from her drawer and brushsome lightly over her forehead and the apples of her cheeks. Her eyes are uncharacteristically glossy. My stomach drops a bit.
“Neris? You’re not feeling … unwell, are you?” I envision her on the ground, shaking uncontrollably.
“I’m fine,” she says, looking away. She blinks rapidly and exhales.
“I’m sorry Mother treats you this way.”
“It isn’t all the time.”
“Still … Father would’ve never allowed it.”
She smiles shakily. “He certainly wouldn’t. By the realms, I miss him.”
I nod and press my hand against my heart as that ache resurfaces. I truly hope he’s alright.
The dinner bell resounds, and my shoulders tense.
