“Gosh, it’s been ages seen we’ve seen you!” Tori said, wrestling me into a hug.
“I missed you, Amarante,” Genevieve said. She looked lovelier than ever in a satin gown of sea foam green. It appeared that Cedric hadn’t failed to notice, judging from the way he was staring at her.
I felt tears spring to my eyes. “I missed you too. And you, Tori, along with the rest of your family.”
Tori squinted. “Are you crying? It’s only been a week, for goodness sake.”
“It felt much, much longer than a week,” I muttered, quickly blinking away the moisture.
“How are Theodora and Rowena doing?” Genevieve asked, taking a seat next to me.
“They’re still sick,” I said. “I think it’ll be a while before they recover. Maybe until the end of the Season.”
My stepsister furrowed her brow. “That’s awful. I ought to go back with you.”
I shook my head profusely. “You really shouldn’t. The replacement cook stepmother hired is struggling. I don’t think she’ll be able to handle an additional person.”
“Alright. Should I write them, then?”
“No need! I’ll pass on your regards,” I said.
Tori squeezed in between me and Olivia. “When you were gone, Prince Ash sent you a bunch of letters,” she said with a suggestive look.
I cringed. “Did he?” It then occurred to me that I hadn’t given Ash an excuse for my absence.
“That’s right. After the fifth letter I had to write a note saying you weren’t there. I bet that’s why he’s looking so mopey.”
Ash was looking mopey. He was still behind the fig tree, but Samantha had approached him. No doubt she was trying some last-minute flattery before the Masquerade Ball.
“You should go to him,” Genevieve said.
I blushed in spite of myself. “I don’t feel like getting up.”
“Oh, excuses, excuses,” Tori said. She pulled me out of my seat. I threw a panicked glance at Narcissa. She was still conversing. The duchess was nowhere to be found. I trembled to think what she would do if she found out I defied her daughter.
“No, really. I would much rather stay here,” I said, easing myself out of Tori’s grasp, which proved to be no easy task. Her fingers were like steel.
“Come on, Amarante! I never took you for a coward,” she said.
Our movement must’ve caused some disturbance, for Ash turned and caught my eye again. This time his brows raised in recognition and he excused himself from Samantha. I held back a groan as I sat back down.
“We’ll step aside for a moment,” Tori whispered loudly. She took Olivia by the arm, leaving Cedric to take Genevieve. It seemed like her matchmaking skills weren’t wasted during my absence.
I frowned at their retreating forms as I became increasingly aware of the princely figure approaching me. I didn’t look at him until he cleared his throat.
“Amarante,” Ash said.
“Hello.” I rose, and feeling Narcissa’s glare, curtsied to avoid her gaze.
Ash looked thrown off at the sudden formality. I wanted to give him an apologetic look but found I couldn’t meet his gaze either.
“You look nice,” he said, clearing his throat again.
“Thank you. It’s a rental.”
“I wasn’t talking about the dress.”
I felt another blush crawl to my cheeks. “Would you like to sit?”
