“Family.” Mariah’s interruption was firm. “To you, that’s all I am.”
The woman’s cheeks flushed. She adjusted her baby on her hip, gaze dancing between them. “I’m sorry,” she repeated. “I know we’ve never met. But Gabriel has told me so much about you. You left home so young, but I hope you know how much he looked up to you.”
Emotion burned in Andrian’s throat. “I’m sure whatever Gabriel told you was exaggerated. He’s a bit of an idealist.”
The woman smiled softly. “He might be,” she said, “but he wasn’t lying when he said I would know you by your eyes.”
Warmth crawled up Andrian’s neck. “It’s a little embarrassing that you know so much about me, and all I know about you is that you’re married to my brother.”
The woman froze, then blanched. “Oh, by the goddess!” she exclaimed, free hand covering her mouth. Balancing her son on her hip, she dipped into an awkward curtsy, wobbling slightly. “I’m Claire. And this is my son, Nicolas.” She lifted her gaze. “Your nephew.”
“Don’t do that.” Andrian moved before he spoke, softly gripping Claire’s elbow and pulling her to her feet. “Like Mariah said, we’re family.”
Claire’s cheeks flushed again. “You know that means little in our world.”
“Then it’s a good thing we’re not in that world anymore, isn’t it?”
Claire whirled at Mariah’s words, again looking flustered as she bounced Nicolas on her hip. She regarded Mariah with those wide, open eyes, throat bobbing as if she were trying to decide what to say.
“Why don’t you both come in,” she finally said, stepping back toward her open door. “I don’t have much, but I can make some tea, if you’d like?”
Mariah smiled. “Tea would be lovely.”
They followed Claire into the cottage. The scent of fresh bread and cinnamon greeted them, the cool mountain air blowing through the few open windows chasing away the heat from the simple hearth. Andrian blinked in surprise; it was unusual for a lady of Claire’s station to be comfortable living so domestically or to know how to cook at all. He remembered Gabriel saying she was from Tolona, but beyond that…
“Where are you from, Claire?” Mariah must’ve been thinking the same thing, her question clear in the small room. He glanced at her, catching her stare and her smirk.
“Your thoughts aren’t exactly quiet, you know.”
Oh.“I truly have no more privacy, then?”
“Don’t act so put-out, Armature. You’re not fooling anyone.”
He couldn’t stop his grin.Fine.
Claire set Nicolas down on a mat near the hearth, toys and blankets spread around him, before turning to her simple kitchen. She set a kettle filled with water on the stove and pulled three pewter mugs from a cabinet. Mariah lingered in the middle of the room, attention divided between the lady making tea and her infant cooing softly on the floor.
Something in Andrian’s chest tightened. He knew what being an Onitan queen meant; everyone knew. It made sense that carrying the grace of a goddess would change more than just someone’s soul, but their physical body as well.
Mariah had certainly never been the motherly type. But what if there was a part of her that mourned a future she would simply never have?
“I’m sorry.”
She turned, head tilting.“For what?”
Andrian’s gaze slid quickly to Nicolas, then back to Mariah. He said nothing else down the bond; she would understand.
Her brow furrowed.“That?—”
“My family is from Tolona.” They both started at Claire’s voice, turning back to the kitchen with sheepish faces. The lady didn’t notice, busy spooning tea leaves into the mugs. “My father was a merchant who did a lot of business with Idrix. He met Lord Laurent through a business venture with Lord Cordaro and brought me to Antoris with him on one of his trips. I knew the purpose in bringing me was to meet Lord Laurent’s younger son, but…” She flushed again, tucking a strand of red-gold hairbehind her ear. “When I met Gabriel, I didn’t mind it so much. He was always so kind to me.”
“You were lucky,” Andrian said softly. “Matches like yours aren’t always so well-suited.”
“I know. I thank the goddess every day.”
Mariah winced slightly but said nothing.
“Until the venture with the Royals, my father was…less than fortunate in his business.” It was Claire’s turn to grimace. “My upbringing was vastly different from most ladies who might marry into a Royal house. But it’s why Gabriel knew he could send me away if he needed to.” Those wide brown eyes lifted, filled with a steady grit that shocked Andrian. “I am more than capable of taking care of myself and my son, if necessary.”
