Page 84 of Aurelia

When he saw that she wasn’t going to respond, he collected the cards he’d thrown down and resumed organizing them.

After a moment, he said, “It is true that Arthur does not care for me. I think he believes that I usurped his place with my father. Before I came along it was just the two of them. I think he resents the attention the earl gives me. I daresay he would be just as jealous of Celsa if she and the earl were not so constantly at odds.”

Aurelia thought his words had a ring of truth.

“It is nice that Lady Celsa has Arthur for a champion,” she said, picking up her cards and ordering them in her hands. When he did not answer, she looked up. “You don’t think Arthur is good for her?”

“I do not think his treatment does her any favors.” He paused and looked up from his hand. “Perhaps I am doing him a disservice, but sometimes I think he feeds on her isolation and friction with my father because that way she will always be closer to him.”

Aurelia certainly hoped that was not true. “What makes you think that?”

He shrugged. “Just something I overheard once.”

Aurelia waited for more, but after a minute realized he wasn’t going to share what it was that he’d heard. “What do you think will happen after this crab incident?”

“I don’t know. But I doubt it will be pleasant for Celsa.

***

When Aurelia opened the door to her room a few hours later it was to find Celsa sitting on the bench in front of her dresser, trying on Aurelia’s favorite pair of earrings.

“I’m sorry,” Celsa said, immediately pulling them from her ears. “I didn’t mean to snoop. I just got so bored waiting for you.” Her habitual scowl settled over her face. ‘You were downstairs playing cards with Guustin, I take it?”

Celsa’s jealousy of Guustin was far less unnerving now that Aurelia knew the two were not blood relatives. But she still felt sorry for the girl as it was clear that Guustin viewed her as a sister, not a romantic partner.

“Why did you put a crab in Miss Hatchet’s bed?”

“She is so desperate for companionship, I thought she would enjoy some time with one of her own kind.”

“Why now? Did she say or do something in particular?”

The girl’s face darkened. “It doesn’t matter, does it? My father is going to punish me regardless of my reasons.” A sly, unpleasant smile took control of her face. “The Hatchet will be punished too because my father is sending her away.”

Aurelia unfastened her pearls and set them in her small jewelry case. “It is unkind of you to take pleasure in her dismissal. The world is hard enough for women without other women making it more difficult.”

Celsa rolled her eyes. “The world should be hard for a venomous snake like her.”

Aurelia sighed.

“You sigh and look disapproving, but you did not like her either, did you?”

Aurelia unscrewed her earrings and ignored the girl’s question.

“You are only asking about her. Don’t you care what will happen to me?” Celsa demanded.

“Of course, I care. Are you banned from riding until you are old and gray?”

Celsa snorted. “I am to be sent away to school in the spring.”

“Oh. Well, that’s not so bad.” Aurelia thought it was a very good idea, but she knew Celsa would not appreciate hearing that.

“Ha! What do you know about it? Were you forced to go to school?”

“I went for one year.” And it had been one of the most enjoyable periods of her life, although she had missed her sisters and brother terribly.

“You probably enjoyed it because you were popular. Everyone will hate me and make fun of me because I am a yokel.”

Aurelia laughed.