Chapter 39

An hour or so later, Lysandra stood in front of her mirror, wearing the dress Ismene had spoken of. She examined it on herself: a bright purple gown, the fabric smooth and flawless. The color was deep and dark, like an abyssal pool. If she could just reach for the mirror, step into it, she might be able to fall down into that pool and never come back up.

"Remiel will be here soon," Ismene said. "His family, too. Why don't you go downstairs and wait for them!"

"Sure." Lysandra turned away from the mirror. She cast a glance at the window once before leaving the room and saw the same melancholy clouds that had gathered over the horizon since the day she had met with Cale. And it had yet to rain.

She perched on the edge of a chair in the living room and waited. Vasu rushed out the door to open the gates for the Collingwoods, and Nereus came into the room to stand beside her. He didn't say anything for a long moment.

"Lysandra." His voice finally split the silence.

Lysandra glanced up at him. "Yes?"

"You don't have to go to this meeting." He began to wring his hands.

"Don't do that," she said, gesturing to his twisting hands. "You need your hands to do your work, don't you?"

"You've left before. Why don't you just go now?" Nereus suggested. "I'd go with you. I could help."

Lysandra shook her head. "I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"I promised Ismene." She fought to keep her voice steady. She worried that it might break, or that she might start shouting, shouting something at him about how she could never run away with him, not the way he wanted to.

"No," he said, "Ismene promised you. She promised you to him."

"Wrong again," Lysandra answered. "That was my father's doing."

"Forgive me," Nereus said.

"I will." She looked him straight in the eye. "But only if you promise never to mention this again."

Nereus held her gaze for a moment before looking away. "Fine," he sighed. "I won't mention it again."

He swept through the room and exited the front door, following Vasu. Lysandra stared at the floor, dreading the following confrontation with Dragon - with Remiel Collingwood. Maybe he would decide not to show up. Maybe she could go back to her father's cell and tell him that Remiel wasn't right for her, and that he should call it off.

The door opened, and Vasu and Nereus reentered, accompanied by Remiel and his mother, the Lady Collingwood. Lysandra stood up from her chair. Remiel crossed the room and took her hand.

"Lysandra Ferry. A pleasure to see you again," he said with a wink. "I was worried something had happened to you. Your servant Ms. Carme here told me you weren't feeling well."

"Indeed," Lysandra answered. "I am sorry you had to turn back from your long trip here."

"Oh, it is no problem," Remiel answered. "It was an honest pleasure to be able to speak with your servants while I was here. But, I must admit, seeing you would be most superior."

Lysandra forced herself to keep a straight face. According to Remiel today, nothing was a big deal, nothing was a problem. Either he was trying to make a move, or he had taken a shot of one of those expensive drugs that made everything seem pleasant.

"So your brother decided not to come on that long trip here today?" Lysandra asked, smiling at him. The expression made her face feel tight.

"Ryder really has no business here," Remiel said.

"He will be my brother-in-law someday, if all of this goes through," Lysandra reminded him.

"But he will not live with us. What difference does it make? Anyway," Remiel said with a smirk, "it will go through. There is no 'if,' I should hope." He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. She held her breath.

"Remiel, Lysandra - Ms. Carme says we are to go to the dining room now," Lady Collingwood called out. "Come this way."

"Let me escort you," Remiel said, stepping in front of Lysandra and offering her his hand.

"I believe I know the way to my own dining room," Lysandra said. She raised an eyebrow.

"Let me escort you anyway," Remiel answered with a grin.

"Fair enough." Lysandra took his hand, and together they walked through the entryway and into the dining room.