Chapter 13: Marriage Talk

Now that I was ready, I felt at a loss. But not for long. Within moments of stepping into my elaborate shoes, Clara swung the door open and ushered us both out.

Kate and the maids left before me. I held back, wanting a moment alone with Sass before I exited. I softly closed the door behind the chattering women and turned toward the bed. He was up, watching me, tail twitching slightly where it curled around his front paws.

"There's something not right about Samuel." It was still troubling me and I needed someone to talk it out with. "I'm sure I felt power from him last night and yet Kate claims he has none."

Sassafras shook his head, silver fur shimmering in the sunlight. "Burdie," he said. "Go to the party. Have some fun. Come back. That's your evening. End of discussion."

He drove me to such fury I wanted to attack him with a pillow. "Did you hear me?" I suddenly felt very ineffectual dressed as I was. I, for one, would never take anyone in this elaborate garb seriously. I could hardly blame Sassafras. "Sass, the warnings about the police. Now Samuel and his supposed lack of power. What if he's involved with whatever Jack is running from?"

"You are grasping for trouble where none exists." He sighed and turned his back on me. "Just go. And whatever you do, please, please, stay out of trouble."

He curled up again, patently ignoring me further. I fumed, certain my face was at least the color of my hair by the time I spun on my fancy heel and marched to the door. I jerked it wide and gasped out loud, my anger replaced by shock.

Hugh stood on the other side, looking very pale and a little shaky. "Forgive me," he said, voice squeaking. He cleared his throat with much discomfort. "Are you all right?"

I must have looked odd with the last of my temper draining from my face and my mouth hanging open from the start he'd given me.

"Fine, thank you." I wanted to exit, but he simply stood there, watching me, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed once, twice. "Was there something?"

He started himself as if I'd prodded him with something sharp. "You look beautiful."

I flushed slowly, hating that I found his awkwardness so embarrassing and hoping he didn't take the blush the wrong way. "I feel ridiculous."

He shook his head in haste. "No, not at all." He swallowed again, fine beads of sweat standing out on his forehead. He dabbed at them with a glove, staring again.

Before I could be rude, which seemed the next logical step in this conversation, he blurted, "Please save me a dance," before spinning and half running down the hall to the stairs. He tripped part way, swore softly, before disappearing around the corner.

I sighed and leaned against the door jam.

I heard an echoing one from behind me. "Oh dear."

I didn't bother looking back at Sassafras, but I agreed with him completely. I was right. My little bits of kindness had been enough to convince him I might feel more than I did. How was I to convince him otherwise without hurting him just like his own family did?

"Just be nice," Sass said as I forced myself to leave the room. "And try not to trample all over the poor boy's heart if you can manage it."

"Bloody hell," I shot back.

The walk to the staircase felt like a death march. I reached the top of the stairs and glanced down with growing trepidation but, to my relief, Hugh wasn't there. Georgina spotted me and waved me on.

"Oh my dear." She hugged and kissed me before twirling me around to have a look. "You are the very vision of your mother, only more beautiful, if that is possible." She sighed happily and kissed my cheek again. "Now, we must hurry. Bernard and Hugh have already gone on in the first hansom. We don't want to be too far behind them."

Relief then, and a reprieve if only for the time it took us to reach our destination. I vowed to find a corner in which to hide and avoid Hugh at all costs if only to spare the both of us the discomfort of his inevitable disappointment.

The carriage ride was vocal for my hostess and near silent for Kate and I as Georgina rambled on and on about her days with my mother and all the parties they attended together.

"Thad had the most outrageous sense of humor," Georgina giggled. "Always teasing the fellows, inviting them into our hansom only to grill them on politics while flirting until they blushed." Georgina's chest jiggled up and down, straining against her bodice, as she laughed silently, fighting for air.

I found myself quite amused and often snorted at some of her admissions, filing them away for later conversations with Mum.

Georgina finally smiled at Kate and patted her hand. "I was lucky enough to meet my husband at the Prince's Ball," she said. "Bernard was quite smitten from the moment his eyes fell on me, from what he says. I can only hope my dear Kate can find a suitable match to advance her own station."

That surprised me. "What marriage could possibly advance her station beyond coven leader?" I tried to grasp the importance of it and failed miserably.

Georgina tittered a little laugh. "Social standing, Burdie, dear. Not coven standing."

I felt Kate flinch next to me and wondered if the girl agreed with her mother.

Naturally, it annoyed the hell out of me and I found myself speaking when I should have kept my mouth shut. "Is it not more important to become educated, to further the family magic and find an equal in power for balance in the coven?"

Georgina laughed and patted my knee. "You sound just like Thaddea," she said.

"Is Bernard not a witch?" I'd felt his magic, was sure he had power.

"Oh yes, of course, dear," Georgina said. "But he's also a count. I was but a lady and held the family title. That fell to Samuel when I married Bernard. An excellent trade."

My stomach rolled over. The calculated coldness of it left me ill. "What about the royal family?" I obviously knew far less than I thought. "Are they witches as well?"

"Heavens, no." Georgina looked at me as if it was the very worse thing that could ever possibly happen.

Kate's quiet voice interrupted. "They do know of us, though," she said. "And it's been our task for centuries to protect them. The Inquisition did their part to try to put an end to our influence with the monarchs and nobility, but we were too well-sheltered."

I shuddered and hugged myself. The Salem witch trials happened on my continent during that horrible time. And the fall of the Inquisition itself was only half a century ago. All witches feared the return of such persecution.

"However did we get onto such a terrible topic?" Georgina waved her hands as if her magic could clear the dark cloud hovering over us. Oddly, it worked. "Katherine darling, I hope you'll take Burdie under your wing and introduce her to your friends."

Kate didn't hesitate, rushing to speak. "Of course, Mother."

The hansom slowed, stopped. I looked out the window, spotted a stunning mansion at the top of a rise, the gate we were just passing through. A long line of carriages slowly fed ahead of us, ejecting one colorfully dressed lady after another sharply attired gentleman.

By the time it was our turn, my stomach was uncomfortable for an entirely different reason.

Kate grabbed my hand and squeezed. "Ready?"

Why did she look as nervous as I did? There was no time for answers. The door swung open and I stepped out.

***