believe you were less charming then, I think you have it backwards! Don’t think for a second that this means we are friends!” I said a little too strongly.
“At least you are speaking to me again. I promise to stay in your good graces, this time. God forbid I have to spend another two years in exile. I don’t know how Monsieur Bonaparte did it on Elba for so long!” he said it with an obnoxious imitation of a French accent and that got another laugh from me. He smiled.
“I knew you couldn’t resist me for long...”
“You are already walking on egg shells, so you might not want to give me a reason to--”
“I promise!” With that we survived the rest of dinner.
I retreated with the rest of the ladies to the drawing room while the men took their brandy in the dining hall. I hoped I would have a chance to talk to Li about her relationship with Leo.
The conversation with my Aunt and Celia dragged on for what felt like an eternity. There was talk of gloves and dinner parties and gossip about people I’d never heard of before. I also thanked my Aunt Emmaline for bringing Fleur to London to be my personal maid.
“You always seemed to have a soft spot for that girl.” Then she finally excused herself to bed. I did the same and hoped that Li would, as well, but she stayed with Celia for a while longer, talking of hats and gloves.
When I got to my room, I washed and changed and after I waited to hear Li knock on my door for some time, I quietly stepped out into the hall and knocked on her door. There was no answer. I let myself in and saw an opened note on her dresser. I picked it up and read:
“ Dearest Li,
I will be early for dinner, meet me in the drawing room so we can be alone? ”
It was signed simply, ‘ LH. ' I still had the note in my hand when I heard her voice behind me. She was not angry, she spoke softly.
“Tam, I wanted you to know, but I wasn’t sure how to tell you...” she said.
“Are you in love with him?” I asked.
She was quiet for a moment, and she walked over to me and we sat together on the bed.
“Are you?” I asked again.
She sighed and said, “Leo has asked for my hand. If my father gives his consent, we will be married.” We were both quiet for a long time. All this time, Leo held onto my handkerchief, but it was Li that he loved, not me.
“I’m so happy for you,” I finally said, and she immediately threw her arms around me, and when I saw her face she was tearing up and I knew that I was right to let it go. I was not really sure of my feelings for Leo.
“Tam, it is the only thing I have ever kept from you, and only because I thought it would upset you.” she said. I realized then that we hadn’t really talked openly since before Paris because we were so caught up in all the excitement. She filled me in on her relationship with Leo and told me that they wrote to one another nearly the entire time we were at school. When she finished the lengthy story, she asked about Eckhardt, and I told her that my Aunt was certain he would ask for my hand. Then I told her about my misgivings and about Julian.
“Well, I will still be with you here until the wedding, at least, and Leo and I agree that we want to take our time, as long as Father agrees.” she said.
“Li, there is no reason why he won’t agree. Leo is a fine man and he is practically family, anyway,” I said and patted her shoulder. I realized then how happy I was for her. She would be avoiding the season almost all together. I wished for my own escape, but at the same time, I was not keen on the idea of wedding Eckhardt. I was equally averse to Julian.
“What will you do if Eckhardt asks for your hand?” she said.
“I’m not sure.” I really did not know what I would say, though my Aunt seemed to think that it would not be long before the proposal arrived.
Chapter 9
That night my dreams were all flashes from that day I lost control of Perseus. I saw myself on the
“At least you are speaking to me again. I promise to stay in your good graces, this time. God forbid I have to spend another two years in exile. I don’t know how Monsieur Bonaparte did it on Elba for so long!” he said it with an obnoxious imitation of a French accent and that got another laugh from me. He smiled.
“I knew you couldn’t resist me for long...”
“You are already walking on egg shells, so you might not want to give me a reason to--”
“I promise!” With that we survived the rest of dinner.
I retreated with the rest of the ladies to the drawing room while the men took their brandy in the dining hall. I hoped I would have a chance to talk to Li about her relationship with Leo.
The conversation with my Aunt and Celia dragged on for what felt like an eternity. There was talk of gloves and dinner parties and gossip about people I’d never heard of before. I also thanked my Aunt Emmaline for bringing Fleur to London to be my personal maid.
“You always seemed to have a soft spot for that girl.” Then she finally excused herself to bed. I did the same and hoped that Li would, as well, but she stayed with Celia for a while longer, talking of hats and gloves.
When I got to my room, I washed and changed and after I waited to hear Li knock on my door for some time, I quietly stepped out into the hall and knocked on her door. There was no answer. I let myself in and saw an opened note on her dresser. I picked it up and read:
“ Dearest Li,
I will be early for dinner, meet me in the drawing room so we can be alone? ”
It was signed simply, ‘ LH. ' I still had the note in my hand when I heard her voice behind me. She was not angry, she spoke softly.
“Tam, I wanted you to know, but I wasn’t sure how to tell you...” she said.
“Are you in love with him?” I asked.
She was quiet for a moment, and she walked over to me and we sat together on the bed.
“Are you?” I asked again.
She sighed and said, “Leo has asked for my hand. If my father gives his consent, we will be married.” We were both quiet for a long time. All this time, Leo held onto my handkerchief, but it was Li that he loved, not me.
“I’m so happy for you,” I finally said, and she immediately threw her arms around me, and when I saw her face she was tearing up and I knew that I was right to let it go. I was not really sure of my feelings for Leo.
“Tam, it is the only thing I have ever kept from you, and only because I thought it would upset you.” she said. I realized then that we hadn’t really talked openly since before Paris because we were so caught up in all the excitement. She filled me in on her relationship with Leo and told me that they wrote to one another nearly the entire time we were at school. When she finished the lengthy story, she asked about Eckhardt, and I told her that my Aunt was certain he would ask for my hand. Then I told her about my misgivings and about Julian.
“Well, I will still be with you here until the wedding, at least, and Leo and I agree that we want to take our time, as long as Father agrees.” she said.
“Li, there is no reason why he won’t agree. Leo is a fine man and he is practically family, anyway,” I said and patted her shoulder. I realized then how happy I was for her. She would be avoiding the season almost all together. I wished for my own escape, but at the same time, I was not keen on the idea of wedding Eckhardt. I was equally averse to Julian.
“What will you do if Eckhardt asks for your hand?” she said.
“I’m not sure.” I really did not know what I would say, though my Aunt seemed to think that it would not be long before the proposal arrived.
Chapter 9
That night my dreams were all flashes from that day I lost control of Perseus. I saw myself on the
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