Enchanted Net by Celia Lake

Author:Celia Lake [Lake, Celia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Celia Lake

Chapter 22

JUNE 20TH AT THE DESCHAMPS FAMILY HOME

“Sit, dear.” Vitus’s mama gestured for him to sit in one of the chairs she kept for these chats.

Vitus sat, and promptly. It was a custom before the formal social events. Once she was dressed, she liked to have a little rest and a chat while she finished the details of her preparations. Vitus knew it was partly to cover for the fact that dressing, in and of itself, could be tiring for her. He was not intimately acquainted with the layers of a lady’s wardrobe, but he knew they were numerous, with various laces and buttons and needing to stand in this position or that so everything could be properly done.

Once she was dressed, while she was fixing her hair, she enjoyed having one of her sons or Papa join her, depending on who was handy. Papa was still tending to some last-minute arrangements. Lucas could not get leave, and so it was Vitus’s role to provide conversation. Or to be nudged into doing what Mama wanted, as seemed to be the more accurate description. “We should coordinate, dear. Before we arrive.”

“Yes, Mama?” Vitus knew what was coming, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to ask the obligatory question.

“Business opportunities first, or matrimonial ones?” Mama glanced at him, clucked her tongue once. “Don’t think you’re getting out of the second conversation, but we can start with business.”

“I need to make my name, yes.” Vitus knew this was true. He and Niobe had discussed it endlessly. He and Mama and Papa had as well. Vitus had spent far too many nights awake at three in the morning staring at the ceiling. Awake and staring, despite knowing perfectly well that ideas were scarce at that hour and also rarely good ones. “And that means finding a few well-placed clients who need talismanic work done. Ideally, a betrothal. Or a Council challenge, but one can’t predict that. I don’t even know who would consider it, if there were one tomorrow.” He held up a hand. “Theo Carrington has aspirations, I’ve heard, but he’s young yet. And I don’t have a direct connection to him besides being at Schola at the same time.” Not the same year, though. That would have allowed some connection.

“Who else, then?” Mama leaned back slightly. “And if Theo Carrington was on the Council, he’d have less time for flirting or whatever it is he does that’s beyond flirting.”

“Mama!” Vitus did his best to sound mock-horrified, because that amused his mother, and she could stand to have more amusement. “My innocent ears.”

It drew a smile from her. “You know perfectly well what I’m talking about, even if you do not indulge.”

That brought them smack around to the matrimonial discussion, and Vitus ceded to it, rather than fight it. He was saving his resources for the evening’s events, which would be delicate navigation all round. He didn’t know who he’d end up talking to, or how it would go, but he could be certain it would be complex and demanding.

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