The Automaton's Wife by Vered Ehsani

Author:Vered Ehsani [Ehsani, Vered]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Publisher: Vered Ehsani
Published: 2015-01-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

When our eyes fixed on one another, both Mr. Elkhart and I paled. Given his naturally caramel-colored skin, the reaction was more notable on him than on me.

“Aren’t you going to congratulate me heartily?” Lilly demanded, not observing the subtle interaction between her fiancé and myself.

“Indeed,” I murmured. “Felicitations.” My arm of its own accord stretched toward the Popobawa to shake his hand.

He cleared his throat loudly and forced a smile (were his teeth a tad too long?). “Yes, your delightful cousin has consented to grant me this great happiness.”

“Delightful…? You mean Lilly?” My voice was so soft and strained that only a man with bat hearing could’ve heard. But of course, what other cousin did I have lounging about the place for him to propose to?

His smile widened and he turned to Lilly. “Yes. Lilly,” he said, now seemingly oblivious to both my discomfort and his own.

This was a blow of not insignificant proportions. To think oneself enamored by a handsome, exotic gentleman, only to be kidnapped by the same, and all traces of hope decimated by a proposal to one’s cousin — it really was too much to endure. Not to mention that the future in-law in question was in reality a creature of nightmarish qualities.

I sympathized with Mrs. Steward as I felt quite shaky myself, but I dared not move. I was fearful I might stumble along the way, knock the nearby water pitcher into my hand and accidentally smack Mr. Elkhart across the head with it.

After the hurrahs and initial ecstasy had settled to a mild simmer of jubilation (except in the case of Mrs. Steward who was beyond calming herself to anything less than volcanic), we sat ourselves around the coffee table.

Bobby, in an attempt at grownup conversation, commented, “Did you know a zebra danced on this table? You can see its hoof marks.”

The adults provided polite chuckles and Bobby, satisfied at his acceptance and at the prospect of seeing his sister removed from his house, snuck off to harass the livestock. I wished I could be so lucky but instead I was bound to sit in this room within an arm’s reach of a Popobawa.

Mrs. Steward trilled out, “Oh, I am so beside myself. Why, I could very well race to camp and back.” She then thought better of it and shouted for Jonas.

He arrived smartly and didn’t seem at all surprised at Mr. Elkhart’s presence. His speed and the lack of expression suggested he’d been lurking nearby, listening in.

“Go to the camp store,” Mrs. Steward ordered, “and see if they might have biscuits or something edible to go with tea.”

“Should I take a horse, mama?” he asked, making a show of humility that the Stewards took at face value, but I could see the glint in his eyes.

“Well, of course you should,” she said. “We want our tea promptly, now don’t we? Take Bee’s nag.”

“Is Nelly all right?” I asked, knowing why Jonas hesitated.

Jonas nodded. “Same as yesterday.”

“Is there a problem with…” Mr.

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