Hemmed in Silver (Songs of the Amaranthine Book 5) by Forthright

Author:Forthright [Forthright]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Twinkle Press
Published: 2020-11-03T18:30:00+00:00

Sulk

Hazel couldn’t understand why the morning was so wretched. It wasn’t the weather, even though low clouds threatened a chill rain. Sonnet was unusually quiet, which seemed to dampen everyone’s mood. Except Alfie. Maybe because there was gruel for breakfast—his favorite. No, it had to be Florent’s fault.

“Where is Florent?” she asked. “Did you fire him already?”

Uncle Wyn glanced up in surprise. “Nonsense. He must be somewhere hereabouts. See? He left his usual token for you.”

Her gaze strayed to the center of the table, where a cascade of lantern flowers filled a milk bottle borrowed from their dairy. “They’re for Sonnet,” she said primly. “And its rude for him to skip mealtime with the family.”

Pennythwaite favored her with one of those exceptionally dry looks that meant he was laughing somewhere inside. “A week ago, you protested his presence. Now, his absence offends you?”

“On principle.”

She hoped the rain would catch him. Like in Sonnet’s old bedtime story, “The Boy and the Thundercloud.” Pour on him like a waterfall and chill him to the bone.

“I’ll save back some breakfast,” murmured Sonnet, who moved back to the stove.

Alfie caught her sleeve and shook his head. “Eat first.”

Sonnet wavered, the strangest look on her face. Then she patted Alfie’s shoulder and took her seat. Hazel couldn’t understand it at all, and it was frustrating. Like everyone was having conversations around her, and she was excluded from them all.

She needed to do something. Something different. Something drastic.

“May I walk up to Northrop Hall this morning? I want to talk to Lord Alderney about the ball.”

“What ball?” Pennythwaite was definitely hiding a smile behind his teacup.

“There will be a ball if I can talk to Lord Alderney about it. He is a gentleman.”

Triggs said, “I’ll walk with you.”

“I know the way.”

He smiled faintly. “A lady mustn’t travel unescorted. It’s your own rule, Hazel.”

She couldn’t deny it. But she didn’t feel like acknowledging it, either.

Poking sulkily at the lantern flowers, she made up her mind that somehow, all of this was Florent’s fault.

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