Speed by Abi Barden

Author:Abi Barden [Barden, Abi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2020-11-03T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

It took Amethyst a very long time to decide what to wear for dinner that evening, not least because her mind kept wandering to thoughts of Thomas, and his continuing refusal to leave the estate. Now Maker and Violet were here, the situation was precarious to say the least. Just like her choice of gown, the balance was delicate. She wanted to appear well dressed - it wouldn’t do to insult Earl Pembrey by being anything else. But she didn’t want accusations of dressing provocatively, because Violet would doubtless find ways to accuse her of trying to tempt Maker again, and she didn’t want her clothing to reinforce the claim. Bad enough that her feelings did that. She looked at the purple dress. With its heart neckline, it wasn’t completely demure, but it certainly didn’t proclaim her a Jezebel.

“You look lovely, dearie,” Great-Aunt Flora said as she came thump-shuffling into the room.

“Thank you.”

“Are you ready to go down?”

Amethyst looked at Ashby as she placed the last ornament in her hair. The lady’s maid nodded, curtsied and left. Amethyst nervously checked herself in the mirror.

“Will I do, do you think? I won’t disgrace you?”

The thump-shuffle moved closer. “You never disgrace me.”

That made Amethyst smile. “I feel I’m about to go into battle without armor.”

“You’ve all the armor you need. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

She’d kissed Maker, clung to him as he held her like he’d never let go, as if his life depended on her. Of course, he’d also dropped her like a burning coal when Edwards had stepped in. The memory haunted her. He’d said once that it was real, but she still wasn’t sure what this thing between them was, real or not.

“I wish Jenson were here.”

“Why?”

She turned to face Great-Aunt Flora. “Sorry?”

The old woman’s scrutiny made an uncomfortable weight. “You said you wished Jenson were here.”

She hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

“Why?”

Amethyst looked for a way to describe it, something way to articulate what hid inside her.

“Would you use him as shield to hide what you feel for Maker?”

“No!” The idea appalled Amethyst. “It wouldn’t be right to use any man that way.”

“Then why?”

Again, the words wouldn’t come. Amethyst stood and paced away. So many feelings warred inside her, she didn’t know what was what. “It’s, well, going to any high society dinner, I’m the outsider. It’s like I’m the poor relative or the peasant curio.” She shook her head, failing to find words to express her emotions.

“I don’t make you feel that way, do I?”

She smiled at her favorite relative. “No, Great-Aunt Flora. You’ve never made me feel anything but loved. It’s just that I wouldn’t even get invited to these things if I hadn’t inherited a fortune. I’m not invited because people want me there, they want the curiosity of Society. Because Lady Garrington-Smythe accepted me, they feel they have to. Then there’s the whole strict seating arrangement order. It’s not that I mind being last on the list, but I mind that it usually puts me among people I’m not acquainted with, and away from those I get along with.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.