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The servants brought out the first course, a green salad with a citrus dressing, and the delicious Indian bread I had coain, Lucan spoke directly to me, "My son is quite taken with you Eden I'm quite certain you have bewitched hi ry, but I felt like he was still accusing

"No, no, not at all," I glanced at Kiran, hoping he would help defend me, but he was suddenly very interested in his wine "Kiran is betrothed," I finished weakly

"I know," Lucan snapped, but not unkindly

"Of course Forgive me What I mean to say is that, Kiran is too respectable of a man to mistreat Seraphina," A deep blush crawled up my neck and onto my cheeks

"Is that so? Well,to Kiran's s for each other are ree er girl introduced herself "It is very nice to olden brown eyes sparkling from even across the table

"Oh yes, Eden, this is Aer sister," Kiran snized the difference between how she introduced herself and how Kiran had said her nalish pronunciations; at least French class had taught

"Do you know my brother?" she asked excitedly, a look of pure pride in her eyes

"Yes, I attend Kingsley with hio into too much detail on exactly hoe knew each other Her exciteh, and Ishe was, especially for being Sebastian's sister

"Hoonderful!" she gasped, reaching out for Kiran's hand "I wanted to join the boys so badly, butto be that far fro up at Kiran with a

"That you are, Aoblet

She was instantly silent; her eyes falling desperately back to her salad My heart went out to her; she had that kind of contagious personality that de, dearest," Kiran reached out for her hand again, and she looked up at hi with hope "You'll be with us again soon enough," he smiled down at her and I saw that she believed him; there was complete trust between the two

The servants appeared to clear the first course and then a second group of servants brought out a delicious-s soup I was pleasantly surprised to find it sweet and a little sour, with apples, potatoes and raisins

"Eden, I would love to hear more about how your Walk went," Amelia said happily "I have to do lanced at Lucanshe shouldn't, before turning her bright eyes back to me "Were you terrified?"

I clearedshe wouldn't have even broached the subject I didn't kno to fuh a lie in front of Lucan because I didn't kno a noro

"Yes, yes I was absolutely terrified," I sushed, offering iven Kiran

"Whatever for?" Kiran asked, perplexed "There's nothing to be afraid of," he said confidently to Aain, hoping to sound convincing "There isn't anything to be afraid of really, but it's hard to know that before you've done it" I took a quick sip ofthe conversation would end there

"That's what I keep telling Uncle Lucan," Arow disinterested in our conversation "I was hoping he would let limpse of what exactly happens"

"Eden's Walk wouldn't have revealed very much Amelia I don't believe I've ever witnessed a Walk end so abruptly in lass, I was suddenly very nervous, realizing how erratic I must have come across yesterday

I blushed and stared down atan explanation or if he already knew I couldn't give hi a much needed interruption to the aard silence They cleared our bowls and replaced therain white rice with more bread to eat with, instead of silverware I watched Kiran expertly tear a piece of bread apart and fold it into a kind of scoop, bringing the rice hed, knowing this was not the place to atte experience

"Thank you for inviting ed the subject, calling on propriety to cover my aard silence "I understand this usually only happens once a year," I tried seneral direction of Lucan without actually looking at him

"Yes It does," he replied curtly "But as you know your circumstances are unique"

"You have no idea how often I'hed