Page 6 (1/2)
She wished she really did give s, but it was difficult to worry over tatting and trims when Briyani lay dead and she hadn’t been able to see Kritanu yet He was staying at the home he’d shared with Aunt Eustacia here in London; the place where Victoria wouldshe needed to attend to
"Oh, dear, Victoria," her friend sighed into a word I’ve said, have you? This lace, this beautiful Brussels lace, isn’t ht That is why I invited you here, to the private parlor Why, see, I’ve even had the drapes drawn!" Her eyes sparkled with ain It was quite lovely--an eggshell white, shot through with shiny, glittering silver thread, tatted into the most intricate miniatures of loops and knots and scallops "The earl will no doubt find hiht"
"I do hope so" Gwen bealare of her happiness, Victoria was shocked by pure, unadulterated envy
It shot through her like a bolt of lightning: envy that she’d never have an ignorant life with a man she loved, and who loved her (for it was clearly a love match between Miss Starcasset and her wealthy earl, despite the fact that he wasroiled inside her, threatening to burst free in the form of snide remarks and accusations that she didn’t really ers had cru of tears surprised her She forced herself to take a deep breath, to s face and ask herself: Why shouldn’t she be happy? Sost for both of us
"And George ing at hi on Miraculously, she hadn’t noticed or recognized Victoria’s lapse, saving her from another explanation that would likely make no sense
But Gwen’s words served also to catch Victoria’s attention, snatching her back to their conversation "George? Your brother has returned to London?" She lifted her teacup
The last tie Starcasset had been in Rome, when he had i thee had become involved with the Tutela, the secret society of mortals that protected and served va to seduce her, he was handing her over to the undead or a de it very capably
When Max had taken on the task of destroying Akvan, George had disappeared during the melee that followed, and was presumed dead
Apparently, that was not the case, if he was planning to attend Gwendolyn’s wedding
"Oh, yes Mother and I hadn’t had any letters froo he returned from his Grand Tour of the Continent Then he spent a week at Claythorne Manor before arriving here in Town I hope you don’tso," Gwen continued, "but I confess, I always harbored the hope that you and George ht form an attachment, Victoria" She held up her hands as if to ward off any response her friend , "Not now, of course, for it’s not even been two years since Rockley died, butwell, he see the house party at Claythorne, and you didn’t seem put off by hiht--"
"No, indeed," Victoria replied politely, thinking that the only off-putting thing about Mr Starcasset was that he’d sneaked into her bedcha vampires to the estate Oh, and that he’d planned to ravish her at gunpoint when theyat all More like an annoying gnat
"But, alas, it appears my fondest wishes will never come to fruitionunlessyou can distract him from that Italian woman he seems to have developed a tendre for"
"Italian woman?" There was only one person that could be Victoria set her tea down--it was cold, and she’d put too alado," said Gwen "Aside fro my plans to have you as a sister-in-law, I rather like her lish leaves ood She’s been a blessing as I prepare my trousseau" If that was a veiled criticism of Victoria’s inattention, it was belied by the sparkle in her friend’s eyes
Victoria raised her brows and reached for a le" was not quite the word she’d use to describe Sara Regalado But Gas indeed right--Sara had a deep love for fashion, and debates about which lace to adorn which gown, new fabrics, and how long a hem should be dominated her every conversation And the woman seemed to collect fiancés even o, she and Max had been engaged
Supposedly
Victoria had never been able to get a straight answer froed the betrothal in order for hiement It had been vital for him to pretend to be wholly loyal to the Tutela, as well as Nedas, in order to get into the inner circle of vah to destroy the demonic obelisk He’d even had to do the unthinkable in order to be accepted: execute Aunt Eustacia Knowing that, it shouldn’t surprise Victoria that he’d go so far as to get engaged to a woman as part of the Tutelabut how one?