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I watched the mirror, waiting for him to look up. Only he didn’t. He was quiet for a moment before he answered.

“I think if we lived in a time when marriages were arranged, women would be expected to stay chaste while men could do as they pleased. I’m not sure asking a man is going to give you the answer you’re looking for.”

“Because a man would consider it cheating.”

“Yes, Miss. Sadly, he would. The world is unbalanced when it comes to men and women. Especially in matters of the heart.”

“What do you think, Jeffrey?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think, Miss. It matters what you think,” he countered as he pulled into the driveway. He stopped the car in front of the house and turned to look at me. “If I may speak freely?”

“Of course, Jeffrey. I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want the truth.”

“I have worked for your family for a long time. Watched you and your siblings grow up.”

I smiled fondly at him. Jeffrey was in his seventies. Much like a grandfather to us, more than a driver.

“I have listened to you and your sisters speak about your dreams, and the futures you want for yourselves. And I have heard you talk about Mardi Gras and what it means.”

I turned away. Jeffrey was getting a little close to where my mind was at.

“Now, I know your family believes that fate has a path set and nothing can deter you from that. But if that’s true, then nothing you do over the next six weeks will change the course of your future.”

A laugh slipped from my lips.

“That is not at all helpful, Jeffrey.”

He smiled warmly. “No, I don’t suppose it is. The truth is, Freyja, only you can decide what you can live with. You are the one who must look in the mirror each morning. No one condemns our actions more than ourselves.”

My shoulders slumped. Jeffrey was right. It didn’t matter if an affair with Duncan was right or wrong. It only mattered if I could live with my decisions.

“Thank you, Jeffrey.”

“Anytime, Miss.” He climbed out of the car and opened my door. Rising on my toes, I kissed his cheek.

“I’ll miss you if my soulmate takes me away from New York.”

“Maybe I’ll follow you. Make sure he treats you like the queen you are.” He winked and closed my door.

Returning to his seat, he moved the car away from the front of the house, and I stood there for a moment, looking it over.

It smelled like snow was coming, which wasn’t unusual for January in New York. I shivered and opened the front door.Heading directly to my room, I took a shower and changed into something comfortable.

I curled up on my bed and thought about last night. Where did all these doubts suddenly come from? Is that what I needed to learn? That there would always be obstacles ready to thwart my progress. Stop me in my path?

I jumped off the bed and grabbed my cards. Sitting cross-legged on my bed, I shuffled the deck and dealt the cards. It was always the same. No matter how many times I shuffled and reshuffled, dealt and redealt, the cards never changed.

Tarot cards were supposed to bring clarity. All it brought me was more questions. More confusion. I needed to do something to clear my head. Maybe getting away for a few weeks would help.

I could go see Phoebe.

Maybe some sister time would help me understand. But with Phoebe came Dimeter, and I refused to let him see me confused. I would not give him the satisfaction of knowing I was having doubts.

I felt for Athena. It was so much easier to be confident in knowing what someone else should do with their life. And well, bossing others around was fun.

I smiled when I thought about my little brother and how much he fought his fate with Henley. She really was perfect for him.

Lucille told you she would be.